Understanding Your True Lead Acquisition Cost
Most businesses only calculate CPL (Cost Per Lead) from their ad spend — but true customer acquisition cost includes sales team time, CRM costs, content creation, and all marketing overhead. This calculator gives you the complete picture.
| Industry | Avg CPL | Avg CAC | Target LTV:CAC |
|---|---|---|---|
| E-commerce | $15-50 | $30-100 | 3:1+ |
| B2B SaaS | $100-300 | $500-2,000 | 3:1+ |
| Real Estate | $100-400 | $500-2,000 | 5:1+ |
| Legal Services | $200-700 | $800-3,000 | 4:1+ |
| Home Services | $30-150 | $100-500 | 3:1+ |
The LTV:CAC Ratio — Your North Star Metric
The LTV:CAC (Lifetime Value to Customer Acquisition Cost) ratio is the single most important metric for sustainable business growth. A ratio of 3:1 is considered healthy — meaning for every $1 spent acquiring a customer, you get $3 back in lifetime value. Below 1:1 means you're losing money on every customer.