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The Madison Avenue Field GuideA field guide to marketing & advertising, by Brandon Mina

GlossaryMeasurement & AttributionChurn Rate

Measurement & Attribution

Churn Rate

The percentage of customers or revenue lost over a given period.

By Brandon MinaCEO, BrandPilot AIUpdated November 2026

Short answer

Churn rate is the percentage of customers or recurring revenue a business loses over a set period, such as a month or year. It is calculated by dividing customers or revenue lost by the starting total. Because acquiring new customers usually costs more than keeping existing ones, churn strongly shapes growth, lifetime value and profitability.