Market sizing helps a business understand how much potential it has to grow and make money. It involves estimating the total demand for a product or service (TAM), the portion your business can serve (SAM), and the share you can realistically capture (SOM). By researching the market and analyzing industry trends, businesses can identify their target customers, predict revenue, and create better marketing and sales plans. Knowing the market size also helps in making smart decisions, setting achievable goals, and attracting investors by showing the business has real potential. In this blog, we will explore about tam,sam and som, its benefits and how to use this to grow your business. Brixx is a powerful yet easy-to-use business planning software that helps you transform market analysis into a structured, results-driven business plan.
For B2B market analysis, Brixx is a powerful easy-to-use business planning software that helps you transform market analysis into a structured and results-driven business plan.
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What is TAM,SAM and SOM ?
TAM, SAM, and SOM are ways to measure the size of the market. They help you understand how many people could buy your product, how many you can actually reach, and how many you’re likely to sell to. This process is called market sizing, and it’s useful for planning your business and attracting investors.
TAM is the total demand for your product or service. It shows how big the market could be if everyone who might need your product actually bought it, no matter where they live or what their budget is.
SAM is a smaller part of TAM. It includes only the people your business can actually serve, based on your location and your product type.
SOM is the part of SAM that you can realistically capture. It depends on things like your budget, staff, marketing, and how much demand you can handle.
How to use TAM,SAM and SOM?
Estimating TAM, SAM, and SOM involves a mix of market research, strategic analysis, and occasionally, a bit of educated guessing. Here’s how you can break down each step:
Step 1: Calculating Total Addressable Market (TAM)
Formula:
TAM = Total Number of Potential Customers × Average Annual Revenue per Customer
This method identifies the entire market demand for your product or service by estimating the number of potential customers and the average revenue you can expect from each annually.
Example:
Let’s say you manufacture specialty coffee machines. Using a bottom-up approach:
- You identify 10 million coffee-drinking households and businesses in your target market.
- The average annual spending on coffee machines is $100 per customer.
Now, calculate:
TAM = 10,000,000 × $100 = $1,000,000,000
So, your Total Addressable Market (TAM) is $1 billion.
Step 2: Calculating Serviceable Available Market (SAM)
Formula:
SAM = Number of Target Customers in TAM × Average Annual Revenue per Target Customer
SAM narrows the TAM down to the portion of the market your business can actually serve. This includes geographic reach, product compatibility, infrastructure limitations, and other operational factors.
Example:
Your coffee machine company only serves urban areas, which make up 60% of the total market.
- 60% of 10 million customers = 6 million target customers.
- Average revenue per customer remains $100.
Now, calculate:
SAM = 6,000,000 × $100 = $600,000,000
Your Serviceable Available Market (SAM) is $600 million.
Step 3: Calculating Serviceable Obtainable Market (SOM)
Formula:
SOM = SAM × Expected Market Share
SOM represents the slice of the market you can realistically capture based on your current capabilities, brand awareness, competition, and marketing strategy.
Example:
If your business aims to capture 10% of the SAM:
SOM = $600,000,000 × 10% = $60,000,000
Your Serviceable Obtainable Market (SOM) is $60 million.
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Summary Table
Market Type | Description |
TAM | Total market demand |
SAM | Market you can serve |
SOM | Market you can realistically capture |
Benefits of TAM SAM SOM in Business
Whether you’re planning to launch a new product or refine your market approach, these metrics help uncover opportunities, spot potential gaps, and shape smarter, more focused strategies.
Here we have enlisted major benefits that helps you to grow.
Discover Your Market’s Potential : TAM, SAM, and SOM help you visualize how big your market really is. They show the total opportunity, the portion you can serve, and what’s realistically achievable. This layered understanding is key to deciding whether the market is worth entering.
Define Clear and Measurable Business Goals: These metrics guide your business planning by setting smart, achievable goals. TAM outlines your big-picture vision, SAM fine-tunes it to what’s within reach, and SOM sets realistic short-term targets. Together, they form a roadmap for growth.
Uncover Hidden Growth Opportunities: Analyzing your market can reveal overlooked gaps or untapped customer segments. For example, you might spot a niche within your SAM that can be captured with a minor product tweak. These insights allow you to pivot and scale more effectively.
Strengthen Your Go-to-Market Strategy: TAM, SAM, and SOM support sharper targeting in your go-to-market (GTM) plan. TAM defines the full scope, SAM narrows your focus to viable segments, and SOM ensures you invest in markets where you can win. This helps you launch with confidence.
Optimize Resource Allocation: Knowing where the biggest opportunities lie helps you spend smarter. Instead of spreading resources thin, you can double down on high-potential areas within your SAM. This approach improves efficiency and maximizes ROI from the start.
Build Investor Trust and Interest: Investors want to see a solid grasp of your market. Presenting well-researched TAM, SAM, and SOM figures shows you’ve done your homework and have a realistic plan to scale. It also signals that you’re capable of managing risk and opportunity wisely.
Plan for Future Expansion: Markets evolve, and so should your strategy. Revisiting TAM, SAM, and SOM regularly helps you adjust your goals, spot new trends, and expand into fresh segments. It keeps your business agile and ready for the next stage of growth.
Also Read: Data Backup and Recovery: Essential Practices for Business Resilience
Conclusion
In summary, while understanding your market through TAM, SAM, and SOM is essential, the real value lies in turning those insights into clear, actionable plans.
With Brixx, you can effortlessly build sales forecasts, create budget plans, and monitor vital financial metrics like net profit and EBITDA. Whether you’re just launching a startup or managing a growing enterprise, Brixx offers the flexibility and tools to suit your business needs. Harness the power of data-driven decision-making and bring your strategies in line with real market potential. Start your free 7-day trial today and see how Brixx can become the foundation of your business planning success.