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SaaS Metrics School

SaaS Metrics School

390 episodes — Page 3 of 8

61% R&D Spend?! What SaaS Benchmarks Reveal by Revenue Size

How much R&D spend is too much—or not enough? In episode #290 of SaaS Metric School, Ben Murray breaks down R&D spend benchmarks by company revenue size, based on data from Ray Rike’s Benchmarkit.ai. Whether you’re a founder, CFO, CTO, or finance leader, understanding how your R&D investment compares is crucial for building operational leverage and scaling sustainably. What You’ll Learn: Why R&D spend can feel like a black box—especially for CFOs Top vs. lean R&D spending benchmarks by revenue tiers: How R&D spend typically scales down as companies grow Why controlling opex and creating operating leverage is key to cash flow and EBITDA Resources & Links: 🔗 Benchmark your metrics for free at Benchmark.ai 📩 Join Ben’s SaaS community for templates, training, and upcoming events:  https://www.thesaasacademy.com/offers/dzSx6W32 Join Ben's SaaS newsletter:  https://mailchi.mp/df1db6bf8bca/the-saas-cfo-sign-up-landing-page Enjoyed the episode? Leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating or review to help others discover SaaS Metric School.

Jun 21, 20252 min

What Top SaaS Performers Spend to Acquire a Dollar of ARR

In episode #289, Ben dives into one of his favorite SaaS metrics: Cost of ARR (Annual Recurring Revenue), also known as the SaaS CAC Ratio. This powerful go-to-market metric helps operators and investors evaluate how efficiently a company acquires recurring revenue. Ben breaks down how to calculate it, segment it, and benchmark it using the latest data from Ray Rike at Benchmarkit.ai. What You’ll Learn: What is Cost of ARR and why it matters for SaaS operators and investors The formula How to calculate blended, new, and expansion Cost of ARR Latest benchmark data by ACV from Benchmarkit.ai Why aggregate benchmarks are risky and how to segment by ACV size How to use this metric to validate your bookings forecast and GTM budget When to adopt this metric   Resources Mentioned Benchmark your SaaS business: Benchmarkit.ai (give-to-get model) Ben’s blog, templates, and courses at TheSaaSCFO.com Join the SaaS Community: https://www.thesaasacademy.com/offers/dzSx6W32 Stay in the loop with exclusive SaaS content: https://mailchi.mp/df1db6bf8bca/the-saas-cfo-sign-up-landing-page  

Jun 19, 20255 min

Don't Make this LTV Mistake

In episode #288 of SaaS Metrics School, Ben Murray tackles a frequent mistake SaaS operators make when calculating Lifetime Value (LTV) — treating it as an aggregate rather than the point-in-time metric. Ben breaks down the correct formula, shares how to align it with gross revenue retention, and explains when LTV (and LTV to CAC) should be used SaaS businesses. What You’ll Learn: Why LTV is a point-in-time estimate, not a company-wide average The correct formula for LTV in SaaS: Cohort ARPA × Gross Margin ÷ Churn How to choose the right churn input using gross revenue retention When LTV to CAC is reliable vs. misleading based on your sales motion (SMB, Mid-Market, Enterprise) Common pitfalls when using LTV in low-volume enterprise models Key SaaS Metrics Covered: LTV (Lifetime Value) LTV to CAC Ratio Gross Revenue Retention (GRR) Cohort ARPA / ACV Churn measurement strategy (trailing 3 vs. 6 months) Who Should Listen: SaaS CFOs, founders, marketers, and RevOps professionals looking to improve financial modeling and SaaS efficiency metrics — especially if you rely on paid acquisition or track LTV to CAC closely. Resources Mentioned: SaaS Metrics Foundation Course: https://www.thesaasacademy.com/the-saas-metrics-foundation Free SaaS Metrics Tools: TheSaaSCFO.com Subscribe to Ben's SaaS newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/df1db6bf8bca/the-saas-cfo-sign-up-landing-page Like What You Hear? Please leave a rating and review to help this podcast reach more SaaS professionals who want to build metrics-driven businesses.

