1️⃣ 1-Month Payback — “Aggressive” Gate
When to use: ultra-short runway, cash emergency, or AR-tightening tests
Rule: monthly gain ≥ Price
Implication:
Recovers the investment within 1 cycle
12-month ROI ≈ 12 × return
But excludes longer-term strategic work (brand, ops, team efficiency)
Feels too strict for advisory-type ROI where results compound over several months
Verdict: too tight for most profit or growth work — more suitable for Fix Cash sprints.
2️⃣ 2-Month Payback — “Healthy” Gate → GREEN
When to use: 80 % of growth or profit projects
Rule: monthly gain ≥ Price ÷ 2
Implication:
Pays for itself fast (≤ 60 days)
Keeps Profit NOW envelopes intact — you can fund it from OPEX or Advisory sub-envelope safely
Leaves 10 months of pure upside (≈ 6 × ROI over a year)
Verdict: best balance between cash safety + strategic payoff — that’s why your calculators flag this as GREEN.
3️⃣ 3-Month Payback — “Strategic” Gate
When to use: high-impact, long-build projects (systemisation, training, brand)
Rule: monthly gain ≥ Price ÷ 3
Implication:
Slower cash recovery (90 days)
12-month ROI ≈ 4 × return
Acceptable only if business has > 6 months runway or surplus reserves
Verdict: use sparingly, mainly inside Scale Revenue / CFO Retainer work.
✅ Summary
| Gate | Rule | 12-mo ROI | Use for | Colour |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 mo | Gain ≥ Price | 12× | Fix Cash / tests | 🔴 Tight |
| 2 mo | Gain ≥ Price ÷ 2 | 6× | Grow Profit / standard advisory | 🟢 Green |
| 3 mo | Gain ≥ Price ÷ 3 | 4× | Strategic / long runway | 🟡 Caution |
So → 2 months became the default “Green” line because it’s the sweet spot between speed and stability under Profit NOW cash discipline.