LTV:CAC Ratio
The single ratio that tells you whether your growth engine creates value or burns it: lifetime value divided by acquisition cost.
Definition
LTV:CAC = LTV / CAC. A healthy range sits between 3:1 and 5:1. Below 2:1 the unit economics do not support paid growth. Above 8:1 you are almost certainly underinvesting and leaving market share on the table. Pair it with CAC payback period, since a strong ratio with a 24-month payback still strains cash.
Why it matters
This is the one number a board uses to judge whether to pour fuel on growth. A ratio that looks great but hides an 18-month payback is a cash trap. Most companies optimize CAC in isolation when the ratio, and the payback behind it, is what determines whether scaling is safe.
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