SMS campaign ROI calculator

Free tool for insurance agents: price out an SMS campaign end to end — list cost, send cost, positive responses, appointments, deals, revenue, net profit, and break-even — before you spend a dollar. Every assumption is editable and all the math is shown below the tool.

Your campaign

Aged data lists run $0.01–$0.05; Link Leads is $0.015 flat.

Typical US A2P rate incl. carrier fees.

Initial text plus one follow-up is the common play.

15–20 positive responses per 10,000 texted is a realistic planning range for aged data.

Share of positive responses that book a real appointment — 5–10 appointments per 10,000 is typical.

Appointments are high intent — most agents close 50–100% of the ones that show.

First-year commission on your typical policy.

Projected results

List cost$150
Send cost$240
Total spend$390
Positive responses18
Appointments8.1
Expected deals6.1
Revenue$4,556.25
Break-even deals1
Net profit$4,166.25
ROI multiple11.68x
Projections only — actual results vary by vertical, list, script, offer, and follow-up speed. Excludes platform, 10DLC, and scrubbing fees. You are responsible for DNC scrubbing and TCPA compliance.

How the math works

The calculator models an SMS campaign in three stages: what you spend, who responds, and what that response is worth. Nothing is hidden — every output above comes from the formulas below, so you can reproduce any number with a pocket calculator.

Stage 1: what you spend

Note that on an aged-data play the sends usually cost more than the list itself. That is the whole economic argument for cheap data: the marginal cost of reaching one more prospect is a few cents, so volume is affordable in a way it never is at fresh-lead prices of several dollars apiece.

Stage 2: who responds and books

Positive response rate is the input that deserves the most skepticism. It is a fraction of one percent by design — the slider caps at 1% on purpose. If a projection only works at the top of the slider, treat it as a warning, not a plan.

Stage 3: what it's worth

Break-even is the number worth staring at. When one deal pays for 10,000 leads plus every text you send them, the question stops being "will this hit an 11x" and becomes "can I close one policy out of 8 appointments." That is a much easier bet to underwrite, and it stays true across a wide range of pessimistic inputs — drag the positive response slider down to its 0.1% floor and the campaign still breaks even on the first closed deal.

What the calculator leaves out

Deliberately excluded, because they vary too much by setup: 10DLC brand and campaign registration fees, texting-platform subscriptions, DNC scrubbing costs, your time working replies, and renewal commissions (which make the real ROI better than shown). One compliance note that is not optional: aged lead lists are not DNC-scrubbed at delivery, and no TCPA express consent is claimed — scrub before you send, and follow carrier rules. Details on how we source our leads.

SMS campaign ROI FAQ

How much does an SMS lead campaign cost?

Two line items: the list and the sends. List cost is leads times price per lead — 10,000 aged leads at $0.015 is $150. Send cost is leads times messages per lead times cost per SMS segment — texting 10,000 leads twice at $0.012 per segment is $240. Total spend for that campaign: $390.

What is a realistic response rate for aged lead SMS campaigns?

Out of 10,000 texted aged leads, expect 15–20 positive responses (about 0.15–0.2%), of which 5–10 typically become booked appointments. Appointments are high intent, so close rates on the ones that show commonly run 50–100%. Results vary by vertical, script, offer, and list quality.

How is break-even calculated?

Break-even deals is your total spend divided by average commission per deal, rounded up. At $390 total spend and a $750 average commission, a single closed deal covers the entire campaign.

Does the calculator include compliance costs?

No. 10DLC registration, DNC scrubbing, and platform fees are extra and vary by provider. Aged lead lists are not DNC-scrubbed at delivery — the buyer is responsible for DNC scrubbing and all dialing/texting compliance before contacting anyone.

Now run it for real — 10,000 leads is $150

The list side of this math is live right now: filter by state and age band, pay $0.015/lead flat, and download your CSV instantly. Or grab the free 100-row masked sample first — no card required.

Build your 10,000-lead list Download a free sample

These are aged data leads (not consented insurance-form leads) and are not DNC-scrubbed. Buyers are responsible for DNC scrubbing and dialing/texting compliance.