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Primary formula: upfront cost = onboarding hours × loaded rate + implementation cost + acquisition cost
Duc Nguyen X.By Duc Nguyen X.· Founder, Margin101Last reviewed: View update historyMethodology

Educational only: Business decision support, not accounting, tax or legal advice.

Privacy: No account is required. Tool inputs and results stay in this browser. Anonymous categorical usage analytics send only governed page, tool, cluster and action identifiers; tool inputs and results are never sent. Error monitoring is disabled. Optional saved state stays only on this device.

Update policy: Reviewed when formulas or official dependencies change.

Scope: Market-neutral small-business planning using your own assumptions.

What this planner helps you decide

Best for

Subscription and service businesses planning recovery of customer onboarding and acquisition cost.

Outputs

Total upfront cost, exact monthly cumulative contribution and a fractional or unreachable payback month.

Start here

Enter the onboarding cost stack, then record contribution and retained share for each visible month.

Use a different tool when: Do not use this to measure acquisition-cost payback without a separate onboarding-cost model; use CAC Payback Planner for that decision. Use this tool to find when retained monthly contribution recovers customer onboarding and acquisition cost.

Cash & growth

Customer Onboarding Payback: total upfront cost

Total upfront cost, exact monthly cumulative contribution and a fractional or unreachable payback month.

Amounts use the same currency as your inputs. No currency conversion is performed.

Subscription economics assumptions

Use one consistent cohort, period, currency and tax basis.

Your numbers stay in this browser

Delivery time assigned to onboarding this cohort.

currency units

Loaded cost for one onboarding hour. Use one consistent currency, tax and period basis.

currency units

Non-labour implementation cost paid upfront. Use one consistent currency, tax and period basis.

currency units

Acquisition cost assigned to the onboarded customer or cohort. Use one consistent currency, tax and period basis.

Whole months included in the aligned contribution and retention arrays.

currency units

Contribution before retention weighting in month 1. Use one consistent currency, tax and period basis.

%

Expected retained share applied to month 1 contribution.

Additional decision inputsOpen the assumptions you are less likely to change on every comparison.
currency units

Contribution before retention weighting in month 2. Use one consistent currency, tax and period basis.

currency units

Contribution before retention weighting in month 3. Use one consistent currency, tax and period basis.

%

Expected retained share applied to month 2 contribution.

%

Expected retained share applied to month 3 contribution.

Decision result

All outputs come from the registered exact subscription engine.

Preparing export actions…
Total upfront cost
1,000.00
Cumulative contribution at horizon
1,000.00
Payback month
3
When does cumulative contribution recover onboarding cost?

Exact engine contribution reaches 1,000.00 by month 3 against upfront cost 1,000.00.

Cumulative contribution
Upfront-cost reference
1,000.00
Data for When does cumulative contribution recover onboarding cost?
Onboarding monthCumulative contribution
Month 1400.00
Month 2800.00
Month 3 (current)1,000.00

Scenario comparison

Each row names the assumption axis changed from the baseline.

ScenarioResultDifference
Entered scenario3Baseline
Higher Month 1 contribution2.8Not available

Save these results, change an input, then compare the updated figures with this baseline.

The baseline is temporary in this tab and is not added to shared scenario links or generated reports.

Calculation details

View calculation detailsView the formulas and inputs used for these results.

Total upfront cost

Total upfront costonboarding hours × loaded rate + implementation cost + acquisition cost1,000.00
Result1,000.00

Uses user-entered subscription economics on one consistent cohort, period and currency basis. The engine retains raw precision; display formatting does not feed calculation.

