What is Cash on Cash Return and How to Calculate It (2024)

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Cash on cash return is the rate of return on cash invested. It is often associated with the real estate industry, but it can also be applied to other investments. When applied to real estate, it’s based on the amount of cash invested in a property and is calculated on a pre-tax basis.

This cash return metric represents the cash flow for a single year rather than over the life of a real estate project. It has several applications including as a forecasting tool for investing money.

In this article

  • What is a cash on cash return?
  • How do you calculate cash on cash return?
  • What are the benefits of a cash on cash return?
  • FAQs about cash on cash returns
  • Bottom line

What is a cash on cash return?

Cash on cash return is a way to gauge the cash flows from income-generating assets such as commercial real estate. Cash on cash return is a snapshot of an investment’s annual cash return. This compares with return on investment, which calculates the total return on the property over the entire period of time you own it.

Cash on cash return is a quick and relatively easy calculation that compares the cash received from an investment for a month or a year compared to the cash invested in the property. It’s expressed as a percentage return on the amount invested and can help you compare the return on several potential investment properties.

Cash on cash return can be an important forecasting tool for real estate investors who want to understand the type of cash flow a property could generate in a year. Other factors such as the potential appreciation in property value an investor might expect over time should also be considered.

How do you calculate cash on cash return?

The cash on cash return formula is written out in the following way:

Annual pre-tax cash flow / total cash invested

Let’s take a look at an example using a commercial real estate investment.

We’ll start with pre-tax cash inflows, also known as net operating income. This is the annual amount of rent collected from a multifamily rental property, which we’ll say totals $150,000 in our example. We’ll also subtract $40,000 for the mortgage payments for a total net cash flow (pre-tax) of $110,000 ($150,000 - $40,000).

Our total cash invested would be the down payment on the property ($200,000 in this example) plus any fees paid to a property manager or for other maintenance and operating expenses (which we’ll say add up to $20,000). As a result, our total cash invested is $220,000 ($200,000 + $20,000).

Because the cash on cash return calculation equals the annual cash flow ($110,000) divided by the total cash invested ($220,000), the total cash on cash return rate in this example is 50%. This means that based on the amount put down on the property plus ongoing maintenance and operating expenses, you’ll make a 50% return on your cash investment before taxes each year.

If you’re considering several properties for investment, comparing the cash on cash returns on each can be a good way to evaluate the financial viability of each investment.

Cash on cash return example

Rental income $150,000
Mortgage payments - $40,000
Annual cash flow $110,000
Down payment $200,000
Maintenance and operating expenses $20,000
Total cash invested $220,000
Cash on cash return

(Annual cash flow / Total cash invested)

50%
($110,000 / $220,000)

What are the benefits of a cash on cash return?

Cash on cash return can be predictive of how an investment might perform over time and is an important tool used by investors who prefer real estate.

Cash on cash return can also be used to compare multiple real estate investment opportunities. For example, if the return is lower for one property is this due to lower rental income than the other property? If so, you can calculate the rent you need and see if you can raise it enough to increase your return.

Another concern about investing in a property with a low cash on cash return is your tax situation. If your property taxes are high, the actual cash yield might not be enough to cover what you owe.

Although there are many benefits of using cash on cash return, you need to look a bit deeper into the potential of any investment property. What is the potential growth in the market in which the property is located? What is the vacancy rate? What types of other real estate properties are in the area?

FAQs about cash on cash returns

What is a good cash on cash return?

It depends on a number of factors. Some real estate investors may be content with a relatively conservative cash on cash return in the 7% to 10% range. Other investors might prefer a cash on cash return around 15% range. What constitutes a good return will also depend on the type and the location of the property as well as your investment goals.

Is return on equity the same as cash on cash?

Return on equity and the cash on cash return from a real estate investment are two different metrics and tell investors two different things.

Return on equity calculates the investor’s return on their equity in the property, which can be a moving target. An investor’s equity is the market value of the property minus any repayment to a lender. Return on equity will fluctuate as the mortgage on the property is paid down and the market value of the property fluctuates up or down over time.

Cash on cash return is based on the amount of cash invested in the property against the cash inflows from the property, usually in the form of rental income.

Can a business have a negative cash on cash return?

Yes, a real estate investment can have a negative cash on cash return. This might be the result of charging rents that are too low or an extended vacancy rate.

A negative cash on cash return does not necessarily indicate that a property is a poor investment. If you think the property can be sold at a decent profit at some point, it could eventually turn out to be a smart investment. This is especially true if you have enough cash flow from other sources to sustain you until you can sell the property for a profit.

