In this episode of the Ecommerce Growth Map Podcast, we break down one of the most misunderstood — and most important — concepts in e-commerce: first-order profitability.

First-order profitability means your very first sale generates enough revenue to cover product costs, fulfillment, and customer acquisition. Without it, brands rely on future purchases, outside capital, or hope — and that’s why so many businesses fail before they ever scale.

We walk through why first-order profit matters more than ROAS, why some brands can survive without it (and most can’t), and how to calculate whether a product or campaign is actually viable.
We also explain the danger of negative contribution margin, how rising CAC destroys weak business models, and why investors prioritize businesses that make money on every transaction.

If you’re an e-commerce founder, operator, or marketer trying to build a scalable, sustainable business, this episode will change how you think about growth, advertising, and profitability.