Customer Onboarding Payback Planner formulas →
Inputs used by these formula steps
Total upfront costOnboarding Labour Hours
10
Total upfront costLoaded Labour Rate
50
Total upfront costImplementation Cost
200
Total upfront costAcquisition Cost
300
Total upfront costHorizon Months
3
Total upfront costMonthly Contribution1
400
Total upfront costMonthly Contribution2
400
Total upfront costMonthly Contribution3
400
Total upfront costMonthly Contribution4
0
Total upfront costMonthly Contribution5
0
Total upfront costMonthly Contribution6
0
Total upfront costMonthly Contribution7
0
Total upfront costMonthly Contribution8
0
Total upfront costMonthly Contribution9
0
Total upfront costMonthly Contribution10
0
Total upfront costMonthly Contribution11
0
Total upfront costMonthly Contribution12
0
Total upfront costMonthly Contribution13
0
Total upfront costMonthly Contribution14
0
Total upfront costMonthly Contribution15
0
Total upfront costMonthly Contribution16
0
Total upfront costMonthly Contribution17
0
Total upfront costMonthly Contribution18
0
Total upfront costMonthly Contribution19
0
Total upfront costMonthly Contribution20
0
Total upfront costMonthly Contribution21
0
Total upfront costMonthly Contribution22
0
Total upfront costMonthly Contribution23
0
Total upfront costMonthly Contribution24
0
Total upfront costMonthly Contribution25
0
Total upfront costMonthly Contribution26
0
Total upfront costMonthly Contribution27
0
Total upfront costMonthly Contribution28
0
Total upfront costMonthly Contribution29
0
Total upfront costMonthly Contribution30
0
Total upfront costMonthly Contribution31
0
Total upfront costMonthly Contribution32
0
Total upfront costMonthly Contribution33
0
Total upfront costMonthly Contribution34
0
Total upfront costMonthly Contribution35
0
Total upfront costMonthly Contribution36
0
Total upfront costMonthly Retention1
1
Total upfront costMonthly Retention2
1
Total upfront costMonthly Retention3
0.5
Total upfront costMonthly Retention4
0
Total upfront costMonthly Retention5
0
Total upfront costMonthly Retention6
0
Total upfront costMonthly Retention7
0
Total upfront costMonthly Retention8
0
Total upfront costMonthly Retention9
0
Total upfront costMonthly Retention10
0
Total upfront costMonthly Retention11
0
Total upfront costMonthly Retention12
0
Total upfront costMonthly Retention13
0
Total upfront costMonthly Retention14
0
Total upfront costMonthly Retention15
0
Total upfront costMonthly Retention16
0
Total upfront costMonthly Retention17
0
Total upfront costMonthly Retention18
0
Total upfront costMonthly Retention19
0
Total upfront costMonthly Retention20
0
Total upfront costMonthly Retention21
0
Total upfront costMonthly Retention22
0
Total upfront costMonthly Retention23
0
Total upfront costMonthly Retention24
0
Total upfront costMonthly Retention25
0
Total upfront costMonthly Retention26
0
Total upfront costMonthly Retention27
0
Total upfront costMonthly Retention28
0
Total upfront costMonthly Retention29
0
Total upfront costMonthly Retention30
0
Total upfront costMonthly Retention31
0
Total upfront costMonthly Retention32
0
Total upfront costMonthly Retention33
0
Total upfront costMonthly Retention34
0
Total upfront costMonthly Retention35
0
Total upfront costMonthly Retention36
0

Cumulative contribution at horizon

Cumulative contribution at horizonsum of monthly contribution × retained share through the selected horizon1,000.00
Result1,000.00

Uses user-entered subscription economics on one consistent cohort, period and currency basis. The engine retains raw precision; display formatting does not feed calculation.

