The score measures balance; it isn't a goal on its own. A company growing 60% while losing 20% and one growing 10% with a 30% margin both hit 40. They're very different businesses. So alongside the total, look at which component carries the score.

Below 40, there are two paths: raise margin or grow faster. The tool shows both. Which is cheaper depends on your business. If growth is slowing, cutting inefficient spend to lift margin usually pays off faster. If growth is strong, braking it for margin can destroy value.

Bessemer made that last point explicitly in 2024. It argued that weighting growth and margin equally leads to misguided decisions for late-stage companies approaching profitability, and proposed the Rule of X: growth times roughly 2, plus FCF margin. Of two companies with the same score, the faster-growing one has the higher Rule of X.

Mind the scale. Bessemer notes these efficiency scores are generally meaningful above $25M of ARR and can mislead on smaller revenue bases. In the early stage, burn multiple and the path to profitability are better measures.

Finally, be consistent about which margin you use. EBITDA ignores capital expenditure and working capital; FCF doesn't. When talking to investors, say clearly which one you use and don't switch between periods.