Jun 17, 20255 min

What Is Subscription ARR? 3 Common Definitions Explained for SaaS Operators

In this episode of SaaS Metric School, Ben Murray dives deep into the often-confusing world of Subscription ARR (Annual Recurring Revenue). After analyzing over 160 public tech company filings, Ben shares the three most common ways companies define and calculate ARR—and why these differences matter for SaaS operators, investors, and finance teams. If you’ve ever struggled with benchmarking ARR or explaining it to stakeholders, this episode will give you clarity and context. What You’ll Learn The three standard definitions of Subscription ARR: Run-Rate MRR Annualized Contract Value Committed/Contracted ARR (CARR) The difference between ARR and CARR and why it matters Why even “pure subscription” businesses report ARR differently How public companies present ARR in earnings reports and filings The pitfalls of using AI tools (like ChatGPT) for ARR extraction Who This Is For This episode is a must-listen if you are: ✅ A SaaS CFO or finance leader looking to align ARR reporting with industry norms ✅ A founder or CEO trying to understand what ARR numbers mean (and don’t mean) ✅ A SaaS investor or advisor comparing metrics across multiple portfolio companies ✅ Anyone responsible for forecasting, benchmarking, or reporting SaaS revenue metrics Resources 📬 Join Ben’s SaaS Metrics Newsletter (85,000+ operators): https://mailchi.mp/df1db6bf8bca/the-saas-cfo-sign-up-landing-page 📚 SaaS Community for templates, events, and training:  https://www.thesaasacademy.com/offers/dzSx6W32 🔁 Coming soon: A database of ARR disclosures from public tech companies 🎧 Leave a rating or review to help grow the podcast!

Jun 15, 20254 min

Why SaaS Metrics Break Without Proper MRR Layering

In episode #286 of SaaS Metrics School, Ben Murray breaks down one of the most common — and costly — mistakes SaaS founders and CFOs make when building their Monthly Recurring Revenue (MRR) schedules: netting contraction and expansion. This seemingly small error can break your ability to calculate key SaaS metrics like Gross Revenue Retention (GRR) and Net Revenue Retention (NRR). What You’ll Learn: The essential structure of an accurate MRR waterfall schedule Why separating expansion, contraction, and churn is crucial for calculating SaaS metrics How to calculate GRR and NRR using distinct MRR layers Why trailing 3- and 6-month annualized retention rates offer deeper insights Pro tips on segmenting your MRR by product, ICP, or geography Who This Is For: SaaS founders, CFOs, FP&A leaders, and revenue ops teams looking to improve their SaaS financial reporting and ensure clean, actionable SaaS metrics that stand up to investor scrutiny. Resources Mentioned: Join Ben’s private SaaS metrics community: https://www.thesaasacademy.com/offers/ivNjwYDx/checkout Subscribe to Ben's newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/df1db6bf8bca/the-saas-cfo-sign-up-landing-page Free SaaS Metrics Tools & Templates at TheSaaSCFO.com Enjoying the show? Please rate and review the podcast — it helps more SaaS professionals discover how to build better businesses with metrics that matter.

Jun 13, 20252 min

What’s a Healthy G&A Budget for SaaS? Benchmarks by ARR Stage

In episode #285 of SaaS Metrics School, Ben Murray dives into one of the most overlooked levers in SaaS financial performance—G&A (General & Administrative) spend. How much should you really be spending on back office functions like finance, HR, legal, and IT? Using data from Benchmarkit.AI, Ben walks through G&A as a percent of revenue across ARR stages—from startups under $1M to companies exceeding $100M. He also explains how operating leverage is created through back office efficiency and why using benchmarks segmented by ARR is crucial in SaaS metrics analysis. What You’ll Learn: Why aggregate SaaS benchmarks are dangerous G&A benchmarks by ARR segment (top quartile vs. median) The role of operating leverage in SaaS profitability How to evaluate your own back office spend using metrics Actionable targets for G&A as a percent of revenue SaaS Metrics Covered: G&A % of Revenue Operating Leverage Opex Profile by ARR Benchmarking by ARR vs. ACV Resources Mentioned: Benchmarkit.ai Join Ben’s SaaS Metrics community for webinars, templates, and live sessions: https://www.thesaasacademy.com/offers/ivNjwYDx/checkout Subscribe to Ben's SaaS newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/df1db6bf8bca/the-saas-cfo-sign-up-landing-page 📈 Don’t forget to rate & review the show. It helps more SaaS founders and CFOs discover actionable finance content!