Customer Onboarding Payback Planner formulas →
Inputs used by these formula steps
Cumulative contribution at horizonOnboarding Labour Hours
10
Cumulative contribution at horizonLoaded Labour Rate
50
Cumulative contribution at horizonImplementation Cost
200
Cumulative contribution at horizonAcquisition Cost
300
Cumulative contribution at horizonHorizon Months
3
Cumulative contribution at horizonMonthly Contribution1
400
Cumulative contribution at horizonMonthly Contribution2
400
Cumulative contribution at horizonMonthly Contribution3
400
Cumulative contribution at horizonMonthly Contribution4
0
Cumulative contribution at horizonMonthly Contribution5
0
Cumulative contribution at horizonMonthly Contribution6
0
Cumulative contribution at horizonMonthly Contribution7
0
Cumulative contribution at horizonMonthly Contribution8
0
Cumulative contribution at horizonMonthly Contribution9
0
Cumulative contribution at horizonMonthly Contribution10
0
Cumulative contribution at horizonMonthly Contribution11
0
Cumulative contribution at horizonMonthly Contribution12
0
Cumulative contribution at horizonMonthly Contribution13
0
Cumulative contribution at horizonMonthly Contribution14
0
Cumulative contribution at horizonMonthly Contribution15
0
Cumulative contribution at horizonMonthly Contribution16
0
Cumulative contribution at horizonMonthly Contribution17
0
Cumulative contribution at horizonMonthly Contribution18
0
Cumulative contribution at horizonMonthly Contribution19
0
Cumulative contribution at horizonMonthly Contribution20
0
Cumulative contribution at horizonMonthly Contribution21
0
Cumulative contribution at horizonMonthly Contribution22
0
Cumulative contribution at horizonMonthly Contribution23
0
Cumulative contribution at horizonMonthly Contribution24
0
Cumulative contribution at horizonMonthly Contribution25
0
Cumulative contribution at horizonMonthly Contribution26
0
Cumulative contribution at horizonMonthly Contribution27
0
Cumulative contribution at horizonMonthly Contribution28
0
Cumulative contribution at horizonMonthly Contribution29
0
Cumulative contribution at horizonMonthly Contribution30
0
Cumulative contribution at horizonMonthly Contribution31
0
Cumulative contribution at horizonMonthly Contribution32
0
Cumulative contribution at horizonMonthly Contribution33
0
Cumulative contribution at horizonMonthly Contribution34
0
Cumulative contribution at horizonMonthly Contribution35
0
Cumulative contribution at horizonMonthly Contribution36
0
Cumulative contribution at horizonMonthly Retention1
1
Cumulative contribution at horizonMonthly Retention2
1
Cumulative contribution at horizonMonthly Retention3
0.5
Cumulative contribution at horizonMonthly Retention4
0
Cumulative contribution at horizonMonthly Retention5
0
Cumulative contribution at horizonMonthly Retention6
0
Cumulative contribution at horizonMonthly Retention7
0
Cumulative contribution at horizonMonthly Retention8
0
Cumulative contribution at horizonMonthly Retention9
0
Cumulative contribution at horizonMonthly Retention10
0
Cumulative contribution at horizonMonthly Retention11
0
Cumulative contribution at horizonMonthly Retention12
0
Cumulative contribution at horizonMonthly Retention13
0
Cumulative contribution at horizonMonthly Retention14
0
Cumulative contribution at horizonMonthly Retention15
0
Cumulative contribution at horizonMonthly Retention16
0
Cumulative contribution at horizonMonthly Retention17
0
Cumulative contribution at horizonMonthly Retention18
0
Cumulative contribution at horizonMonthly Retention19
0
Cumulative contribution at horizonMonthly Retention20
0
Cumulative contribution at horizonMonthly Retention21
0
Cumulative contribution at horizonMonthly Retention22
0
Cumulative contribution at horizonMonthly Retention23
0
Cumulative contribution at horizonMonthly Retention24
0
Cumulative contribution at horizonMonthly Retention25
0
Cumulative contribution at horizonMonthly Retention26
0
Cumulative contribution at horizonMonthly Retention27
0
Cumulative contribution at horizonMonthly Retention28
0
Cumulative contribution at horizonMonthly Retention29
0
Cumulative contribution at horizonMonthly Retention30
0
Cumulative contribution at horizonMonthly Retention31
0
Cumulative contribution at horizonMonthly Retention32
0
Cumulative contribution at horizonMonthly Retention33
0
Cumulative contribution at horizonMonthly Retention34
0
Cumulative contribution at horizonMonthly Retention35
0
Cumulative contribution at horizonMonthly Retention36
0

Payback month

Payback monthexact fractional month where cumulative contribution crosses upfront cost3 units
Result3

Uses user-entered subscription economics on one consistent cohort, period and currency basis. The engine retains raw precision; display formatting does not feed calculation.

