Customer Acquisition Cost Ratio (CAC Ratio) measures the efficiency of a business in acquiring new customers by comparing the revenue generated from those customers to the cost spent on acquiring them.
Synonyms: CAC Ratio, Customer Acquisition Efficiency Ratio, Customer Acquisition Revenue Ratio, Customer Acquisition Cost Effectiveness

The Customer Acquisition Cost Ratio is calculated by dividing the revenue earned from new customers by the cost of acquiring those customers. A higher ratio means the business is generating more revenue for every dollar spent on customer acquisition, indicating better efficiency.
Tracking this ratio helps businesses evaluate the effectiveness of their marketing and sales efforts. It shows whether the money spent on acquiring customers is justified by the revenue they bring in, helping companies make informed decisions about budget allocation.
Businesses use the CAC Ratio to monitor performance over time and compare different marketing channels or campaigns. For example, if one campaign has a higher CAC Ratio than another, it means that campaign is more cost-effective at bringing in revenue.
What is a good Customer Acquisition Cost Ratio? A ratio above 1 means revenue exceeds acquisition costs, which is generally positive. However, the ideal ratio varies by industry and business model.
How is Customer Acquisition Cost Ratio different from Customer Acquisition Cost? Customer Acquisition Cost is the total cost spent to acquire customers, while the CAC Ratio compares that cost to the revenue those customers generate.
Can the CAC Ratio be negative? No, since it is a ratio of revenue to cost, it cannot be negative. If revenue is zero, the ratio is zero.
How often should businesses calculate the CAC Ratio? It’s useful to calculate it regularly, such as monthly or quarterly, to track trends and adjust strategies accordingly.