SaaS Metrics School

In episode #180, I address professional services revenue. PS revenue required to set up, configure, onboard, and train your customers. And essential department when selling mid-market and enterprise software. - What is professional services? - What are standard margins on services revenue? - The battle between Sales and PS - You must make margin! Subscribe to Ben’s SaaS metrics newsletter: https:/...

In episode #179, I address revenue retention and variable revenue streams. This can be tricky if our variable revenue offers no consistency. Period of measurement is key. - Variable revenue streams - Period of measurement - Cohort analysis - Month 13 Grab my retention template in this free course:  https://www.thesaasacademy.com/pl/2148292708

In episode #178, I address the proper time to use the Rule of 40. There are a lot of opinions here on when to implement this metric. Some say above 25M in ARR. Some say 50M ARR. - What is the Rule of 40? - Your funding environment matters - When to use this metric - When is it a red flag Rule of 40 post:  https://www.thesaascfo.com/rule-of-40-saas/

In episode #177, I address the 4 things you can do to pass 90% of SaaS peers in financial maturity. - Your Chart of Accounts - The Proper SaaS P&L - Department Coding - Revenue Recognition Subscribe to Ben’s SaaS metrics newsletter: https://saasmetricsschool.beehiiv.com/subscribe Subscribe to Ben’s SaaS monthly newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/df1db6bf8bca/the-saas-cfo-sign-up-landing-page SaaS...

In episode #176, I address the structure of your SaaS P&L. This is my top requested coaching session from founders and finance teams. You must get this right. - Your chart of accounts - Your revenue section - Your COGS section - Your OpEx section - Department coding - Rev rec SaaS P&L template:  https://www.thesaascfo.com/saas-pl-explained/

In episode #175, I address the hotly debated topic of customer success expense. Where do we code wages and bonuses? To get this right, we must first define the role of CS in your SaaS company. - What is the role of CS? - Code in COGS, OpEx, or potentially both Subscribe to Ben’s SaaS metrics newsletter: https://saasmetricsschool.beehiiv.com/subscribe Subscribe to Ben’s SaaS monthly newsletter: htt...

In episode #174, I address bookings, renewals, and expansion. These data points can get confusing if we don’t define them correctly. - When is a renewal a booking? - When is a renewal NOT a booking? - Does renewal impact expansion MRR? Subscribe to Ben’s SaaS metrics newsletter: https://saasmetricsschool.beehiiv.com/subscribe Subscribe to Ben’s SaaS monthly newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/df1db6bf8...

In episode #173, I address a student question this week in my SaaS Metrics Foundation course. We must understand our GRR, benchmarks, and how third parties will judge our SaaS business. Check out episode #59 on gross revenue retention for more details. - What is GRR? - Valuation impact - Benchmark data sources Subscribe to Ben’s SaaS metrics newsletter: https://saasmetricsschool.beehiiv.com/subscr...

In episode #172, I address revenue streams and MRR schedules. This is no joking matter. Our metrics and valuation depend on clean data. - Common SaaS revenue streams - MRR schedules - Combining MRR schedules Grab my template to create your MRR schedule in this free course: https://www.thesaasacademy.com/offers/gmbMDsYN/checkout

In episode #171, I address the number one SaaS data mistake. Poor or no tracking of bookings data. Check out episode #25 for a bookings breakdown. - What is the source of truth? - Tips and tricks - ACV, TCV, revenue categories - New vs. expansion Subscribe to Ben’s SaaS metrics newsletter: https://saasmetricsschool.beehiiv.com/subscribe Subscribe to Ben’s SaaS monthly newsletter: https://mailchi.m...

In episode #170, I address revenue classifications on our SaaS P&L. We must keep clear and distinct revenue categories. - SaaS revenue categories - One-time versus recurring - Subscription services Subscribe to Ben’s SaaS metrics newsletter: https://saasmetricsschool.beehiiv.com/subscribe Subscribe to Ben’s SaaS monthly newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/df1db6bf8bca/the-saas-cfo-sign-up-landing-p...

