> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.drivepoint.io/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.drivepoint.io/using-the-web-app/reports/cohort-analysis/cohorted-financials.md).

# Cohorted Financials

This report is derived by combining the financial information from the Drivepoint Smartmodel™ and your Sales data (e.g. DTC Sales from Shopify or Amazon Sales from Amazon).

## Determining Contribution Profit <a href="#determining-contribution-profit" id="determining-contribution-profit"></a>

Sales tax is a passthrough, so it is not in net revenue. Contribution profit per customer applies the model's contribution margin to **net revenue** on every order in the same month. Net revenue is gross sales − discounts − returns + shipping income. Discounts and returns are already out. Sales tax is not in it.

Since the contribution margin is not calculated per product, keep that in mind when using the `First Segment` filter that the average contribution margin from a month has been applied across **all products**.

See the [Changelog](/changelog/updates/sales-tax-margin-calculations.md) for Shopify's names versus Drivepoint's columns on the combined ecommerce tables.

## Determining Total Cost and Customer Acquisition Cost (CAC) <a href="#determining-customer-acquisition-cost-cac" id="determining-customer-acquisition-cost-cac"></a>

The report provides insights into key cost metrics, including **Direct Ad Spend** and **Total Marketing Spend**, which represent the investment required to acquire new customers.

**Total View**

When selecting the **Total** metric type, the report displays the absolute amount of **Direct Ad Spend** and **Total Marketing Spend** for each month. This allows for an analysis of overall spending trends without adjusting for customer count.

**Per Customer View**

When selecting **Per Customer**, the report divides these costs by the number of customers acquired in each month, providing an average cost per customer.

For instance, the direct ad spend for Jan. 2024 was $10,000 and the number of customers acquired in Jan. 2024 was 200; thus, the Blended Spend CAC (Customer Acquisition Cost) for the month was $50 (`$10,000 spend / 200 customers`). As a result, this calculation generalizes that 100% of the spend is towards customer acquisition, which Drivepoint has found to be close to true across a portfolio of companies.

Similar to the determination of contribution profit mentioned above, there is no attribution of the CACs to a specific segment. The marketing spend that acquires a customer is not determinant of the product the customer chooses to buy.

***Amazon can often experience a 14 day lag. Click below to learn more.***

{% content-ref url="/pages/N9BKbfVSxVucmF4yc5IK" %}
[Amazon Reports](/using-the-web-app/reports/amazon-reports.md)
{% endcontent-ref %}

## Definitions <a href="#definitions" id="definitions"></a>

**Metric Type:** This report allows you to analyze customer financial metrics in two different ways:

* **Per Customer (Selected by Default):** When the **Per Customer** option is selected, all financial metrics are divided by the **Cohort Size**, providing insights at an individual customer level. Example: **Net Sales** is calculated as **Cumulative Net Sales / Cohort Size**.
* **Total:** When the **Total** option is selected, financial metrics are displayed in absolute values without dividing by cohort size. This allows for an overall view of revenue and profitability trends across all cohorts. Example: **Net Sales** in **Total** mode reflects the **total cumulative net sales** without normalization per customer.

***

* **Months Since First Purchase:** Calculated as calendar months from the date of the first purchase. Month 0 represents the partial calendar month in which the first purchase occurred. Month 1 and onward represent the full calendar months that follow.

*For instance, a customer was acquired in Jan. 2020. The Month 0 is representative of that first purchase and any purchases that followed within Jan. 2020. Month 1 would represent any purchases that took place in Feb. 2020, Month 2 would be Mar. 2020, Month 3 as Apr. 2020, and so on.*

* **Gross Sales:** Cumulative Gross Sales / Cohort Size
* **Net Sales:** Cumulative Net Sales / Cohort Size. `Net Sales = Gross Sales − Discounts − Returns`. Shipping and sales tax are not included. This matches Shopify's Net sales.
* **Net Revenue:** Cumulative Net Revenue / Cohort Size. `Net Revenue = Gross Sales − Discounts − Returns + Shipping`. Discounts and returns are already out. Sales tax is not in net revenue. Shopify Total sales is net revenue plus sales tax, and Drivepoint keeps that only as a check.

*The following metrics rely on financials being saved from the model to the data warehouse during a Save Plan action. If you see, for instance, a Blended Spend (CAC) at $0 for a Cohort Month, you may need to save a plan.*

* **Contribution Profit:** Cumulative Contribution Profit / Cohort Size. `Contribution Profit = Contribution Margin × Net Revenue`. Sales tax is not in net revenue.
* **Blended Spend:** Direct Ad Spend / Cohort Size
* **Fully Loaded Spend:** Total Marketing Spend / Cohort Size
* **Contribution Profit Less Blended Spend:** Contribution Profit − Blended Spend
* **Contribution Profit Less Fully Loaded Spend:** Contribution Profit − Fully Loaded Spend

*💡Example: After 4 months, the Contribution Profit Less Fully Loaded Spend (aka without any direct costs related to acquiring a customer) of customers who bought a subscription in Feb-23 is $14. After 10 months their Contribution Profit without fully loaded Spend is $20.*


---

# Agent Instructions
This documentation is published with GitBook. GitBook is the documentation platform designed so that both humans and AI agents can read, navigate, and reason over technical content effectively. Learn more at gitbook.com.

## Querying This Documentation
If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation by asking a question.

Perform an HTTP GET request on the following URL with the `ask` and `goal` query parameters:

```
GET https://docs.drivepoint.io/using-the-web-app/reports/cohort-analysis/cohorted-financials.md?ask=<question>&goal=<user_goal>
```

`ask` is the immediate question: it should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
`goal` is what the user is ultimately trying to achieve, the reason they need the answer. Sharing it helps GitBook give you a better, more relevant answer. A goal is most helpful when it describes the outcome the user wants rather than restating the question. For example, with `ask=how do I create an API token`, a goal like `automate deployments from our CI pipeline` lets GitBook tailor the answer to that use case.

The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.

Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.
