Marketing campaign
You invest $12,000 and get back $16,200.
ROI is 35%.
The return exceeded the original spend by $4,200.
ROI Calculator
Use this when you need a fast read on whether an investment produced enough return to justify the money you put in.
Inputs
ROI Calculator
Measure the return generated from an investment.
Results
Return on investment
Check gain, ROI, and the return multiple side by side.
Gain
$4,200.00
Return minus the original investment.
ROI
35.00%
Return as a percentage of the investment.
Return multiple
1.35x
How many times the investment came back.
Quick take
A quick read before you calculate
Use this when you need a fast read on whether an investment produced enough return to justify the money you put in.
Return versus original spend
This view helps you compare the gain against the cash you actually put in, which is the part that matters for ROI.
Example snapshot
Return versus original spend
Spend
Return +$4.2k
Formula
ROI formula
Examples
2-3 real scenarios to make the result easier to trust.
FAQ
Clear answers to the questions people usually ask first.
Formula
ROI formula
ROI = (Return amount - Investment) ÷ Investment × 100.
A positive ROI means the return beat the original spend. A negative result means the investment lost value.
Examples
Equipment buy
You spend $8,000 and the asset saves or earns $9,600.
ROI is 20%.
This helps compare the purchase against other ways to use that capital.
Project test
You put in $5,000 and only recover $4,000.
ROI is -20%.
A negative ROI signals the project did not pay back enough.
When to use
Use it for campaigns, equipment purchases, projects, or any decision where you want to compare gain against the original cost.
Common mistakes
- Using revenue instead of return amount.
- Forgetting to subtract the original investment before dividing.
- Comparing ROI numbers without checking whether the time frame is the same.
FAQ
Is ROI the same as profit?
No. Profit is the dollar gain. ROI turns that gain into a percentage of the money invested.
Can ROI be negative?
Yes. If the return is lower than the original investment, ROI falls below zero.
Next step
Want a cleaner view of costs and returns?
QuickBooks or Xero can help you keep project costs, invoices, and returns in one place so ROI is easier to track later.
Check ROI again whenever the return amount or spend changes.