However, investing in a property with a negative cash on cash return should not be undertaken lightly. Often the main source of cash is rent. Does the real estate market support raising rents? Are the annual fees and costs to maintain the rental property higher than you might expect? If so, why and what does the future hold here?

Bottom line

Cash on cash return is a key indicator in real estate transactions. It can be a way to compare different types of real estate as you’re learning how to invest in real estate. Looking into the components of the cash inflows and outflows can also help you strategize ways to improve your cash on cash return.

Cash on cash return is just one indicator of the potential return you might expect from a property investment. It pays to be thorough and to understand all financial and operational aspects of any property you might be considering.

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What is Cash on Cash Return and How to Calculate It (2024)

FAQs

What is Cash on Cash Return and How to Calculate It? ›

Cash on cash return is a metric used by real estate investors to assess potential investment opportunities. It is sometimes referred to as the "cash yield" on an investment. The cash on cash return formula is simple: Annual Net Cash Flow / Invested Equity = Cash on Cash Return.

How do you calculate a cash on cash return? ›

A relatively simple calculation, an investor can find out their cash-on-cash return by taking the pre-tax cash flow (determined using the income and expense calculations for a property) and dividing that figure by the total amount of cash invested. The resulting figure is the cash-on-cash return.

What is the cash on cash return? ›

Cash-on-cash return is an equation that takes a look at your annual property-based income before taxes and compares it to the total cash you have invested in the property. We'll get into specific variables a bit later on, but the basic formula is: Gross yearly income derived from investment property.

What is 20% cash on cash return? ›

Property purchased for $50,000 down with $10,000 annual cash flow after debt service: $10,000 / $50,000 = 20% cash-on-cash return.

How do you calculate cash on cash return on rental property? ›

Cash-on-cash returns are calculated using an investment property's pre-tax cash inflows received by the investor and the pre-tax outflows paid by the investor. Essentially, it divides the net cash flow by the total cash invested.

How do you calculate cash formula? ›

How to Calculate Net Cash Flow
  1. Net Cash-Flow = Total Cash Inflows – Total Cash Outflows.
  2. Net Cash Flow = Operating Cash Flow + Cash Flow from Financial Activities (Net) + Cash Flow from Investing Activities (Net)
  3. Operating Cash Flow = Net Income + Non-Cash Expenses – Change in Working Capital.
Feb 16, 2023

What is a good cash on cash return ratio? ›

There is no specific rule of thumb for those wondering what constitutes a good return rate. There seems to be a consensus amongst investors that a projected cash on cash return between 8 to 12 percent indicates a worthwhile investment. In contrast, others argue that even 5 to 7 percent is acceptable in some markets.

What is the formula for cash-on-cash return quizlet? ›

Cash on Cash Return is the property's annual net cash flow divided by your net investment, expressed as a percentage.

Is cash-on-cash return the same as cap rate? ›

Cap rate measures the potential profit from an investment without factoring in financing. Cash on cash return tells you how much profit you receive for each dollar invested. Rental property investors use both calculations to determine the best potential real estate investments.

What is the difference between yield and cash-on-cash return? ›

Cash-on-cash yield does not include any appreciation or depreciation in the investment. Calculations based on standard ROI will incorporate the total return of an investment; on the other hand, cash-on-cash yield simply measures the return on the actual cash invested.

How do you get 10% return on cash? ›

Here's my list of the 10 best investments for a 10% ROI.
  1. How to Get 10% Return on Investment: 10 Proven Ways.
  2. High-End Art (on Masterworks)
  3. Paying Down High-Interest Loans.
  4. U.S. Government I-Bonds.
  5. Stock Market Investing via Index Funds.
  6. Stock Picking.
  7. Junk Bonds.
  8. Buy an Existing Business.
May 1, 2023

How do you calculate cash-on-cash return on a flip? ›

The calculation is simple: Divide the expected pre-tax annual net revenue from a property by the cash invested. The resulting percentage is your cash-on-cash return.

What is the cash-on-cash return on Airbnb? ›

Your cash on cash return is the return you will receive in your property compared to your initial investment. For example, if you put $40,000 down on a property, and you receive $4,000 in net income annually, then you will have a cash on cash return of 10%.

What is a good rate of return on rental property? ›

The 2% rule in real estate is another simple way to calculate ROI for rental properties. According to this rule, if the monthly rent for a rental property is at least 2% of its purchase price, then odds are it should generate positive cash flow.