Jun 11, 20254 min

How Verint Defines AI ARR and Why You Need to Know This

In episode #284, let’s break down AI ARR.  As artificial intelligence transforms SaaS business models, a new metric is gaining traction: AI ARR (Artificial Intelligence Annual Recurring Revenue). But what exactly is AI ARR, how do public SaaS companies define it, and why should private SaaS operators care? In this episode, Ben Murray dives deep into how companies like Verint Systems are reporting AI ARR in their earnings and press releases. Ben breaks down the nuances of these definitions, the implications for SaaS valuation, and what founders, CFOs, and GTM teams need to know to stay ahead of the curve. Key Topics Covered What Is AI ARR? Understand how public companies define AI-based recurring revenue and what makes it distinct from traditional ARR or subscription ARR. Case Study: Verint’s AI ARR Disclosure Learn how Verint, a customer and communication automation platform, separates AI ARR from Subscription ARR, and why AI now accounts for 50% of its recurring revenue. Run Rate vs. Recognized Revenue Explore the concept of “annualized quarterly run rate” and why some AI ARR definitions include overages and signed (but not yet active) SaaS contracts. Why AI ARR Matters for SaaS Metrics & Board Reporting Discover how AI ARR can become a key growth driver metric, especially for AI-first SaaS platforms or tools with significant AI adoption. Benchmarking and Financial Transparency Trends Understand why SaaS companies are simplifying metric reporting and focusing on high-signal KPIs like AI ARR for investors and stakeholders. Who Should Listen This episode is a must-listen for: SaaS founders and CEOs scaling AI-powered platforms CFOs and FP&A teams defining KPIs for board decks SaaS investors tracking AI monetization trends RevOps and metrics leaders modernizing dashboards Anyone serious about becoming a SaaS metrics expert Why This Episode Matters As SaaS businesses race to integrate and monetize AI, understanding how to measure, disclose, and leverage AI ARR could be your edge in strategic planning, fundraising, or M&A. SaaS Metrics School isn’t just about numbers—it’s about empowering you to lead with data.   Subscribe & Follow Never miss an insight from the top SaaS metrics podcast. Join our SaaS community. https://www.thesaasacademy.com/offers/ivNjwYDx/checkout Subscribe to Ben's SaaS newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/df1db6bf8bca/the-saas-cfo-sign-up-landing-page

Jun 6, 20254 min

Can a Properly Formatted SaaS P&L Increase Your Valuation Multiple?

In episode #283, I address some recent conversations with SaaS founders who implemented my SaaS P&L format. In one instance, it was key to a successful exit. - How early should you implement the SaaS P&L - Make your data easily consumable for potential acquirors How to Structure Your SaaS P&L: https://www.thesaascfo.com/how-to-structure-your-saas-pl/ Join our SaaS community. https://www.thesaasacademy.com/offers/ivNjwYDx/checkout Subscribe to Ben's SaaS newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/df1db6bf8bca/the-saas-cfo-sign-up-landing-page

Jun 5, 20252 min

Are Public Tech Companies Defining ARR?

In episode #282, I cover some research I did for the SaaS Metrics Summit in NYC. Are public tech companies disclosing how they define ARR? - Is ARR dead, or is it just evolving? Join our SaaS community. https://www.thesaasacademy.com/offers/ivNjwYDx/checkout Subscribe to Ben's SaaS newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/df1db6bf8bca/the-saas-cfo-sign-up-landing-page

May 20, 20252 min

The Top 3 Metrics to Determine if You Have a Scaling Problem

In episode #281, I cover my top three metrics to determine if you have a scaling problem. This is a follow-up to episode #280, the growing versus scaling problem. - My foundational three metrics - What’s the difference between growing and scaling? Join our SaaS community. https://www.thesaasacademy.com/offers/ivNjwYDx/checkout Subscribe to Ben's SaaS newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/df1db6bf8bca/the-saas-cfo-sign-up-landing-page Greg's podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/profitability-playbook-the-simple-numbers-podcast/id1707856652

May 7, 20254 min

Growing vs. Scaling? You Must Know the Difference

In episode #280, I just listened to a business podcast and must share the concept of growing versus scaling. This is such a critical concept for SaaS operators to understand. - Growing - Scaling - Metrics to measure Join our SaaS community. https://www.thesaasacademy.com/offers/ivNjwYDx/checkout Subscribe to Ben's SaaS newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/df1db6bf8bca/the-saas-cfo-sign-up-landing-page Greg's podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/profitability-playbook-the-simple-numbers-podcast/id1707856652

