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The calculation of the number of customers needed for a business depends on two factors: the price per customer and the support hours required per customer. The formula used is Target divided by price, rounded up. However, this simple calculation has limitations and can be misleading.

If the price is a one-time payment, the formula returns no answer, as there is no recurring revenue to divide. This can lead to a wrong answer that appears to be computed, which users may screenshot.

The count of customers needed can feel achievable, but it is not a definitive number. As the price decreases, the number of customers required increases, and vice versa. At a low price point, the number of customers needed is multiplied, and every additional customer adds support that you personally owe.

Support hours are a crucial factor that determines the feasibility of the number of customers needed. At a price of $29, a user would need 173 customers and 10 hours of support per week before even starting the business. At $49, the number of customers needed is 103, and the support hours are 5.9, which is a manageable amount.

The number of customers needed is not a fixed number but depends on various factors such as the support load, price, and churn rate. Halving the support load can move the floor down a price step, making support more affordable. Raising the price is the fastest and most effective way to reduce the number of customers needed. Alternatively, lowering the target price can also help.

The division calculation does not account for the fact that customers need to be acquired and retained. At a 5% monthly churn rate, you would need to acquire approximately 6 new customers every month to hold the target number of customers. At a price of $29, you would need to replace about 9 customers each month, in addition to the 10 hours of support already owed.

Therefore, the calculation of the number of customers needed is not a definitive answer. It is a starting point that highlights the importance of support hours and the need to acquire and retain customers. Other factors such as billing, refunds, and technical issues also need to be considered.