How to Prioritize Features Based on ROI

Building features is exciting. But building the right features? That’s where the real magic (and revenue) happens.

Too often, businesses get caught up in shiny ideas or requests from the loudest customers. Before you know it, your dev team is working overtime on features that barely move the needle.

So, how do you prioritize what to build next?

Start With ROI

ROI (Return on Investment) isn’t just a finance metric. It’s a powerful decision filter to ensure your team focuses on features that deliver the most value for the effort and cost involved.

Here’s a simple way to prioritize:

1. List all potential features
Include everything on your team’s wishlist and customer requests.

2. Estimate the impact
Ask: Will this feature increase revenue, improve retention, reduce churn, or cut costs? Rate each one on its potential impact.

3. Estimate the effort
How long will it take to build? What resources are needed? Rate each feature based on complexity and resource requirements.

4. Calculate a rough ROI score
Divide impact by effort to get a simple ROI prioritization score. The higher the score, the more valuable the feature is relative to its cost.

5. Align with strategic goals
Even if a feature has high ROI, check if it aligns with your business goals this quarter or year.

Why This Matters

Prioritizing by ROI helps you:

• Build what actually drives growth

• Use resources wisely

• Avoid “busy work” features with minimal returns

• Keep teams focused on strategic outcomes

Remember, not all features are created equal. Prioritizing based on ROI ensures your product roadmap fuels real business results, not just endless to-do lists.

Build Smarter, Not Just Faster

At Optima Solutions, we help companies streamline their product strategies and build features that drive growth, not just development hours.

Want to prioritize your roadmap with confidence?

Book a free consult with our team today.