Customer Onboarding Payback Planner formulas →
Inputs used by these formula steps
Payback monthOnboarding Labour Hours
10
Payback monthLoaded Labour Rate
50
Payback monthImplementation Cost
200
Payback monthAcquisition Cost
300
Payback monthHorizon Months
3
Payback monthMonthly Contribution1
400
Payback monthMonthly Contribution2
400
Payback monthMonthly Contribution3
400
Payback monthMonthly Contribution4
0
Payback monthMonthly Contribution5
0
Payback monthMonthly Contribution6
0
Payback monthMonthly Contribution7
0
Payback monthMonthly Contribution8
0
Payback monthMonthly Contribution9
0
Payback monthMonthly Contribution10
0
Payback monthMonthly Contribution11
0
Payback monthMonthly Contribution12
0
Payback monthMonthly Contribution13
0
Payback monthMonthly Contribution14
0
Payback monthMonthly Contribution15
0
Payback monthMonthly Contribution16
0
Payback monthMonthly Contribution17
0
Payback monthMonthly Contribution18
0
Payback monthMonthly Contribution19
0
Payback monthMonthly Contribution20
0
Payback monthMonthly Contribution21
0
Payback monthMonthly Contribution22
0
Payback monthMonthly Contribution23
0
Payback monthMonthly Contribution24
0
Payback monthMonthly Contribution25
0
Payback monthMonthly Contribution26
0
Payback monthMonthly Contribution27
0
Payback monthMonthly Contribution28
0
Payback monthMonthly Contribution29
0
Payback monthMonthly Contribution30
0
Payback monthMonthly Contribution31
0
Payback monthMonthly Contribution32
0
Payback monthMonthly Contribution33
0
Payback monthMonthly Contribution34
0
Payback monthMonthly Contribution35
0
Payback monthMonthly Contribution36
0
Payback monthMonthly Retention1
1
Payback monthMonthly Retention2
1
Payback monthMonthly Retention3
0.5
Payback monthMonthly Retention4
0
Payback monthMonthly Retention5
0
Payback monthMonthly Retention6
0
Payback monthMonthly Retention7
0
Payback monthMonthly Retention8
0
Payback monthMonthly Retention9
0
Payback monthMonthly Retention10
0
Payback monthMonthly Retention11
0
Payback monthMonthly Retention12
0
Payback monthMonthly Retention13
0
Payback monthMonthly Retention14
0
Payback monthMonthly Retention15
0
Payback monthMonthly Retention16
0
Payback monthMonthly Retention17
0
Payback monthMonthly Retention18
0
Payback monthMonthly Retention19
0
Payback monthMonthly Retention20
0
Payback monthMonthly Retention21
0
Payback monthMonthly Retention22
0
Payback monthMonthly Retention23
0
Payback monthMonthly Retention24
0
Payback monthMonthly Retention25
0
Payback monthMonthly Retention26
0
Payback monthMonthly Retention27
0
Payback monthMonthly Retention28
0
Payback monthMonthly Retention29
0
Payback monthMonthly Retention30
0
Payback monthMonthly Retention31
0
Payback monthMonthly Retention32
0
Payback monthMonthly Retention33
0
Payback monthMonthly Retention34
0
Payback monthMonthly Retention35
0
Payback monthMonthly Retention36
0

Cumulative Contribution

One engine formula is shown for this repeated collection field. The exact bound result for every entered row remains in the table.

Repeated row formula

Cumulative contribution — month 1prior cumulative contribution + month 1 contribution × month 1 retained share400.00
First entered row400.00

Exact cumulative retained contribution returned by the bounded engine horizon.

Inputs used by these formula steps
Cumulative contribution — month 1Monthly Contribution
400
Cumulative contribution — month 1Monthly Retention
1
Exact repeated calculation results
Entered rowResult
Cumulative contribution — month 1
400.00
Customer Onboarding Payback Planner formulas
Cumulative contribution — month 2
800.00
Customer Onboarding Payback Planner formulas
Cumulative contribution — month 3
1,000.00
Customer Onboarding Payback Planner formulas

