Churn rate, the percentage of customers who stop using a product or service over a period of time, is spelled using the IPA phonetic transcription as /tʃɜːn reɪt/. The first letter "ch" is pronounced as /tʃ/ which represents the "t" and "sh" sound combined. The letter "u" in "churn" is pronounced as short /ɜː/ sound which can be found in words like "hurt". The second part of the word "rate" is pronounced as /reɪt/ with a long /eɪ/ sound for the letter "a" and a silent "e" at the end.
Churn rate is a business measure that quantifies the rate at which customers or subscribers discontinue their usage or subscription of a product or service over a specific period of time. It is typically expressed as a percentage and is also known as customer attrition rate, customer turnover rate, or customer defection rate.
Churn rate is an important metric for companies across various industries, especially those that rely heavily on recurring revenue models or subscription-based services. It helps organizations assess the effectiveness of their customer retention strategies and indicates the level of customer loyalty and satisfaction.
To calculate churn rate, the number of customers who discontinue their association with the product or service during a given period is divided by the total number of customers at the beginning of that period. The resulting figure is multiplied by 100 to express it as a percentage.
A high churn rate implies that a significant number of customers are opting to discontinue their subscription or usage, which can be detrimental for a business as it leads to revenue loss and increased customer acquisition costs. Conversely, a low churn rate suggests that customers are satisfied and loyal, leading to improved financial stability and growth prospects for the company.
Measuring churn rate allows businesses to identify potential areas of improvement in order to reduce customer attrition. This can involve enhancing product quality, addressing customer concerns, improving customer support, or implementing loyalty programs to retain existing customers.
The word "churn rate" originated from the field of business and refers to the rate at which customers or subscribers cease their relationship with a product or service. It emerged from the analogy of churning butter, a process where cream is vigorously agitated to separate the butterfat. Similarly, in the business context, churn rate signifies the rate at which customers "churn" away from a company, just like the process of separation in churning.