Simple vs Annualised ROI

Simple ROI Formula

ROI = (Final Value − Initial Cost) ÷ Initial Cost × 100. A £10,000 investment returning £14,500 = 45% ROI. Simple but doesn't account for time.

Annualised ROI (CAGR)

CAGR = (Final Value / Initial Value)^(1/years) − 1. This is the better metric for comparing investments held for different periods. 45% over 3 years = 13.2% annualised — very comparable to typical equity market returns.

Opportunity Cost

Always compare ROI against alternatives. A 5% annual return looks good in isolation but poor versus a 10% index fund. The true question is always: what else could this money have earned?

ROI Calculator

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