Inputs used

Onboarding labour hours
10
Loaded onboarding labour rate
50
Implementation cost
200
Acquisition cost
300
Planning horizon
3
Month 1 contribution
400
Month 2 contribution
400
Month 3 contribution
400
Month 4 contribution
0
Month 5 contribution
0
Month 6 contribution
0
Month 7 contribution
0
Month 8 contribution
0
Month 9 contribution
0
Month 10 contribution
0
Month 11 contribution
0
Month 12 contribution
0
Month 13 contribution
0
Month 14 contribution
0
Month 15 contribution
0
Month 16 contribution
0
Month 17 contribution
0
Month 18 contribution
0
Month 19 contribution
0
Month 20 contribution
0
Month 21 contribution
0
Month 22 contribution
0
Month 23 contribution
0
Month 24 contribution
0
Month 25 contribution
0
Month 26 contribution
0
Month 27 contribution
0
Month 28 contribution
0
Month 29 contribution
0
Month 30 contribution
0
Month 31 contribution
0
Month 32 contribution
0
Month 33 contribution
0
Month 34 contribution
0
Month 35 contribution
0
Month 36 contribution
0
Month 1 retained share
1
Month 2 retained share
1
Month 3 retained share
0.5
Month 4 retained share
0
Month 5 retained share
0
Month 6 retained share
0
Month 7 retained share
0
Month 8 retained share
0
Month 9 retained share
0
Month 10 retained share
0
Month 11 retained share
0
Month 12 retained share
0
Month 13 retained share
0
Month 14 retained share
0
Month 15 retained share
0
Month 16 retained share
0
Month 17 retained share
0
Month 18 retained share
0
Month 19 retained share
0
Month 20 retained share
0
Month 21 retained share
0
Month 22 retained share
0
Month 23 retained share
0
Month 24 retained share
0
Month 25 retained share
0
Month 26 retained share
0
Month 27 retained share
0
Month 28 retained share
0
Month 29 retained share
0
Month 30 retained share
0
Month 31 retained share
0
Month 32 retained share
0
Month 33 retained share
0
Month 34 retained share
0
Month 35 retained share
0
Month 36 retained share
0
Open this calculator with preset values

This calculator supports documented, shareable scenario URLs. Compatible assistants and applications can construct links using the parameters below.

Scenario links contain only allowlisted numeric and closed-choice inputs shown in the URL; Margin101 excludes free text and identifying fields. Anyone you share the URL with can read those numbers, so do not include private or identifying data.

Example: https://margin101.com/tools/customer-onboarding-payback/?sv=1&acquisitionCost=300&horizonMonths=3&implementationCost=200&loadedLabourRate=50&monthlyContribution1=400&monthlyContribution10=0&monthlyContribution11=0&monthlyContribution12=0&monthlyContribution13=0&monthlyContribution14=0&monthlyContribution15=0&monthlyContribution16=0&monthlyContribution17=0&monthlyContribution18=0&monthlyContribution19=0&monthlyContribution2=400&monthlyContribution20=0&monthlyContribution21=0&monthlyContribution22=0&monthlyContribution23=0&monthlyContribution24=0&monthlyContribution25=0&monthlyContribution26=0&monthlyContribution27=0&monthlyContribution28=0&monthlyContribution29=0&monthlyContribution3=400&monthlyContribution30=0&monthlyContribution31=0&monthlyContribution32=0&monthlyContribution33=0&monthlyContribution34=0&monthlyContribution35=0&monthlyContribution36=0&monthlyContribution4=0&monthlyContribution5=0&monthlyContribution6=0&monthlyContribution7=0&monthlyContribution8=0&monthlyContribution9=0&monthlyRetention1=1&monthlyRetention10=0&monthlyRetention11=0&monthlyRetention12=0&monthlyRetention13=0&monthlyRetention14=0&monthlyRetention15=0&monthlyRetention16=0&monthlyRetention17=0&monthlyRetention18=0&monthlyRetention19=0&monthlyRetention2=1&monthlyRetention20=0&monthlyRetention21=0&monthlyRetention22=0&monthlyRetention23=0&monthlyRetention24=0&monthlyRetention25=0&monthlyRetention26=0&monthlyRetention27=0&monthlyRetention28=0&monthlyRetention29=0&monthlyRetention3=0.5&monthlyRetention30=0&monthlyRetention31=0&monthlyRetention32=0&monthlyRetention33=0&monthlyRetention34=0&monthlyRetention35=0&monthlyRetention36=0&monthlyRetention4=0&monthlyRetention5=0&monthlyRetention6=0&monthlyRetention7=0&monthlyRetention8=0&monthlyRetention9=0&onboardingLabourHours=10

