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What Is Churn?

Churn, also known as customer attrition or turnover, is a crucial metric used in business to measure the rate at which customers cease their relationship with a company or service within a specific time frame.

What Is Churn Rate (and How to Calculate it)?

Churn is typically expressed as a percentage calculated by dividing the number of customers lost during a given period by the total number of customers at the beginning of that period.

For example:

1000 customers | 100 lost customers during a time frame
Formula: 1000 / 100 = 10% churn rate

Understanding and managing churn is vital for businesses, as it directly impacts customer retention, revenue generation, and overall business sustainability. High churn rates can indicate dissatisfaction with the products or services offered, poor customer support, or inadequate marketing efforts. On the other hand, low churn rates signify strong customer relationships, effective marketing strategies, and robust product offerings.

There are two primary types of churn: voluntary and involuntary. Voluntary churn occurs when customers actively discontinue their relationship with a company, often due to dissatisfaction, competitors' offerings, or changing needs. Involuntary churn results from external factors, such as financial constraints, relocation, or unexpected life events, which force customers to stop using a product or service.

How to Improve Churn Rates?

Businesses often employ various strategies to reduce churn, such as improving customer service, offering incentives or discounts for long-term commitments, and refining their products or services based on customer feedback. Additionally, companies analyze churn rates by segmenting their customer base to identify trends and patterns, allowing them to target specific groups and tailor their retention efforts accordingly.

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