Answer

What is return on capital employed (ROCE)?

ROCE is operating profit divided by capital employed — how much profit a company squeezes from every pound of capital it uses. A ROCE comfortably above your cost of borrowing means debt-funded growth is creating value, not destroying it.

2 min read

Profit ÷ capitalHow it's built
> cost of debtThe key test
EfficiencyWhat it shows

What it means

Return on capital employed divides operating profit by capital employed (total assets minus current liabilities). It answers a blunt question: for every pound tied up in the business, how much operating profit does it produce? Work yours out with the ROCE calculator.

Why it matters for your company

ROCE is the cleanest test of whether borrowing to grow makes sense. If your ROCE is 18% and the cost of a loan is 12%, the extra capital earns more than it costs — debt is working for you. If ROCE is below the cost of finance, borrowing more will dilute returns. Model the specific decision with the return-on-borrowing calculator before you commit.

What it means for you

Credicorp lends to your company, not to you personally, and takes no personal guarantee. See business loans or apply online.

Frequently asked questions

What is a good ROCE?

It depends on sector and cost of capital, but a ROCE consistently above 15% is often considered strong for an SME. The most useful benchmark is your own cost of borrowing — ROCE should beat it.

How is ROCE different from return on equity?

ROCE measures return on all capital (debt and equity); return on equity measures return on shareholders' money alone. ROCE is better for judging whether taking on debt improves overall efficiency.

Funding for UK limited companies

Credicorp lends to your company, not to you personally — short-term working capital with no personal guarantee. See what your business could access.