They say that only two things are certain in life: death and taxes.
When you start a startup, though, only one thing is certain: you will need an investment in order to commence operations and setup processes like gathering a team, developing a product or service, purchasing the necessary equipment and so on.
Then, at a certain point, be it sooner or later, you will need to think about how that initial investment has paid off. Have you managed to gain profit, or have your efforts been in vain?
This is also known as ROI, or return on investment, and in simple words it is a comparison of how much you have invested, and how much you can get in return for your investment.
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What Is a Good ROI for a Startup?
Generally, a good return on investment is considered to be anywhere between 7 and 10% on a yearly basis. However, a good ROI percentage differs depending on the industry.
Here is an example of the top 10 sectors with the highest ROI for Q1, 2023:
- Energy – 19.99%
- Technology – 12.52%
- Retail – 9.50%
- Capital Goods – 9.25%
- Consumer Non Cyclical – 8.56%
- Basic Materials – 8.05%
- Conglomerates – 7.04%
- Consumer Discretionary – 5.93%
- Transportation – 5.63%
- Healthcare – 4.72%
The best ROI figures in sectors like Energy and Technology are largely due to their innovative approaches and adaptation to market trends. For example, the Energy sector’s investment in renewable resources and sustainable practices has not only enhanced ROI but also aligned with the growing global focus on environmental responsibility.
Similarly, Technology companies have achieved high returns by continuously evolving and meeting the dynamic demands of the digital age.
On the other end of the spectrum, currently the sectors with the lowest ROI are: Financial (1.18%), Services (3.26%), and Utilities (3.88%).
In terms of industries, these are the best performing based on ROI:
- Coal Mining – 39.08%
- Computer Hardware – 28.79%
- Legacy – 28.56%
- Home Improvement – 25.74%
- Oil And Gas Production – 24.05%
- Tobacco – 23.65%
- Iron & Steel – 20.91%
- Oil & Gas Integrated Operations – 19.02%
- Grocery Stores – 16.46%
- Computer Networks – 16.13%
So, what is a good investment return for your own startup? According to experts, a good return on investments for businesses is considered to be 7% or higher.
Of course, these are just numbers thrown in the air. Let us understand the value of ROI, and how to calculate it for your own business.
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How to Calculate ROI for Startups?
- Defining the Investment
- Determining the Cost
- Estimating the Return
- Calculating Net Profit
- Calculating the ROI
- Analyzing the ROI
A well-calculated ROI not only reflects the financial health of a startup but also guides strategic decision-making. It provides a clear picture of where and how investments are yielding results, setting the stage for informed choices about future business directions and investments.
1. Defining the Investment
It is important to start by identifying the specific investment you want to evaluate. It could be a project, a marketing, or advertising campaign, or a new business initiative.
Determining the specific investment is crucial because the return on investment differs depending on the medium. For example, a good ROI for marketing is typically 5:1, or earning $5 for every $1 you spend.
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2. Determining the Cost
Next up, you need to calculate the total cost associated with the investment. We are not talking only about the cost that went directly to the development of your product or service.
We are talking about absolutely everything that you have spent money on to get your company up and running.
This includes both direct and indirect expenses such as equipment, renting office space, insurance, payroll, marketing expenses, overhead costs, and so on.
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3. Estimating the Return
After determining the complete costs of the project, it is time to measure the financial return generated by your investment.
Of course, for startups, this could be a bit challenging, since future cash flows and revenue projections may not be precise. Everything can happen, after all.
However, what you can do is to make educated estimates based on market research, customer feedback, and industry benchmarks.
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4. Calculating Net Profit
Now, deduct the total investment cost from the estimated return in order to determine the net profit generated by the investment. The net profit equals the estimated return minus the investment cost.
If you are having trouble doing this manually, you can accept the help of an online net profit calculator.
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5. Calculating the ROI
In order to calculate your ROI, you need to divide the net profit by the investment cost and multiply by 100 to obtain the ROI percentage.
Basically, ROI = (Net Profit / Investment Cost) x 100. Of course, you can always use an online ROI calculator to make things easier.
Another interesting fact: Email marketing has one of the highest returns on investment, with $40 earned for every $1 spent. For comparison, the ROI of SEO is $22.24, and the return of investment for mobile marketing is $10.51. Furthermore, the top 3 industries that generate the highest ROI from email marketing are tourism, travel, and hospitality.
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6. Analyzing the ROI
Finally, once you have the ROI percentage, evaluate the result. A positive ROI indicates that the investment generated profit, while a negative ROI suggests a loss.
Compare the ROI with industry standards or similar investments to assess its relative performance.
Overall, it is important to note that ROI is just one metric to consider when evaluating your startup investments.
Additionally, it is also essential to consider other factors such as the payback period, risk assessment, and long-term strategic goals.
Keep in mind that ROI calculations have limitations, particularly for startups, where future projections may not be entirely accurate.
Therefore, it is important to conduct a thorough research and gather as much relevant data as possible to make informed decisions regarding your investment.
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Why Is ROI Important for Businesses?
Calculating and analyzing the return on investment metric is vital for businesses since it gives them an overall picture of how they have performed.
A negative ROI might mean that the business is not profitable, or risky, which could be a bad signal to any potential investors.
Similarly, a positive return on investment would probably mean that you are growing and have the momentum to develop your startup.
Ultimately, a good ROI percentage is a clear indication that you are doing things right. You should use this momentum to continue growing, and possibly replicate whatever you did in the first place.
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What Are the Limitations of ROI?
On its own, the return on investment metric could be misleading. This is because it only provides a figure which is not accompanied by any explanation.
Thus, it is more important to analyze your results, and understand why you have a ROI of 5%, for example?
Furthermore, you should think about things like: Is that the maximum investment I could have gained for my business, what could I do to achieve a higher profit, and is that percentage less or more than expected for my industry?
It is good to consider the fact that in the early stages of a startup, investors typically expect to see a return on investment of 3 to 5 times on their initial investment within a 5 to 7 years timeframe.
Again, this may vary based on the stage of the startup, company, as well as, the amount of risk the investors are willing to take.
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Bottom Line
The essence of ROI as a metric is to not just look at the numbers, but to combine them with other metrics. Analyze everything and try to understand and predict what you should improve upon in the future, and what is currently not working as it should be.
Ultimately, the answer to the question: what is a good ROI for a startup, depends on your industry.
While the average return on investment is around 7-10%, sectors like Energy (19.99%), and Technology (12.52%) have a much higher average ROI expectancy at the moment.
That is it for today’s article. In case you need any help with the digital marketing aspect of your business, do not forget that DevriX can assist you with anything you need.
Team DevriX
This article is crafted by DevriX's seasoned marketing team, boasting over four decades of collective expertise in crafting sophisticated marketing funnels, devising comprehensive content frameworks and pillars, implementing engaging email campaigns, and creating impactful social media content designed for scalability.
Our marketing experts specialize in the complete spectrum of inbound marketing strategies. As an accredited HubSpot Agency Partner and a Semrush Partner, we engage in meticulous research, blending our extensive experience with the unique insights of our highly skilled team.
We set benchmarks in content creation by incorporating cutting-edge marketing trends, leveraging in-depth industry research, and utilizing state-of-the-art AI tools for data segmentation and captivating content hooks. Our proficiency extends across a diverse range of sectors, including working with SMEs, Fortune 1000 companies, global B2B brands, major publishing entities, WooCommerce platforms, business directories, and affiliate networks.
