How do you determine return on investment?
John Johnson
Updated on February 21, 2026
ROI is calculated by subtracting the initial value of the investment from the final value of the investment (which equals the net return), then dividing this new number (the net return) by the cost of the investment, and, finally, multiplying it by 100.
What is ROI and why is it important?
Return on investment, better known as ROI, is a key performance indicator (KPI) that’s often used by businesses to determine profitability of an expenditure. It’s exceptionally useful for measuring success over time and taking the guesswork out of making future business decisions.
What does return on investment tell you?
The return on investment ratio (ROI), also known as the return on assets ratio, is a profitability measure that evaluates the performance or potential return from a business or investment. The ROI formula looks at the benefit received from an investment, or its gain, divided by the investment’s original cost.
What should ROI be?
A good marketing ROI is 5:1. A 5:1 ratio is in the middle of the bell curve. A ratio over 5:1 is considered strong for most businesses, and a 10:1 ratio is exceptional. Achieving a ratio higher than 10:1 ratio is possible, but it shouldn’t be the expectation.
Is a higher return on investment better?
For investors, choosing a company with a good return on investment is important because a high ROI means that the firm is successful at using the investment to generate high returns. Investors will typically avoid an investment with a negative ROI, or if there are other investment opportunities with a positive ROI.
What do you need to know about return on investment?
Return on Investment (ROI) 1 Understanding Return on Investment (ROI) ROI is a popular metric because of its versatility and simplicity. Essentially, ROI can be used as a rudimentary gauge of an investment’s profitability. 2 Limitations of ROI. 3 Developments in ROI. 4 Frequently Asked Questions. …
How is the return on investment ( ROI ) calculated?
ROI tries to directly measure the amount of return on a particular investment, relative to the investment’s cost. To calculate ROI, the benefit (or return) of an investment is divided by the cost of the investment. The result is expressed as a percentage or a ratio. The return on investment formula is as follows:
Why is return on investment expressed as a percentage?
First, ROI is typically expressed as a percentage because it is intuitively easier to understand (as opposed to when expressed as a ratio). Second, the ROI calculation includes the net return in the numerator because returns from an investment can be either positive or negative.
How to calculate return on investment for marketing?
You can calculate marketing return on investment to determine which campaigns are giving you the greatest return for your business. For example, you may launch both online and offline campaigns to promote an upcoming event that your business is hosting.