ParameterMeaningUnitAllowed valuesPresenceDefault
acquisitionCostAcquisition cost assigned to the onboarded customer or cohort. Use one consistent currency, tax and period basis.currency units/onboarding case0 to 10000000Required300
horizonMonthsWhole months included in the aligned contribution and retention arrays.months1 to 36Required3
implementationCostNon-labour implementation cost paid upfront. Use one consistent currency, tax and period basis.currency units/onboarding case, upfront0 to 10000000Required200
loadedLabourRateLoaded cost for one onboarding hour. Use one consistent currency, tax and period basis.currency units/onboarding labour hour0 to 10000000Required50
monthlyContribution1Contribution before retention weighting in month 1. Use one consistent currency, tax and period basis.currency units/month 1 before retention weighting0 to 10000000Required400
monthlyContribution10Contribution before retention weighting in month 10. Use one consistent currency, tax and period basis.currency units/month 10 before retention weighting0 to 10000000Required0
monthlyContribution11Contribution before retention weighting in month 11. Use one consistent currency, tax and period basis.currency units/month 11 before retention weighting0 to 10000000Required0
monthlyContribution12Contribution before retention weighting in month 12. Use one consistent currency, tax and period basis.currency units/month 12 before retention weighting0 to 10000000Required0
monthlyContribution13Contribution before retention weighting in month 13. Use one consistent currency, tax and period basis.currency units/month 13 before retention weighting0 to 10000000Required0
monthlyContribution14Contribution before retention weighting in month 14. Use one consistent currency, tax and period basis.currency units/month 14 before retention weighting0 to 10000000Required0
monthlyContribution15Contribution before retention weighting in month 15. Use one consistent currency, tax and period basis.currency units/month 15 before retention weighting0 to 10000000Required0
monthlyContribution16Contribution before retention weighting in month 16. Use one consistent currency, tax and period basis.currency units/month 16 before retention weighting0 to 10000000Required0
monthlyContribution17Contribution before retention weighting in month 17. Use one consistent currency, tax and period basis.currency units/month 17 before retention weighting0 to 10000000Required0
monthlyContribution18Contribution before retention weighting in month 18. Use one consistent currency, tax and period basis.currency units/month 18 before retention weighting0 to 10000000Required0
monthlyContribution19Contribution before retention weighting in month 19. Use one consistent currency, tax and period basis.currency units/month 19 before retention weighting0 to 10000000Required0
monthlyContribution2Contribution before retention weighting in month 2. Use one consistent currency, tax and period basis.currency units/month 2 before retention weighting0 to 10000000Required400
monthlyContribution20Contribution before retention weighting in month 20. Use one consistent currency, tax and period basis.currency units/month 20 before retention weighting0 to 10000000Required0
monthlyContribution21Contribution before retention weighting in month 21. Use one consistent currency, tax and period basis.currency units/month 21 before retention weighting0 to 10000000Required0
monthlyContribution22Contribution before retention weighting in month 22. Use one consistent currency, tax and period basis.currency units/month 22 before retention weighting0 to 10000000Required0
monthlyContribution23Contribution before retention weighting in month 23. Use one consistent currency, tax and period basis.currency units/month 23 before retention weighting0 to 10000000Required0
monthlyContribution24Contribution before retention weighting in month 24. Use one consistent currency, tax and period basis.currency units/month 24 before retention weighting0 to 10000000Required0
monthlyContribution25Contribution before retention weighting in month 25. Use one consistent currency, tax and period basis.currency units/month 25 before retention weighting0 to 10000000Required0
monthlyContribution26Contribution before retention weighting in month 26. Use one consistent currency, tax and period basis.currency units/month 26 before retention weighting0 to 10000000Required0
monthlyContribution27Contribution before retention weighting in month 27. Use one consistent currency, tax and period basis.currency units/month 27 before retention weighting0 to 10000000Required0
monthlyContribution28Contribution before retention weighting in month 28. Use one consistent currency, tax and period basis.currency units/month 28 before retention weighting0 to 10000000Required0
monthlyContribution29Contribution before retention weighting in month 29. Use one consistent currency, tax and period basis.currency units/month 29 before retention weighting0 to 10000000Required0
monthlyContribution3Contribution before retention weighting in month 3. Use one consistent currency, tax and period basis.currency units/month 3 before retention weighting0 to 10000000Required400
monthlyContribution30Contribution before retention weighting in month 30. Use one consistent currency, tax and period basis.currency units/month 30 before retention weighting0 to 10000000Required0
monthlyContribution31Contribution before retention weighting in month 31. Use one consistent currency, tax and period basis.currency units/month 31 before retention weighting0 to 10000000Required0
monthlyContribution32Contribution before retention weighting in month 32. Use one consistent currency, tax and period basis.currency units/month 32 before retention weighting0 to 10000000Required0
monthlyContribution33Contribution before retention weighting in month 33. Use one consistent currency, tax and period basis.currency units/month 33 before retention weighting0 to 10000000Required0
monthlyContribution34Contribution before retention weighting in month 34. Use one consistent currency, tax and period basis.currency units/month 34 before retention weighting0 to 10000000Required0
monthlyContribution35Contribution before retention weighting in month 35. Use one consistent currency, tax and period basis.currency units/month 35 before retention weighting0 to 10000000Required0
monthlyContribution36Contribution before retention weighting in month 36. Use one consistent currency, tax and period basis.currency units/month 36 before retention weighting0 to 10000000Required0
