ROI Calculator
Free ROI Calculator: subtract what you put in from what you got back and divide by what you put in: =(Return-Invested)/Invested, formatted as a percentage.
Net profit €250.00
Need it as an auditable file?
The ROI workbook ships inside the Corporate Finance Suite — formula-driven, unlocked, audit-ready.
How it works
In Excel or Google Sheets, subtract what you put in from what you got back and divide by what you put in: =(Return-Invested)/Invested, formatted as a percentage.
Record the amount invested and the amount returned in separate cells.
In a blank cell type =(Return-Invested)/Invested, pointing at those two cells.
Press Enter and format the cell as a percentage.
Optionally add a =Return-Invested cell to show the absolute profit alongside the rate.
What this does
ROI expresses profit as a percentage of the money you committed, so a €50 gain on €200 and a €500 gain on €2,000 are revealed as the same 25% return. It is the quickest way to rank options that cost different amounts, because it normalises every result back to "per euro invested".
A worked example
You invest €1,000 in a project and it returns €1,250. Enter =(1250-1000)/1000 and format as a percentage: the ROI is 25%. Net profit is €250. If the return were instead €900, the formula gives -10% — a loss — which the result box flips to red so the sign is unmissable. ROI is the back-of-the-envelope test every budget owner runs first: did this spend earn its keep? Use it to triage projects before a deeper model, then switch to CAGR or NPV when timing and discounting matter.
Common mistakes
- Forgetting to subtract the original investment, which reports gross return instead of ROI.
- Ignoring fees, taxes or holding time, so two ROIs are not really comparable.
- Mixing time periods — a 25% ROI over five years is not the same as 25% in one year (use CAGR for that).
- Dividing by the return instead of the investment, which understates the figure.
FAQ
What counts as a good ROI?
Context decides it: a marketing campaign might target 300%+, while a low-risk bond ROI of 4% can be excellent. Compare against the risk and the next-best use of the money.
ROI vs CAGR — which should I use?
ROI is a single total-period figure; CAGR annualises it. Use CAGR when the holding periods differ, ROI for a quick same-period comparison.
Can ROI be over 100%?
Yes — any time the profit exceeds the original outlay. A €1,000 investment returning €2,500 is a 150% ROI.