Costs as levers
Unit economics decide whether scale helps or hurts. Map each cost line to fixed or variable behavior so you see what happens at 10× volume—not just today’s pilot batch.
Hidden lines
Payment processing, returns, support tickets, and cloud egress often arrive late in models. Add placeholder percentages until real data replaces them.
Breakeven intuition
Contribution margin per unit divided into fixed costs yields breakeven volume. Simulators should make that threshold visible, not buried in cells.
Limits
Simulations echo your formulas—they do not discover market demand. Pair cost models with revenue scenarios and cash timing, not vanity margins alone.