Product-Market Fit: How to Know You Have It
Back to Guides
Market Research

Product-Market Fit: How to Know You Have It

The definitive guide to recognizing and measuring product-market fit for your startup.

Sarah Chen
Sarah Chen
May 28, 2026
9 min read
21,000 views
Product-Market FitMetricsRetentionGrowth

The 40% Rule

Sean Ellis says if 40% of users would be very disappointed if your product disappeared, you have PMF.

Retention Curves

Flat retention curves mean users stick around. If it curves down to zero, you have a problem.

Organic Growth Signals

Word-of-mouth growth, declining CAC, and organic traffic are the best PMF indicators.

Net Promoter Score

NPS > 50 is excellent. NPS > 70 is world-class. Measure it regularly and track trends.

What to Do When You Have It

Double down. Raise money. Scale the team. But do not get complacent - PMF can slip away.

Share this guide

Ready to Build Your Startup?

Join thousands of founders who are learning and growing with Startup Camp

Explore More Guides