Snapshot Economics

An early economic veto

Before capital is committed or exposure is locked in.

Most failed expansions were approved on untested economic assumptions.

Snapshot Economics is a next-business-day diagnostic used to test whether the economics of a single decision actually work before irreversible action is taken.

Marketing cannot save bad business economics.

Request a Diagnostic Fit Check View example snapshot
Diagnostic fit check only — no advice, no pitch.
Best for
  • New channel or contract terms (wholesale, supermarket, major customer)
  • Pricing and mix changes that affect contribution
  • Volume increases with payment term risk
  • Step cost moves (extra staff, extra shifts, bigger premises)
  • Wastage or shrink that erodes the economics
Typical turnaround
Next business day
Format
One-page dashboard + notes
Fixed Fee
$900 - $1,200 + GST

Credit Policy

Where this diagnostic is followed by a higher-order diagnostic within a defined period and scope continuity applies, 100% of the fee is credited toward that engagement.

Credit does not apply where scope materially changes or where execution is engaged without a qualifying diagnostic.

What it is

A deliberate proceed/stop test

Many decisions fail because the economics were wrong or the cash timing was ignored. Snapshot Economics makes those exposures visible with a small set of inputs from the business.

This is a screening diagnostic, not advice or optimisation. We reconstruct the economics from your inputs and state assumptions clearly.

Output
A decision-grade determination snapshot

A concise view of contribution, break-even, cash velocity, and step costs. Written so it can be shared with advisors, lenders, or legal counsel where required. Clear enough to support a “proceed”, “pause”, or “do not proceed” call.

What it covers
  • Contribution economics reconstructed from inputs
  • High level break-even with owner labour priced explicitly
  • Cash velocity and working capital effect (terms, wage timing)
  • Step cost impact (for example extra staff or shifts)
  • Wastage or shrinkage where relevant
  • What must be true for continuation to remain reasonable
What it deliberately does not do
  • No 13-week cash flow forecast or full three-way model
  • No market sizing, channel strategy, or growth plan
  • No turnaround plan or implementation support
  • No valuation, investment advice, or outcome guarantees
If cash timing or runway determines the decision, escalate rather than guess.
The next step is usually the Cash Reality Model.
View Cash Reality Model
Inputs

A short question set. No spreadsheet work required.

You provide the numbers you already know (or can estimate). We make assumptions explicit. If you are unsure, we will ask for a range rather than a precise figure.

Typical inputs include
  • Current price and expected price under the new terms
  • Direct cost per unit (materials, packaging, delivery, commissions)
  • Wastage or shrink assumptions where relevant
  • Expected volume and realistic peak day capacity
  • Payment terms (customer days, supplier days) and wage cycle
  • Any step costs triggered by the decision (staff hours, rent, equipment)
Scope is confirmed during the diagnostic fit check.

Most Snapshot Economics engagements focus on one decision. Where the decision triggers multiple channels, step-costs, or timing complexity, scope is adjusted before work begins.

Progression without duplication

If diagnostic work progresses, earlier diagnostic effort is fully recognised in subsequent diagnostic scope and fees. Execution engagements commence fresh.

Example

See an example Snapshot Economics report

This is the format your determination will arrive in.

Example provided for format illustration only. Anonymised and non-client specific.
The plan

A simple path to an answer

Fast inputs. Clean assumptions. A decision-grade output you can use.

1

Confirm the decision

We agree the one decision being tested and the terms that matter.

2

Provide inputs

You complete a short question set. We use ranges where uncertainty exists.

3

Receive the snapshot

You get a one-page dashboard with clear conditions and breakpoints - including a 20-minute determination walkthrough to confirm assumptions and boundaries. No obligation to continue.

If the economics work, the next step is to decide what evidence is required and how much uncertainty is acceptable.

Request a Diagnostic Fit Check