monthlyContribution4Contribution before retention weighting in month 4. Use one consistent currency, tax and period basis.currency units/month 4 before retention weighting0 to 10000000Required0
monthlyContribution5Contribution before retention weighting in month 5. Use one consistent currency, tax and period basis.currency units/month 5 before retention weighting0 to 10000000Required0
monthlyContribution6Contribution before retention weighting in month 6. Use one consistent currency, tax and period basis.currency units/month 6 before retention weighting0 to 10000000Required0
monthlyContribution7Contribution before retention weighting in month 7. Use one consistent currency, tax and period basis.currency units/month 7 before retention weighting0 to 10000000Required0
monthlyContribution8Contribution before retention weighting in month 8. Use one consistent currency, tax and period basis.currency units/month 8 before retention weighting0 to 10000000Required0
monthlyContribution9Contribution before retention weighting in month 9. Use one consistent currency, tax and period basis.currency units/month 9 before retention weighting0 to 10000000Required0
monthlyRetention1Expected retained share applied to month 1 contribution.decimal share of onboarding cohort retained in month 10 to 1Required1
monthlyRetention10Expected retained share applied to month 10 contribution.decimal share of onboarding cohort retained in month 100 to 1Required0
monthlyRetention11Expected retained share applied to month 11 contribution.decimal share of onboarding cohort retained in month 110 to 1Required0
monthlyRetention12Expected retained share applied to month 12 contribution.decimal share of onboarding cohort retained in month 120 to 1Required0
monthlyRetention13Expected retained share applied to month 13 contribution.decimal share of onboarding cohort retained in month 130 to 1Required0
monthlyRetention14Expected retained share applied to month 14 contribution.decimal share of onboarding cohort retained in month 140 to 1Required0
monthlyRetention15Expected retained share applied to month 15 contribution.decimal share of onboarding cohort retained in month 150 to 1Required0
monthlyRetention16Expected retained share applied to month 16 contribution.decimal share of onboarding cohort retained in month 160 to 1Required0
monthlyRetention17Expected retained share applied to month 17 contribution.decimal share of onboarding cohort retained in month 170 to 1Required0
monthlyRetention18Expected retained share applied to month 18 contribution.decimal share of onboarding cohort retained in month 180 to 1Required0
monthlyRetention19Expected retained share applied to month 19 contribution.decimal share of onboarding cohort retained in month 190 to 1Required0
monthlyRetention2Expected retained share applied to month 2 contribution.decimal share of onboarding cohort retained in month 20 to 1Required1
monthlyRetention20Expected retained share applied to month 20 contribution.decimal share of onboarding cohort retained in month 200 to 1Required0
monthlyRetention21Expected retained share applied to month 21 contribution.decimal share of onboarding cohort retained in month 210 to 1Required0
monthlyRetention22Expected retained share applied to month 22 contribution.decimal share of onboarding cohort retained in month 220 to 1Required0
monthlyRetention23Expected retained share applied to month 23 contribution.decimal share of onboarding cohort retained in month 230 to 1Required0
monthlyRetention24Expected retained share applied to month 24 contribution.decimal share of onboarding cohort retained in month 240 to 1Required0
monthlyRetention25Expected retained share applied to month 25 contribution.decimal share of onboarding cohort retained in month 250 to 1Required0
monthlyRetention26Expected retained share applied to month 26 contribution.decimal share of onboarding cohort retained in month 260 to 1Required0
monthlyRetention27Expected retained share applied to month 27 contribution.decimal share of onboarding cohort retained in month 270 to 1Required0
monthlyRetention28Expected retained share applied to month 28 contribution.decimal share of onboarding cohort retained in month 280 to 1Required0
monthlyRetention29Expected retained share applied to month 29 contribution.decimal share of onboarding cohort retained in month 290 to 1Required0
monthlyRetention3Expected retained share applied to month 3 contribution.decimal share of onboarding cohort retained in month 30 to 1Required0.5
monthlyRetention30Expected retained share applied to month 30 contribution.decimal share of onboarding cohort retained in month 300 to 1Required0
monthlyRetention31Expected retained share applied to month 31 contribution.decimal share of onboarding cohort retained in month 310 to 1Required0
monthlyRetention32Expected retained share applied to month 32 contribution.decimal share of onboarding cohort retained in month 320 to 1Required0
monthlyRetention33Expected retained share applied to month 33 contribution.decimal share of onboarding cohort retained in month 330 to 1Required0
monthlyRetention34Expected retained share applied to month 34 contribution.decimal share of onboarding cohort retained in month 340 to 1Required0
monthlyRetention35Expected retained share applied to month 35 contribution.decimal share of onboarding cohort retained in month 350 to 1Required0
monthlyRetention36Expected retained share applied to month 36 contribution.decimal share of onboarding cohort retained in month 360 to 1Required0
monthlyRetention4Expected retained share applied to month 4 contribution.decimal share of onboarding cohort retained in month 40 to 1Required0
monthlyRetention5Expected retained share applied to month 5 contribution.decimal share of onboarding cohort retained in month 50 to 1Required0
monthlyRetention6Expected retained share applied to month 6 contribution.decimal share of onboarding cohort retained in month 60 to 1Required0
monthlyRetention7Expected retained share applied to month 7 contribution.decimal share of onboarding cohort retained in month 70 to 1Required0
monthlyRetention8Expected retained share applied to month 8 contribution.decimal share of onboarding cohort retained in month 80 to 1Required0
monthlyRetention9Expected retained share applied to month 9 contribution.decimal share of onboarding cohort retained in month 90 to 1Required0
onboardingLabourHoursDelivery time assigned to onboarding this cohort.onboarding labour hours/onboarding case0 to 100000000Required10

