Accounting Customer Acquisition Cost (Monthly) Calculator Examples
See worked monthly CAC examples using advertising costs, payroll allocations, other acquisition expenses, and new customers.
These examples show how the same monthly CAC formula can produce different results when customer volume, payroll allocations, and campaign costs change. Each example uses costs and new customers from one consistent monthly reporting period.
Small campaign with a lean cost base
The business acquires 20 new paying customers while keeping payroll allocations relatively low.
Input Summary
Advertising spend
$1,200
Marketing payroll allocated to acquisition
$600
Sales payroll allocated to acquisition
$900
Other acquisition costs
$300
New customers
20 customers
Calculation Breakdown
- 1Calculate total acquisition cost$1,200 + $600 + $900 + $300$3,000
- 2Calculate CAC$3,000 ÷ 20$150 per customer
Result Summary
Calculate total acquisition cost
$3,000
Accounting Customer Acquisition Cost (Monthly) Calculator
The estimated monthly CAC is $150.00 per customer, based on $3,000 of acquisition spending.
Growing team with steady customer volume
The company gains 75 customers in a month while using paid media, sales staff, and agency support.
Input Summary
Advertising spend
$8,000
Marketing payroll allocated to acquisition
$4,500
Sales payroll allocated to acquisition
$7,500
Other acquisition costs
$2,500
New customers
75 customers
Calculation Breakdown
- 1Calculate total acquisition cost$8,000 + $4,500 + $7,500 + $2,500$22,500
- 2Calculate CAC$22,500 ÷ 75$300 per customer
Result Summary
Calculate total acquisition cost
$22,500
Accounting Customer Acquisition Cost (Monthly) Calculator
The estimated monthly CAC is $300.00 per customer, based on $22,500 of acquisition spending.
High campaign spend with fewer completed acquisitions
The business records 30 new customers after launching a new channel and attending an event.
Input Summary
Advertising spend
$9,000
Marketing payroll allocated to acquisition
$2,000
Sales payroll allocated to acquisition
$3,000
Other acquisition costs
$4,000
New customers
30 customers
Calculation Breakdown
- 1Calculate total acquisition cost$9,000 + $2,000 + $3,000 + $4,000$18,000
- 2Calculate CAC$18,000 ÷ 30$600 per customer
Result Summary
Calculate total acquisition cost
$18,000
Accounting Customer Acquisition Cost (Monthly) Calculator
The estimated monthly CAC is $600.00 per customer, based on $18,000 of acquisition spending.
How to Read Your Results
CAC is an average cost per new customer, not the cost of every individual acquisition.
Review total acquisition cost alongside CAC so that changes in spending are visible.
Compare months only when customer definitions and included cost categories are consistent.
A rise in CAC may result from timing differences as well as a change in campaign efficiency.
Use channel-level data separately when you need to understand which sources produced customers.
Assumptions & Important Notes
- Each example counts new paying customers, not leads or website visitors.
- All costs and acquisitions occur in the same monthly reporting period.
- Retention and customer service costs are excluded.
- Payroll is limited to the portion reasonably allocated to new-customer acquisition.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How do I use these monthly CAC examples?
Replace each example input with your own monthly costs and number of new paying customers, then follow the same addition and division steps.
Why do payroll costs matter in CAC examples?
Sales and marketing labor can be part of the cost of acquiring customers when an allocated share of that work is dedicated to acquisition.
Can monthly CAC be different from campaign CAC?
Yes. Monthly CAC can include multiple channels and shared payroll, while campaign CAC may use only costs and customers attributed to one campaign.
What if an expense benefits both acquisition and retention?
Use a documented allocation method if you choose to include an acquisition-related share, and apply it consistently over time.
Ready to calculate your own result?
Use the live calculator with your own inputs, timing, and preferences.