May 6, 20254 min

What Metrics to Track from 5 to 10M ARR

In episode #279, I’m tackling the metrics to track in your SaaS journey. One you pass 5M in ARR , a SaaS CFO can do a lot with your operational and financial data. - Use my 5 Pillar SaaS Metrics Framework - Pillar 1 Growth - Pillar 2 Retention - Pillar 3 Margins - Pillar 4 Financia Profile - Pillar 5 Efficiency - Should we segment? Retention Bootcamp:https://www.thesaasacademy.com/offers/Q2uE6U2B/checkout 5 Pillar SaaS Metrics Framework: https://www.thesaascfo.com/scaling-with-confidence-the-ultimate-saas-metrics-playbook/

Apr 30, 20252 min

What Metrics to Track from 3 to 5M ARR

In episode #278, I’m tackling the metrics to track in your SaaS journey. One you reach the 3-5M ARR range, things can get really interesting with your financial profile and metrics. - Use my 5 Pillar SaaS Metrics Framework - Pillar 1 Growth - Pillar 2 Retention - Pillar 3 Margins - Pillar 4 Financial Profile Retention Bootcamp:https://www.thesaasacademy.com/offers/Q2uE6U2B/checkout 5 Pillar SaaS Metrics Framework: https://www.thesaascfo.com/scaling-with-confidence-the-ultimate-saas-metrics-playbook/

Apr 29, 20254 min

What Metrics to Track from 1 to 3M ARR

In episode #277, I’m tackling the metrics to track in your SaaS journey. Things start to take shape in the 1-3M ARR range. - Use my 5 Pillar SaaS Metrics Framework - Pillar 1 Growth - Pillar 2  Retention - Are we concerned about our financial profile yet? Retention Bootcamp:https://www.thesaasacademy.com/offers/Q2uE6U2B/checkout 5 Pillar SaaS Metrics Framework: https://www.thesaascfo.com/scaling-with-confidence-the-ultimate-saas-metrics-playbook/

Apr 25, 20254 min

What Metrics to Track from 0 to 1M ARR

In episode #276, I’m tackling a subscriber question who is just starting their SaaS journey. There are definitely some building blocks to put into place so you have no regrets later. - Selecting your accounting software - Who does the accounting? - Building your accounting foundation - Cash or accrual accounting - Tracking your bookings - What metrics to track? Be in the know! Join our SaaS community. https://www.thesaasacademy.com/offers/ivNjwYDx/checkout Subscribe to Ben's SaaS newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/df1db6bf8bca/the-saas-cfo-sign-up-landing-page

Apr 24, 20255 min

You Must Define Your Type of Variable Revenue

In episode #275, I’m sharing revenue insights from helping a lot of SaaS companies with their finances. You must clearly define your major revenue categories. Next, you must define your type of variable revenue. - The 6 major revenue categories - The types of variable revenue - Why this matters Be in the know! Join our SaaS community. https://www.thesaasacademy.com/offers/ivNjwYDx/checkout Subscribe to Ben's SaaS newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/df1db6bf8bca/the-saas-cfo-sign-up-landing-page

Apr 12, 20253 min

Can the Large Software Incumbents Survive the Agentic AI Competitive Threat?

In episode #274, I’m sharing some insight from a Mark Roberge talk in Tempe, AZ at PHX FWD. The software business is undergoing another major shift. In the 80/90’s it started with on-premise software, then ASP, then SaaS, and now AI. - Business model changes - What if agentic AI entered your space? - Siebel Systems - from top player to SaaS laggard Be in the know! Join our SaaS community. https://www.thesaasacademy.com/offers/ivNjwYDx/checkout Subscribe to Ben's SaaS newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/df1db6bf8bca/the-saas-cfo-sign-up-landing-page

Apr 8, 20254 min

Don’t Believe the $5M ARR per Employee Hype

In episode #273, I’m sharing some insight from a Mark Roberge talk in Tempe, AZ at PHX FWD. Should we believe the ARR per FTE hype? - Is my SaaS being left behind? - Should we believe the hype? - Current benchmarks for ARR per FTE Be in the know! Join our SaaS community. https://www.thesaasacademy.com/offers/ivNjwYDx/checkout

Apr 6, 20254 min

Founders Please Close Your Books On Time

In episode #272, I address poor financial close practices. You must close your books on time to understand economic performance. - What day should your books be closed? - Insource or outsource accounting? - It’s not just cash performance Be in the know! Join our SaaS community. https://www.thesaasacademy.com/offers/ivNjwYDx/checkout

