Top 5 Efficiency Metrics for SMBs Metrics

The top five efficiency-focused metrics that matter most for small and mid-sized businesses - focusing on how to turn effort, cost, and time into outcomes and profit.

Customer Acquisition Cost Ratio

Customer Acquisition Cost (CAC) Ratio is a sales and marketing efficiency metric that measures the return on investment from customer acquisition efforts. It calculates how many dollars of new subscription revenue (adjusted for gross margin) a company generates for each dollar spent on sales and marketing. Unlike simple revenue multiples, CAC Ratio accounts for the actual profit economics of delivering the service by incorporating gross margin, providing a more accurate picture of unit economics and capital efficiency.

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Gross Margin

Gross Margin is a profitability ratio that measures Gross Profit as a percentage of total revenue. Typically, it is calculated as Gross Profit divided by Revenue. This metric is a key indicator of a company's financial health and operational efficiency.

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Payroll to Revenue Ratio

Payroll to Revenue Ratio, frequently referred to as Salary to Revenue Ratio, is a productivity metric that measures how effective a business is at utilizing its labour costs to produce revenue. As with any ratio, it's always important to understand both the numerator and the denominator and how changes to either will impact the number.

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Profit per Employee

Profit per Employee is a measure of Net Income for the past twelve months (LTM) divided by the current number of Full-Time Equivalent employees. Because labour needs differ across sectors, this ratio is often used to compare companies within the same industry.

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Sales and Marketing to Revenue Ratio

The Sales and Marketing to Revenue Ratio represents the percentage of total revenue that a company invests in its sales and marketing activities. This metric serves as a critical indicator of how efficiently a company is acquiring and retaining customers relative to the revenue those efforts generate. It encompasses all costs associated with customer acquisition, including advertising spend, sales team compensation, marketing technology, promotional activities, trade shows, content creation, and customer relationship management systems. This ratio is particularly valuable for assessing the scalability and sustainability of a company's growth strategy. A well-optimised ratio indicates that the company is investing appropriately in revenue-generating activities without over-spending on customer acquisition, while maintaining the ability to compete effectively in its market. The metric also provides insight into a company's operational maturity and its ability to generate profitable growth over time.

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