SaaS Metrics School - podcast cover

SaaS Metrics School

Ben Murray brings you actionable SaaS metrics lessons that he has learned through years of being in the SaaS CFO trenches. Whether you are new to SaaS or a SaaS veteran, learn the latest SaaS metrics, finance, and accounting tactics that drive financial transparency and improved decision-making. Ben’s SaaS metrics blog consistently rates a 70+ NPS, and his templates have been downloaded over 100,000 times. There is always something to learn about SaaS metrics.
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Episodes

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 04, 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, 20254 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...

Jan 12, 20257 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, 20245 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-foundatio...

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, 20246 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 05, 20245 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 04, 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, 20244 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, 20243 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, 20244 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, 20242 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, 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 02, 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, 20243 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, 20245 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

Can Your SaaS Beat the $1.50 Labor Efficiency Test?

In episode #240, I’m sharing one of my favorite metrics. The ROSE Metric. This metric is key to a sustainable SaaS business, especially if you are struggling to reach profitability. Can you beat $1.50? - What is the ROSE Metric? - Why is $1.50 so special? - Easily calculate your ROSE Metric Download the ROSE Metric template in my templates course : https://www.thesaasacademy.com/pl/2148292708...

Oct 15, 20244 min

What’s the Impact of This Customer Downgrade Scenario?

In episode #239, I’m addressing a reader's question. Thanks, John! Here’s the scenario. The customer books an annual contract at $24K ARR / $2K MRR. In Month 6, they are unhappy with the service and want to leave. The sales rep convinces them to stay and signs them up for a $12K ARR / $1K MRR contract. In addition, the sales rep convinces them to extend service for another 12 months starting at month 6. Do we count this as churn? Do we count this as a downgrade? What is the downgrade amount? Fin...

Oct 11, 20245 min

Don’t Make This Top Mistake in MRR Due Diligence

In episode #238, I’m sharing big mistakes that I see in MRR schedules. And this always happens to pop up in due diligence. This WILL limit your valuation as a seller. And it makes it hard to value SaaS businesses as the buyer. - MRR schedule - MRR waterfall - I must be able to calculate your retention - What I need to calculate retention Join my SaaS community for training, events, templates, networking, and more!...

Oct 09, 20245 min

My Top Critiques of Your 3 to 5 Year Forecast

In episode #237, I’m sharing tips and tricks from coaching calls on long-term forecasting. These are not easy. We have to take a step back and look at the macro-level picture. - Bookings - Revenue - COGS - OpEx - EBITDA - Headcount - Cost of ARR Check out my coaching options here!

Oct 03, 20249 min
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