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TCV

Metrics beginner FOUNDERCFOVP-SALES

What is TCV?

TCV is total contract value, the full revenue value of a customer contract over its entire term, including recurring fees for all years plus one-time charges.

Also known as: Total Contract Value

TCV Formula

TCV = (ACV × Contract Years) + One-Time Fees
Variable Meaning
ACV Annual contract value of the recurring portion.
Contract Years Length of the contract term in years.
One-Time Fees Non-recurring charges such as setup, implementation, or training.
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How to Calculate TCV

Worked example

ACV
$12,000
Contract Length (years)
3
One-Time Fees
$2,000
→ TCV
$38,000

TCV Calculator

Try it with your numbers

TCV$38,000
TCV = (ACV × Contract Years) + One-Time Fees
Variable Meaning
ACV Annual contract value of the recurring portion.
Contract Years Length of the contract term in years.
One-Time Fees Non-recurring charges such as setup, implementation, or training.

Worked example

ACV
$12,000
Contract Length (years)
3
One-Time Fees
$2,000
→ TCV
$38,000

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Prefer a dedicated page? Use the TCV calculator.

Common Mistakes with TCV

  • Comparing your TCV against a competitor's ACV: a 3-year $36K TCV deal and a 1-year $36K ACV deal are very different commitments.
  • Booking TCV as if it were guaranteed revenue — multi-year contracts can still churn, renegotiate, or fail to collect.

TCV vs Related Metrics

TCV FAQ

What is TCV?

TCV is total contract value: everything a customer has committed to pay over the full contract term — recurring subscription fees for all years plus one-time charges like implementation. A 3-year contract at $12K per year with $2K setup has a TCV of $38K.

What is the difference between TCV and ACV?

ACV annualizes the recurring value of a contract (one year's worth); TCV sums the whole term plus one-time fees. TCV is always greater than or equal to ACV for multi-year deals.

When should I use TCV instead of ARR?

TCV is most useful for bookings and sales compensation on multi-year or services-heavy deals. ARR remains the standard for measuring the recurring revenue base of the business.

More questions? See the full TCV FAQ.

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