What's a good cap rate for rental property? ›

Market analysts say an ideal cap rate is between five and 10 percent; the exact number will depend on the property type and location. In comparison, a cap rate lower than five percent denotes lesser risk but a more extended period to recover an investment.

What is the formula for cash on hand? ›

2. How do you calculate days cash on hand? The formula requires three variables: cash available, operating expenses, and cashless expenses. Cashless expenses/days of month= Days of Cash on Hand.

How to calculate cashflow? ›

How to calculate net cash flow
  1. Net Cash Flow = Total Cash Inflows – Total Cash Outflows.
  2. Net Cash Flow = Operating Cash Flow + Cash Flow from Financial Activities (Net) + Cash Flow from Investing Activities (Net)
  3. Operating Cash Flow = Net Income + Non-Cash Expenses – Change in Working Capital.
3 days ago

What formula is used to calculate the cash to cash cycle time? ›

Cash-to-cash cycle time is a metric that is made up of three analytics: days sales outstanding (DSO), days inventory outstanding (DIO) and days payable outstanding (DPO). Adding DSO and DIO, then subtracting DPO calculates cash-to-cash cycle.

What are the disadvantages of cash on cash return? ›

Disadvantages. The annual cash on cash return calculation is based on before-tax cash flow to the total cash invested. Since the ratio's numerator is before tax cash flow, it does not consider the individual's tax bracket and tax outflows. The investment opportunity may be influenced by the tax benefits.

Does cash on cash return include principal? ›

Cash-on-cash return calculations do include principal mortgage payments. Basic cash-on-cash formulas account for a property's cash flow, which is influenced by the monthly mortgage obligations paid by the owner.

What is the 2% cash flow rule? ›

The 2% rule is a rule of thumb that determines how much rental income a property should theoretically be able to generate. Following the 2% rule, an investor can expect to realize a positive cash flow from a rental property if the monthly rent is at least 2% of the purchase price.

What is cash on cash return for dummies? ›

Cash on cash return is a rate of return ratio that calculates the total cash earned on the total cash (equity) invested in a deal. It is defined as cash flow before tax (i.e., cash flow after financing) in a given period, divided by the equity invested as of the end of that period.

How do you calculate cash return on sales ratio? ›

To calculate your ROS ratio, you would need to subtract your expenses from your revenue. In this example, the profit would be $100,000. Then you would divide $100,000 profit by your total revenue of $600,000, which would result in a ROS of . 17.

How do you calculate cash return on invested capital? ›

The Cash Return On Invested Capital, or CROIC, measures how effectively a company uses its Invested Capital to generate Cash. It is calculated as Free Cash Flow divided by Invested Capital.

What does 7.5% cap rate mean? ›

A 7.5 cap rate means that you can expect a 7.5% annual gross income on the value of your property or investment. If your property's value is $150,000, a 7.5 cap rate will mean a yearly return of $11,250.

Does cash-on-cash return increase over time? ›

Unlike return on investment or ROI,which measures return over an entire holding period, cash-on-cash is the return over a specific period of time, usually 1 year. Cash-on-cash return may increase or decrease from one period to the next due to fluctuations in income, expenses, or additional cash invested.

Which is better yield or return? ›

If you only care about identifying which stocks have performed better over a period of time, the total return is more important than the dividend yield. If you are relying on your investments to provide consistent income, the dividend yield is more important.

Where is the safest place to put your retirement money? ›

Most of our experts agree that one of the safest places to keep your money is in a savings account insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC). “High-yield savings accounts are an excellent option for those looking to keep their retirement savings safe.

How can I double my money without risk? ›

5 Ways to Double Your Money
  1. Take Advantage of 401(k) Matching.
  2. Invest in Value and Growth Stocks.
  3. Increase Your Contributions.
  4. Consider Alternative Investments.
  5. Be Patient.
Nov 1, 2022

Is a 6% rate of return good? ›

Generally speaking, if you're estimating how much your stock-market investment will return over time, we suggest using an average annual return of 6% and understanding that you'll experience down years as well as up years.

Why is cash on cash return important? ›

It is particularly important if an investor is evaluating financing options and wants to know how much cash to invest on a down payment, or how much of an investment's capital stack should be debt. Other common terms for cash-on-cash return include “cash yield” and “equity dividend rate.”

What is a good return on a house flip? ›

The Bottom Line: The 70% Rule Is A Good Rule Of Thumb, But It's Not A Substitute For Detailed Analysis. Flipping a home can be a profitable endeavor, but new investors should understand that this real estate investment strategy carries risks.

