Cash-on-Cash Return Calculator
About Cash-on-Cash Return
Formula: Cash-on-Cash Return = (Annual Pre-Tax Cash Flow / Total Cash Invested) × 100
Where: Annual Pre-Tax Cash Flow = Annual Rental Income - (Operating Expenses + Annual Debt Service)
Total Cash Invested = Down Payment + Closing Costs + Renovation Costs
Good return: 8-12% is typically considered good. Above 12% is excellent. Below 8% may need evaluation.
Measure annual pre-tax cash return on actual cash invested in a property to evaluate leveraged real-estate performance.
Formula
Worked Example
A 12.0% cash-on-cash return means each dollar invested generates about twelve cents of annual pre-tax cash flow.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is this different from cap rate?
Cap rate ignores financing, while cash-on-cash includes debt structure and focuses on return to invested cash.
Should reserves count in total cash invested?
Yes. Include down payment, closing costs, rehab, and prudent reserve capital for more realistic performance analysis.