MarginKoala

What is the highest CAC my customer economics support?

Enter your numbers below. Get the answer first, then Koala's next move.

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Result detail level
Numbers to enter
Basic mode derives customer value from normal order economics and keeps a negative value visible when an average order costs more than it brings in. Advanced mode lets you enter contribution LTV directly, including a negative LTV when the customer is loss-making on that basis.
$

Finance / industry term: AOV — Average Order Value

$

Product/supplier cost plus other per-order costs you want included. If this exceeds order value, Koala keeps the resulting loss visible.

Use your actual customer pattern.

%

Your own profit buffer, not an industry benchmark. 0 means the mathematical ceiling with no retained buffer.

Also limit how long payback can take?

Optional. This gives you a second ceiling and uses whichever is lower.

Koala's Calculated Result
The highest acquisition cost supported by the customer economics and limits entered.

Use Basic inputs to estimate customer value, or switch to Advanced if you already know it.

MarginKoalaKoala's Professional Opinion

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The decision and next steps will appear here.

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Frequently asked questions

What is "maximum CAC"?

Use the calculator result for the inputs entered and keep any market-response or operating recommendation separate from the deterministic calculation. Support that additional assumption with the business’s own evidence or an explicitly labelled scenario.

Maximum CAC

How is it derived?

MarginKoala starts with contribution LTV and the owner-selected amount of customer value to retain rather than spend on acquisition. The remainder is the margin-based CAC ceiling. If a payback constraint is entered, it also computes that ceiling and uses the lower result. No universal CAC multiple is assumed.

Maximum CAC

Should I include payback window?

Use a measurement period and refresh cadence that match the decision, data volume and volatility. Shorter windows react faster while longer windows smooth noise. MarginKoala does not impose a universal timing rule.

Maximum CAC

What if my maximum CAC is below my actual CAC?

Your acquisition is mathematically unprofitable. Either lift LTV (raise price, lift AOV, push retention), trim CAC (creative, channel mix, audience), or both. The size of the gap tells you how much room each lever has.

Maximum CAC

Educational use, not financial advice. Numbers are estimates for planning; consult a qualified professional before acting on them.