Customer Onboarding Payback: total upfront cost

Use the exact crossing to test whether the entered contribution horizon can recover onboarding cost; it is not a retention forecast.

Formula summary

Primary formula
upfront cost = onboarding hours × loaded rate + implementation cost + acquisition cost

Read the full methodology

Data used here

  • The estimate uses your inputs and the general business formula documented in the methodology.

Decision checks

Act on the result

Compare the recovery month with your contract term and capacity before increasing onboarding effort or acquisition spend.

Stress-test the decision

Retest lower monthly contribution and retained share to expose an unreachable or later recovery point.

When this estimate can be misleading

  • Contribution and retention are user-entered scenarios, not forecasts.
  • The editable 1-to-36-month horizon can return an explicit unreachable result.
  • Use one consistent cohort, period, currency and indirect-tax basis.
  • This is educational decision support, not financial, tax, legal or accounting advice.
  • Use the exact crossing to test whether the entered contribution horizon can recover onboarding cost; it is not a retention forecast.

Educational estimate, not advice. See all assumptions & limitations →

Related reading

Guides to interpret the decision and its assumptions.

Frequently asked questions

How do I find when retained monthly contribution recovers customer onboarding and acquisition cost?

Compare the recovery month with your contract term and capacity before increasing onboarding effort or acquisition spend.

Which planning assumptions should I stress-test?

Compare a plausible alternative scenario and verify the decision-critical assumption that changes the plan most.