#954 · Startup Tool

Series A CAC Calculator

Evaluate customer acquisition cost at Series A by combining paid spend, sales cost, marketing cost, new customers, and organic acquisition. Use it to identify whether growth channels are scalable.

Calculator

Acquisition inputs
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Ad space

How to use this calculator

  • Enter paid media spend for the period.
  • Add sales cost and marketing cost.
  • Enter the number of new customers acquired.
  • Compare blended CAC against payback and LTV targets.

What the result means

Lower CAC improves payback and increases the efficiency of growth spending. Series A companies should understand blended CAC and paid CAC separately.

Blended CAC = (Paid Spend + Sales Cost + Marketing Cost) ÷ New Customers. Paid CAC Proxy = Paid Spend ÷ New Customers.

For accurate channel CAC, split new customers by source. This calculator gives a blended acquisition view.

Example calculation

With $120,000 paid spend, $180,000 sales cost, $90,000 marketing cost, and 300 new customers, blended CAC is $1,300.

Tips for better results

  • Separate paid, organic, partner, and sales-led acquisition.
  • Improve conversion rate before increasing paid spend.
  • Track CAC by cohort and payback period.
  • Use CAC with LTV and retention, not in isolation.

FAQ

What is a good CAC for a Series A SaaS company?

A good CAC depends on ARPA, gross margin, retention, and payback period. It should support a healthy LTV to CAC ratio and reasonable payback.

How do I calculate blended CAC for a startup?

Add sales and marketing costs for the period, then divide by the number of new customers acquired.

Should sales salaries be included in CAC?

Yes, sales salaries and commissions are usually included when calculating fully loaded CAC.

How can a SaaS company reduce CAC before Series B?

It can improve conversion, increase organic acquisition, shorten the sales cycle, and focus on higher-quality channels.

What is the difference between paid CAC and blended CAC?

Paid CAC measures paid acquisition efficiency, while blended CAC includes all acquisition costs and all new customers.

Decision metrics

MetricMeaning
Blended CACTotal acquisition cost per new customer.
Paid CAC ProxyPaid spend divided by total new customers.
Sales Cost ShareSales cost as part of total acquisition spend.
CAC HealthEfficiency rating based on CAC level.

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