Mar 26, 20252 min

Billing Pauses Wreak Havoc on Your Revenue Retention

In episode #271, I address a student question from TheSaaSAcademy.com. And that’s billing pauses. How should we handle this with our revenue retention calculations? - Let’s define a billing pause - Impact on your MRR schedule - Impact on GRR and NRR - Unpredictable revenue Be in the know! Join our SaaS community. https://www.thesaasacademy.com/offers/ivNjwYDx/checkout

Mar 13, 20254 min

Cohort Retention is NOT the Only Retention Method

In episode #270, I address the methods of calculating your retention. Contrary to those social media posts, cohort retention is NOT the only way to calculate retention. I’ll tell you why. - The 3 retention calculations - What is cohort retention - What is aggregate retention - Segmentation Be in the know! Join our SaaS community. https://www.thesaasacademy.com/offers/ivNjwYDx/checkout  

Feb 25, 20255 min

Am I a Software Co with Hardware or Hardware Co with Software?

In episode #269, I address a question from a recent conversation with a founder who was starting a software/hardware play. You must understand your business model and the type of company that you are building. - Am I Software or Hardware? - What is my business model? - Have you defined your SaaS P&L? - What about people-powered revenue? Be in the know! Join our SaaS community. https://www.thesaasacademy.com/offers/ivNjwYDx/checkout

Feb 20, 20253 min

Should Rev Ops Report to the CRO or CFO?

In episode #268, I address a debate that arose a recent SaaS CEO and CFO dinner in San Francisco. - What is Rev Ops? - CFO or CRO? Be in the know! Join our SaaS community. https://www.thesaasacademy.com/offers/ivNjwYDx/checkout

Feb 19, 20255 min

What is the Purpose of an MRR Schedule and Why You Should Care

In episode #267, I address the coveted MRR schedule. Done wrong, it causes a ton of headaches and can derail due diligence. - What is the MRR schedule? - Where do you source the data? - What systems house this data? Have you joined our SaaS community? https://www.thesaasacademy.com/offers/ivNjwYDx/checkout

Feb 18, 20253 min

Should I Count Payment Processing Revenue as ARR

In episode #266, I address a reader's question about payment processing revenue. There are two key points. Recording the revenue on your P&L, and can I take ARR credit for this revenue stream? - The nature of your payment processing revenue - ARR credit - Gross profit Join my SaaS community to be notified of future training, webinars, templates, and more: https://www.thesaasacademy.com/offers/ivNjwYDx/checkout  

Feb 4, 20254 min

How to Calculate Services Backlog in Months

In episode #265, I address one of the four key professional services metrics. I received a message from someone who read my blog posts about this metric. Let’s break down the steps and inputs. - Services backlog - Monthly burn number - Billable FTE’s Services Metrics: https://www.thesaascfo.com/how-to-effectively-manage-your-professional-services-team-with-metrics/  

Jan 29, 20253 min

The Difference Between Booking Date and Revenue Start Date

Episode 264 – The Difference Between Booking Date and Revenue Start Date In episode #264, I tackle a question from a SaaS CEO in Spain. They messaged me on LinkedIn about dates. Sales wants to record the contract on the execution date, and finance must begin revenue on the subscription start date. What’s the right process? - Bookings dates - Revenue on the P&L Have SaaS questions? Join our community: https://www.thesaasacademy.com/offers/ivNjwYDx/checkout

Jan 23, 20252 min

How to Build Your Metrics Foundation in 2025

In episode #263, I address the building blocks to your financial transparency. Tired of running financially blind? Know that you can do more with your data? - Why do we need this? - Chart of accounts - 4 key data sources - SaaS P&L - Technology - Training Free training on my process: https://www.thesaasacademy.com/offers/zz3ZR2WL/checkout In-depth course on SaaS Metrics: https://www.thesaasacademy.com/the-saas-metrics-foundation Live course on SaaS metrics: https://www.thesaasacademy.com/the-saas-metrics-foundation-course-community

Jan 12, 20256 min

How to Size Your R&D Budget for Next Year

In episode #262, I address 2025 planning and R&D investments. - Calculate your OpEx profile. - Factors influencing your R&D budget - Where to get your benchmark data Check out Ray's data at benchmarkit.ai

Dec 29, 20244 min

You Can’t Scale without Bookings Data

In episode #261, I address the world of SaaS data. Bookings data is one of the biggest data mistakes that I see in SaaS. With this data, you can forget about understanding your GTM efficiency - What is bookings data? - Sources of bookings data - What if I’m self-service SaaS? Check out my post on the bookings report here: https://www.thesaascfo.com/the-saas-bookings-report/

Dec 28, 20244 min

When Should Your Hire a Fractional SaaS CFO?