What is the average rate of return on flipping a house? ›

High-level takeaways from fourth-quarter 2022 data:

The gross-flipping profit on median-priced home flips in the fourth quarter of 2022 was $50,000, the smallest amount since the first quarter of 2013. The latest figure represented a typical 20 percent return on investment (percentage of original purchase price).

How do you calculate if a rental property is worth it? ›

To calculate the property's ROI:
  1. Divide the annual return by your original out-of-pocket expenses (the downpayment of $20,000, closing costs of $2,500, and remodeling for $9,000) to determine ROI.
  2. ROI = $5,016.84 ÷ $31,500 = 0.159.
  3. Your ROI is 15.9%.

How do you know if a rental property is a good investment? ›

Top 10 Features to Consider
  1. Neighborhood. The neighborhood in which you buy will determine the types of tenants you attract and your vacancy rate. ...
  2. Property Taxes. ...
  3. Schools. ...
  4. Crime. ...
  5. Job Market. ...
  6. Amenities. ...
  7. Number of Listings and Vacancies. ...
  8. Average Rents.

How do I maximize my return on a rental property? ›

13 Tips for Maximizing Rental Income as a Landlord
  1. Resident-Proof Your Property.
  2. Purchase The Right Insurance.
  3. Crunch the Numbers.
  4. Create An LLC.
  5. Make Use Of Tax Breaks.
  6. Make Use Of A Written Lease Agreement.
  7. Choose Your Property Management Company Wisely.
  8. Purchase A Home Warranty.
Sep 8, 2022

What is the 50% rule? ›

What Is The 50% Rule? The 50% rule is a guideline used by real estate investors to estimate the profitability of a given rental unit. As the name suggests, the rule involves subtracting 50 percent of a property's monthly rental income when calculating its potential profits.

Is 4% cap rate good? ›

Investors hoping for deals with a lower purchase price may, therefore, want a high cap rate. Following this logic, a cap rate between four and ten percent may be considered a “good” investment. According to Rasti Nikolic, a financial consultant at Loan Advisor, “in general though, 5% to 10% rate is considered good.

What is a good cap rate for an Airbnb? ›

As the Airbnb Cap Rate can vary drastically based on a property value, annual earnings, and market popularity, there isn't a set range for what qualifies as a good Cap Rate. If you want a general estimate, anything between 5% and 10% would be considered an ideal rate.

How do you calculate total return on cash flows? ›

To calculate TWR, you must find the return for each sub-period by subtracting the sum of the starting balance and the cash flow from the ending balance. Then you divide the result by the sum of the starting balance and cash flow.

Does cash-on-cash return include sale price? ›

Cash-on-cash return only measures the return on the actual cash invested out of pocket. Cash-on-cash return is a snapshot of annual cash flow, whereas ROI is cumulative and typically measures returns based on including the eventual sale price.

What is the formula for cash on cash in Excel? ›

As stated above, it is a fairly simple formula and is expressed as follows: Cash on cash= Annual net cash flow/invested capital.

What does cash-on-cash return mean quizlet? ›

What does cash-on-cash return mean? The amount of income generated compared to the amount of actual cash invested (e.g., does not include financing)

How do you calculate return on return? ›

How do you calculate ROI? There are multiple methods for calculating ROI. The most common is net income divided by the total cost of the investment, or ROI = Net income / Cost of investment x 100.

How do I calculate return? ›

A simple rate of return is calculated by subtracting the initial value of the investment from its current value, and then dividing it by the initial value. To report it as a %, the result is multiplied by 100.

How do you calculate return in accounting? ›

The Accounting Rate of Return formula is as follows: ARR = average annual profit / average investment.

How is cash sales calculated? ›

Cash sales = Net Sales – Credit Sales + Sales Return.

How do you calculate total cash on a balance sheet? ›

You get that by adding money received and subtracting money spent. Cash balance is the amount of money on hand. You get that by taking the previous month's cash balance and adding this month's cash flow to it — which means subtracting if the cash flow is negative.

How to calculate cash on balance sheet from cash flow statement? ›

You can use the cash flow formula to figure out how much cash you'll have at a certain point in the future (or had at a point in the past): Cash balance = beginning cash balance + cash inflows – cash outflows.

How do you calculate net profit from cash? ›

Net profit is gross profit minus operating expenses and taxes. You can also think of it as total income minus all expenses.

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