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Break-even CPA

The most you can pay to acquire an order before it stops making money.

Break-even CPA is the maximum cost per acquisition an order can bear before profit hits zero. It equals your contribution per order — price minus all variable costs (product, shipping, fees, returns). Hold your live CPA against it: below it you profit, above it you lose.

Formula

Break-even CPA = Price − variable costs per order

Example: $49.99 price − $20.75 costs = $29.24 break-even CPA.

What a good result depends on

Rises with your margin; compare it to actual CPA per channel.

Common mistakes

  • Leaving shipping, fees and returns out of variable costs.
  • Comparing CPA to revenue instead of contribution.
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Break-even CPA Calculator
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