In episode #260, I address the world of fractional help. I’ll focus on the SaaS CFO but also share other fractional roles that I see in SaaS companies. - What ARR level should I hire a fractional CFO? - When should I hire a full-time CFO? - Fractional CFO or Interim CFO or part-time CFO - Outsourced bookkeeping - Other fractional roles My go-to firms for outsourced bookkeeping are at the bottom of this blog post: https://www.thesaascfo.com/how-to-properly-structure-your-saas-accounting-foundation/ My fractional SaaS CFO services: https://www.thesaascfo.com/saas-consulting/ 

Dec 27, 20245 min

Your SaaS Metrics Playbook for 2025

In episode #259 I address the data and metrics required to scale your SaaS business. It’s no accident when SaaS companies achieve big ARR numbers. - Growth - Retention - Margins - Financial Profile - Efficiency Free training January 10th on my metrics playbook: https://www.thesaasacademy.com/pl/2148613448 SaaS Metrics Foundation course in February: https://www.thesaasacademy.com/the-saas-metrics-foundation-live-cohort-new  

Dec 26, 20245 min

How Much Are SaaS Companies Raising in Series C and D Rounds?

In episode #258, I address fundraise sizes. Let’s break down common Series C and D round raises. - Series C round sizes - Series D round sizes - Sourced from TheSaaSNews.com Join my SaaS community for the latest data, trends, and templates: https://www.thesaasacademy.com/offers/ivNjwYDx/checkout

Dec 22, 20243 min

How Much Are SaaS Companies Raising in Series A and B Rounds?

Episode 257 – How Much Are SaaS Companies Raising in Series A and B Rounds? In episode #257, I address fundraise sizes. Let’s break down common Series A and B round raises. - Series A round sizes - Series B round sizes - Sourced from TheSaaSNews.com Join my SaaS community for the latest data, trends, and templates: https://www.thesaasacademy.com/offers/ivNjwYDx/checkout

Dec 21, 20244 min

How Much Capital Should You Ask for in a Pre-seed and Seed Round?

In episode #256, I address fundraise sizes. Let’s break down common pre-seed and seed round raises. - Pre-seed round sizes - Seed round sizes - Sources from TheSaaSNews.com Join my SaaS community for the latest data, trends, and templates: https://www.thesaasacademy.com/offers/ivNjwYDx/checkout

Dec 17, 20243 min

How to Size Your Sales and Marketing Budget for Next Year

In episode #255, I address sales and marketing investments, ROI, and how to call BS on bookings and GTM investments. - Calculate your OpEx profile. - Use these GTM efficiency metrics - How to call BS on  your forecast or budget Want to stay innovative in SaaS? Join my SaaS community: https://www.thesaasacademy.com/offers/ivNjwYDx/checkout

Dec 5, 20244 min

Onboarding is NOT a Sales Cost

In episode #254, I address a question that comes up often enough from SaaS teams and investors. Let’s address where we code onboarding expenses. - Where do we code onboarding expenses? - When does CAC stop? Want to stay innovative in SaaS? Join my SaaS community: https://www.thesaasacademy.com/offers/ivNjwYDx/checkout

Dec 4, 20242 min

My Top 4 Professional Services Metrics – Services Margins

In episode #253, I address the top four metrics you should calculate and monitor if you have a customer onboarding function. This episode focuses on services margins. - Run PS like its own business unit - Set up your SaaS P&L correctly - Services margins benchmarks Check out this post for more detail: https://www.thesaascfo.com/how-to-effectively-manage-your-professional-services-team-with-metrics/

Nov 26, 20243 min

My Top 4 Professional Services Metrics – Billable Utilization

In episode #252, I address the top four metrics you should calculate and monitor if you have a customer onboarding function. This episode focuses on billable utilization. - What is billable utilization? - What’s a good percentage? Check out my professional services post about PS metrics: https://www.thesaascfo.com/how-to-effectively-manage-your-professional-services-team-with-metrics/  

