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Also known as: CAC

Customer Acquisition Cost

FoundationalMetricsMarketing

Definition

Customer Acquisition Cost: Customer Acquisition Cost (CAC) is the total cost of acquiring a new customer, including marketing, sales, and onboarding expenses. CAC is calculated by dividing total acquisition costs by the number of new customers acquired in that period. Efficient CAC is crucial for profitable growth.

Example Usage

β€œOur blended CAC is $200, with paid channels at $350 and organic at $50.”

Common Misconceptions

Lower CAC is always better. Sometimes higher CAC brings higher-value customers.
CAC only includes ad spend. It should include sales salaries, tools, and all acquisition costs.
CAC should be the same across channels. Different channels have vastly different CACs.

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