Customer Acquisition ROI (Return on Investment) measures the profitability of the money spent on acquiring new customers. It compares the revenue generated from new customers against the costs involved in attracting and converting them.
Synonyms: Customer Acquisition Return on Investment, Customer Acquisition Profitability, Customer Acquisition ROI Metric, ROI on Customer Acquisition

Customer Acquisition ROI helps businesses evaluate how effectively their marketing and sales efforts turn into actual profits. It is calculated by subtracting the cost of acquiring customers from the revenue those customers bring in, then dividing that number by the acquisition cost. A positive ROI means the business earns more than it spends on gaining customers.
To calculate Customer Acquisition ROI, use this formula:
[ \text{ROI} = \frac{\text{Revenue from New Customers} - \text{Customer Acquisition Cost}}{\text{Customer Acquisition Cost}} ]
For example, if a company spends $1,000 on marketing and sales to acquire customers who generate $3,000 in revenue, the ROI is (3000 - 1000) / 1000 = 2, or 200%. This means the company earned twice what it spent.
Tracking this metric helps businesses decide where to allocate marketing budgets and which customer acquisition strategies are most cost-effective. It also highlights if the cost of gaining customers is too high compared to the revenue they bring, signaling a need to adjust tactics.
What is a good Customer Acquisition ROI? A good ROI varies by industry, but generally, a positive ROI above 100% indicates profitable customer acquisition.
How often should Customer Acquisition ROI be measured? It should be tracked regularly, such as monthly or quarterly, to monitor performance and make timely adjustments.
Can Customer Acquisition ROI be negative? Yes, if the cost to acquire customers exceeds the revenue they generate, the ROI will be negative, indicating a loss.
Does Customer Acquisition ROI include long-term customer value? Typically, it focuses on immediate revenue, but including customer lifetime value can provide a fuller picture of profitability.