What is a CAC (Customer Acquisition Cost)?
Formula: Total Sales & Marketing Costs / Number of New Customers Acquired
Measures how much a company spends to acquire each new customer, including advertising costs, salaries of sales and marketing teams, tools and software, and other related expenses. For example, if a SaaS company spends $100,000 on marketing and sales in a month and acquires 200 new customers, their CAC is $500. Companies like Netflix and Amazon closely monitor CAC to ensure profitable growth. A rising CAC might indicate market saturation or inefficient marketing strategies.
Optimize CAC through targeted marketing, efficient sales processes, and conversion rate optimization. Focus on channel effectiveness, lead quality, and sales cycle efficiency to reduce acquisition costs.
Good CAC ratios vary by industry, but generally aim for CAC payback periods under 12 months. Compare CAC to customer lifetime value (CLV) to ensure profitable customer acquisition.
Measure CAC by tracking all acquisition costs including marketing, sales, and overhead expenses. Include both direct and indirect costs for comprehensive CAC calculation.
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