When to scale

Scaling too early is expensive

Scaling means putting in more time or money to grow faster: ads, clippers, outside help. Do it before the basics are solid and you'll spend a lot on customers who leave fast.

Signs you're ready

Customers stick around

This is the most important one. If most of your customers keep paying month after month, your product delivers real value. If a lot of them leave after a month or two, fix that first.

One acquisition channel is profitable

You've found at least one way to bring in customers where you roughly know what a customer costs, and that cost is lower than what they bring in over time.

Example: if a customer costs you $30 to acquire and pays $20 a month for several months, the channel is probably profitable. If that customer leaves after one month, it isn't.

Customers find you without you

Some customers arrive through word of mouth or referrals. That's a good sign: people like your product enough to talk about it.

Your product can handle it

More customers means more support and more server load. Make sure you can keep up without breaking things.