Definition

Client Churn Rate

The percentage of clients who stop working with an agency during a specific period.

The percentage of clients who stop working with an agency during a specific period.

Definition

Client churn rate (also called attrition rate) measures the percentage of clients lost over a period. It's the inverse of retention rate. High churn rates indicate problems with service delivery, communication, or client satisfaction that need immediate attention.

Why This Matters for Agencies

Marketing agencies typically see 10-20% annual churn. Anything above 20% signals serious problems. Churn is expensive—acquiring a new client costs 5-7x more than retaining an existing one. Understanding why clients leave is essential for reducing churn.

Formula

(Clients Lost / Clients at Start) × 100
Clients Lost:Number of clients who cancelled or left
Clients at Start:Total clients at the beginning of the period

Example

If an agency loses 8 clients out of 50 in a year, the churn rate is: (8/50) × 100 = 16%

Reduce Churn with Early Warning

Angelwood identifies clients showing disengagement signals 3+ weeks before they typically cancel, giving you time to intervene.