How-to guide

How to use the Price-Increase Simulator

A price rise almost always wins — even if some customers leave. This shows how many you can afford to lose. Here's how, with three examples.

Founders under-price because they fear churn. This shows the surprising math: how many customers you can lose on a price rise and still make more money.

What this tool does

You enter your current price, the proposed increase, and your margin; it calculates the break-even churn — the share of customers you can lose and still come out even or ahead.

Who it's for

Founders considering a price rise who want the math before the nerves.

How to use it — step by step

  1. Enter current price and margin. Your starting point.
  2. Enter the proposed rise. The new price you're considering.
  3. Read break-even churn. The share of customers you can lose and still win.
  4. Compare to expected churn. If real churn is below break-even, raise the price.

How to read your result

The higher your margin, the more customers you can afford to lose — often far more than founders fear. If expected churn is below the break-even churn, the increase is a clear win.

Worked examples

The same tool behaves differently depending on what you put in. Here are 3 situations.

10% rise, healthy margin

Inputs: $100 → $110, 70% margin.

What the tool shows: You can lose a meaningful share of customers and still make more.

What to do: Raise it — expected churn is almost always below break-even.

High-margin SaaS

Inputs: Software with ~85% margin.

What the tool shows: Break-even churn is very high — pricing power is large.

What to do: Raise confidently; grandfather key accounts if needed.

Low-margin product

Inputs: Thin margin business.

What the tool shows: Break-even churn is lower — less room, but often still positive.

What to do: Raise carefully and watch retention.

Common questions

Won't I lose customers? Some — but the math usually still wins, which is the point.

Why does margin matter? Higher margin means each retained customer covers more lost ones.

Should I grandfather existing customers? Often yes for goodwill — model both.

A helpful estimate, not a guarantee. This tool works only off the numbers and assumptions you enter — it can't see your whole picture. Use it to get oriented and pressure-test your thinking, then sanity-check the big calls with an advisor. It isn't financial, tax, or legal advice.