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Cash-on-Cash Return Calculator

Factor in your financing. Enter the price, down payment, loan terms, and NOI to see your real cash-on-cash return.

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yrs
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Cash-on-Cash Return
annual cash flow ÷ cash invested
Annual Cash Flow
Annual Debt Service
Cash Invested (Down)

Estimates only. Assumes a fully amortizing loan and excludes closing costs, capital reserves, and income taxes. Confirm terms with your lender.

What is cash-on-cash return?

Cash-on-cash return measures the annual pre-tax cash flow a property produces relative to the actual cash you put into it. Unlike cap rate, it accounts for financing — making it the metric that tells you what your money is really earning.

Cash-on-Cash = ( Annual Cash Flow ÷ Cash Invested ) × 100

Annual cash flow is your net operating income minus annual debt service (mortgage payments). Cash invested is your down payment (and, in a fuller model, closing costs and reserves).

How to use this calculator

Enter the purchase price, your down payment percentage, the loan's interest rate and amortization period, and the property's NOI. The calculator sizes the loan, computes the amortizing payment, subtracts debt service from NOI, and divides the result by your down payment.

Cap rate vs. cash-on-cash

Cap rate measures a property's unleveraged yield; cash-on-cash measures your leveraged return after the mortgage. Used together, they show both the quality of the asset and the impact of your financing.

Frequently asked questions

What is a good cash-on-cash return?

It varies with risk and market. Many commercial investors target high single digits to low double digits on stabilized assets, but a "good" number depends on your strategy.

Does this include appreciation?

No. Cash-on-cash is a cash-flow metric only. Total return would also include principal paydown, appreciation, and tax effects.

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