Restaurant Customer Acquisition Cost

Getting new customers through the door (or to your ordering page) costs money — but how much is too much?

That’s where Customer Acquisition Cost (CAC) comes in. It’s a critical metric that tells you how much you're spending to gain each new customer. When you know your CAC, you can make smarter decisions about your marketing budget and return on investment (ROI).

How to calculate it:

CAC = Total Marketing Spend ÷ Number of New Customers Acquired

For example, if you spent $500 on local ads and got 50 new customers, your CAC is $10.

Now ask yourself: Is each customer worth more than $10?If their average order is $30 and they come back more than once, then yes — great! If not, your CAC needs work.

Ways to optimize CAC:

· Focus on high-converting channels – Double down on what’s bringing in the most valuable traffic.

· Retarget previous visitors – It's cheaper to bring back someone who already knows you than to find someone new.

· Tighten your targeting – Don’t waste dollars advertising to people who live too far away or aren't likely to order.

· Measure and refine – Use ROI tracking tools to understand what works.

� Deliver Local helps you lower CAC and increase ROI by using email marketing and customer data to bring customers back — at no extra cost. Our system captures emails and phone numbers with every order and sends automated offers, birthday messages, and reorder reminders. That means fewer one-time guests and more loyal customers — all from your existing traffic.

Customer acquisition is expensive. Customer retention is smart. With the right tools, you don’t have to choose.