How Many Customers to Break Even?
Find out exactly how many new customers you need to cover your ad spend and start profiting.
To break even on your ad spend, you need
per month
The numbers:
Below break-even
0
customers = loss
Break-even
0
customers
Profitable
0+
customers
Assessment
Assessment text
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Why Break-even Matters
Understanding your break-even point is crucial before investing in paid advertising. It tells you the minimum number of customers you need from your ads just to cover what you spent.
The formula is simple:
Break-even Customers = Ad Spend ÷ Profit Per Customer
If you're using revenue instead of profit, you'll get a lower break-even number, but remember that doesn't account for your costs to deliver the service. Using your profit margin gives a more accurate picture.
What's a good break-even point?
This depends on your industry, but generally:
- 1-3 customers: Excellent - very achievable with good ads
- 4-6 customers: Good - achievable with solid campaigns
- 7-10 customers: Moderate - requires well-optimised campaigns
- 10+ customers: Challenging - consider increasing job value or reducing spend
Want to know if your break-even is realistic? Check our Cost Per Lead Benchmarks to see how many leads you'll likely get for your budget.