How To Calculate CMS ROI
IntermediateQuick Answer
TL;DR
To calculate CMS ROI, subtract the total cost of ownership (TCO) from the total business value generated, then divide by TCO and multiply by 100. Business value includes revenue from faster publishing, reduced developer costs, improved SEO performance, and lower operational overhead. A well-chosen CMS typically delivers 150–400% ROI over three years.
Key Takeaways
- ROI = (Total Value Generated − Total Cost) ÷ Total Cost × 100
- Quantify both hard savings (reduced dev hours, lower hosting) and soft gains (faster time-to-publish, better SEO)
- Use a 3-year horizon for CMS ROI calculations — year one is often negative due to migration costs
- Compare ROI across shortlisted platforms, not just against your current solution