Nov 23, 20243 min

My Top 4 Professional Services Metrics – Services Backlog in Months

In episode #251, I address the top four metrics you should calculate and monitor if you have a customer onboarding function. This episode focuses on services backlog in backlog in months. - What is services backlog? - How do I convert backlog into a monthly number? Join my SaaS community for events, training, templates, and networking: https://www.thesaasacademy.com/offers/ivNjwYDx/checkout

Nov 21, 20242 min

My Top 4 Professional Services Metrics – Services Backlog

In episode #250, I address the top four metrics you should calculate and monitor if you have a customer onboarding function. This episode focuses on services backlog. - What is services backlog? - What’s a good number? - How do I manage backlog? Join my SaaS newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/df1db6bf8bca/the-saas-cfo-sign-up-landing-page

Nov 20, 20243 min

My Top 4 Professional Services Metrics

In episode #249, I address the top four metrics you should calculate and monitor if you have a customer onboarding function. - Services backlog - Backlog in months - Billable utilization - Services margins Join my SaaS newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/df1db6bf8bca/the-saas-cfo-sign-up-landing-page

Nov 19, 20242 min

How Do We Handle Churn When Customers Hit Pause

In episode #248, I address a reader's question. Here’s the question…how can we distinguish churn from a customer freeze (pause services)? - Handling churn calculations - Handling retention calculations - Havoc with your MRR schedule Join my community for my training, templates, and content: https://www.thesaasacademy.com/offers/ivNjwYDx/checkout

Nov 15, 20241 min

Tracking GRR with a V1 to V2 Product Migration

In episode #247, I address a reader question from Andy. Here’s the question…if I create a new version of my product from a 1.0 to a 2.0 and migrate my existing customers to it, how should I measure my GRR? - What should we track? - Should we track GRR separately for V2? - What other metrics should we consider? Got a question? Ask me here: https://drift.me/thesaascfo Or join my SaaS community and ask me here: https://www.thesaasacademy.com/offers/ivNjwYDx/checkout

Nov 12, 20242 min

My Top 4 Sales and Marketing Efficiency Metrics You Should Be Measuring

Episode 246 – My Top 4 Sales and Marketing Efficiency Metrics In episode #246, I address the must-have GTM efficiency metrics for your SaaS business. - My top 4 - Pillar 5 of my SaaS metrics framework Have you downloaded my 5 Pillar SaaS Metrics Framework?

Nov 5, 20243 min

12 Top SaaS Metrics Every CEO Should Measure for Sustainable Growth

In episode #245, I address 12 top SaaS metrics you should implement in your business. This is from a post at the link below. I love these posts, so let’s see if these really are the best metrics for you. - 12 essential SaaS metrics - Ben’s assessment of these metrics Have you downloaded my 5 Pillar SaaS Metrics Framework? Article Credit: https://editorialge.com/saas-metrics-every-ceo-should-monitor/

Nov 2, 20244 min

How to Measure Your GTM ROI on Tradeshows

In episode #244, I address a student question from my SaaS Metrics Crash course. When we attend tradeshows, how do we measure the ROI? - MQL, SQL, Pipeline Creation - Treat your leads like cohorts Have you downloaded my 5 Pillar SaaS Metrics Framework?  

Oct 30, 20242 min

Should I Offer 15% Discounts for Annual Subscriptions?

In episode #243, I’m addressing a student question from my SaaS Metrics Foundation course. Should we offer discounts on annual subscriptions? - What’s your retention? Cohort retention? - Month 13 renewal rate? Have you downloaded my 5 Pillar SaaS Metrics Framework?

Oct 29, 20242 min

How Should I Report ARR Bookings in a Multiyear Contract?

Episode 242 – How Should I Report ARR Bookings in a Multiyear Contract? In episode #242, I’m addressing ARR bookings reporting. Bookings data is one of the biggest report mistakes that I see in SaaS finance data. You must track this correctly. - What is a booking? - What ARR do I report in my bookings report? - How do I handle multiyear contracts? - Should I use the RPO metric? Have you downloaded my 5 Pillar SaaS Metrics Framework?

Oct 24, 20244 min

Should I Use CARR or MRR or Exit ARR in My Reporting?

In episode #241, I’m sharing some MRR reporting fundamentals. Let’s not confuse our Board and investors. It’s easy to suffer from MRR blindness if we get too fancy with our reporting. - What is MRR blindness? - What is CARR? - What is MRR? - What is Exit ARR? Have you downloaded my 5 Pillar SaaS Metrics Framework?

Oct 22, 20244 min