Free CAC Payback Period Calculator
Calculate how many months it takes to recoup the cost of acquiring a customer through their monthly gross margin contribution.
CAC Payback Period
8.0 months
CAC Payback Period vs Monthly Revenue Per Customer
How to Calculate CAC Payback Period
Formula
Payback Period = CAC / (Monthly Revenue Per Customer x Gross Margin %)
The payback period tells you how quickly each new customer starts generating net profit after covering the cost of acquisition. Shorter payback periods mean faster cash recovery and less capital risk. Investors consider this alongside LTV:CAC because a great ratio with a 36-month payback still strains cash flow.
Example Calculation
A company spends $600 to acquire a customer who pays $100/month with a 75% gross margin.
- 01Monthly Gross Margin = $100 x 75% = $75
- 02Payback Period = $600 / $75 = 8.0 months
- 03It takes 8 months to recoup the acquisition investment.
Frequently Asked Questions
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