How to use the Startup Metrics Framework agent skill

What the skill makes the agent do

The skill gives the agent a built-in reference of formulas and rough benchmarks. It covers unit economics such as CAC, LTV, LTV:CAC and burn multiple, plus growth, retention, take rate, pipeline coverage and cash management. It can also suggest which 5-7 metrics to track at a given stage and format a metrics dashboard for an investor or board update.

The agent works from this written guidance and the numbers you give it. The skill does not connect to your accounting, billing or analytics data, so you supply the inputs.

• Explain how to calculate metrics like CAC, LTV, burn multiple, retention, take rate and pipeline coverage
• Suggest a starting set of metrics for your business model and stage
• Compare your numbers against generic benchmarks
• Lay out a metrics dashboard for investors or board reporting

Install the skill from a ZIP file

Download the ZIP for the skill from our page and unzip it. The skill folder should contain SKILL.md and a references folder holding references/universal-and-saas-metrics.md.

To make it available across all your projects, place the unzipped folder in ~/.claude/skills/. To make it available only inside one project, place it in that project's .claude/skills/ folder.

If you use the Claude apps, you can instead upload the skill under Settings → Capabilities → Skills.

• All projects: ~/.claude/skills/
• One project only: .claude/skills/ inside the project folder
• Claude apps: Settings → Capabilities → Skills

Trigger the skill with natural requests

You do not need a special command. The skill is meant to be used when you define a metrics framework, calculate CAC, LTV or burn multiple, benchmark business health, or prepare dashboards for investors or board reporting. Describe your goal and include your numbers, and the agent should pick up the skill from the request.

Mention your business model and stage when you can, because the benchmarks differ between SaaS, marketplace, consumer and B2B businesses and between pre-seed and Series A.

• "Calculate our CAC and LTV. We spent $40K on sales and marketing last quarter and won 25 new customers."
• "Which 5 metrics should a seed-stage B2B SaaS company track?"
• "Format our monthly numbers as an investor dashboard."

Example: check unit economics

Give the agent the inputs for a formula and ask for the result and how to read it. The reference defines CAC as total sales and marketing spend divided by new customers acquired, and LTV as ARPU times gross margin times customer lifetime, with lifetime equal to one divided by churn rate. LTV:CAC above 3.0 is listed as healthy.

Check the agent's arithmetic yourself before you use the result, since the skill does not verify your inputs.

What the skill needs and what it does not do

The skill lists no requirements. It does not run scripts and does not use the network, so it reads its own files and writes its answers in the chat. It has no access to your financial systems.

Because it only sees what you type or paste, keep sensitive figures to the level of detail you are comfortable sharing with the AI tool you are using.

• Requires: nothing listed
• Runs scripts: no
• Uses network: no

Know the limits before you share numbers with investors

The benchmarks are generic rules of thumb and may not fit your market. The skill is not suitable for final investor-grade financials or valuation, and regulated or audited reporting should be reviewed by a qualified accountant.

Treat the output as a starting framework. Verify every figure against your own records before it goes into a board pack or fundraising deck.

• Do not use the output as final investor-grade financials or a valuation
• Have a qualified accountant review regulated or audited numbers
• Check that benchmarks fit your market before setting targets

Tips for better results

Give the agent complete inputs, defined time periods and the definition you use for churn or active users. Ask it to show the formula it used so you can audit the math. Segment numbers by customer type or channel when you can, since the reference recommends breaking metrics down this way.

• State the time period for every number, such as monthly or quarterly
• Say how you define a customer, an active user or churn
• Ask for the formula and the calculation steps, not just the answer
• Limit yourself to 5-7 core metrics rather than tracking many loosely