In episode #169, I address the financial close process. AKA, closing your books. This must be done timely and accurately every month. If not, you lose financial transparency and decision-making ability. - The slow close - The impact of taking forever to close your books Subscribe to Ben’s SaaS metrics newsletter: https://saasmetricsschool.beehiiv.com/subscribe Subscribe to Ben’s SaaS monthly newsl...

In episode #168, I address the four common mistakes with your accounting. I see this over and over in my client and coaching base. Learn from their mistakes. - Your chart of accounts - Your SaaS P&L structure - Your department coding - Your revenue recognition SaaS CFO Template Lessons:  https://www.thesaasacademy.com/offers/gmbMDsYN/checkout Subscribe to Ben’s SaaS metrics newsletter: ht...

In episode #167, I address a common founder issue. Running financially blind. I’ve seen a lot of bad data and financials lately. Even after reviewing 100’s SaaS financial statements, there are financials where I couldn’t even take a guess as to how good or bad the company is performing. - Running financially blind - 4 key data sources - Where to start first to improve visibility Subscribe to Ben’s...

In episode #166, I address a common discussion lately. Time tracking. It’s important to get your headcount roster coded correctly. However, we don’t want over allocate. - HRIS data - Wearing multiple “hats” - Time tracking Subscribe to Ben’s SaaS metrics newsletter: https://saasmetricsschool.beehiiv.com/subscribe Subscribe to Ben’s SaaS monthly newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/df1db6bf8bca/the-saas-...

In episode #165, I address the tech stack being used in SaaS companies. I just released my 5th Annual SaaS Tech Stack Report. It covers 21 software categories and debt financing - 21 software categories - debt financing - 535 participants - It’s not a market map Download the report here:  https://www.thesaascfo.com/surveys/finance-accounting-tech-stack-survey/

In episode #164, I address an important topic that has come up a lot lately. The clarity and definition of your revenue streams. Don’t comingle them! - SaaS revenue streams - Your chart of accounts - Your revenue metrics Free templates course: https://www.thesaasacademy.com/offers/gmbMDsYN/checkout Subscribe to Ben’s SaaS metrics newsletter: https://saasmetricsschool.beehiiv.com/subscribe Sub...

In episode #163, I address a common financial setup mistake that prevents you from making informed financial decisions. - Big bucket of expenses - Financial structure - Cash burn Subscribe to Ben’s SaaS metrics newsletter: https://saasmetricsschool.beehiiv.com/subscribe Subscribe to Ben’s SaaS monthly newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/df1db6bf8bca/the-saas-cfo-sign-up-landing-page SaaS Metrics course...

In episode #162, I address the advisors you need when exiting. Don’t go it alone! Transactions are very complicated. - Investment Banker - Tax CPA - Accounting CPA - Corporate M&A Attorney - Going it alone? Contact me for my rolodex:  https://www.thesaascfo.com/contact/  

In episode #161, I address the time needed to accurately prepare your SaaS metrics. I talk to many founders who have kicked off an informal exit process. They need forecasts and metrics ASAP for due diligence. Often, it is too late to help. Ideally, we have 6 months to get your data in order. - Time needed to prep your data - Ideally, we have 6 months Subscribe to Ben’s SaaS metrics newsletter: ht...

In episode #160, I review growth rates that are considered VC fundable. I find growth rates to be very subjective based on the audience. Are we talking to VC or PE? Let’s not get caught up in the hype. I cover the growth rates posted by Jason Lemkin in a SaaStr post and Benchmarkit. AI growth rates. - Lemkin’s view of growth rates - Benchmarkit.ai growth rates - Bootstrappers, let’s not get caught...

Episode 159 – How to Handle Unknown Churn in Your Reporting In episode #159, I address a reader's question. This is very common for SaaS companies that target mid-market and above customers. You send the renewal invoice but don’t hear back from the customer. Is this churn? When should I report it as churn? - Churn reporting when you don’t hear back from the customer Subscribe to Ben’s SaaS metrics...

In episode #158, I share my SaaS CFO KPI checklist. I'm holding a free training on this checklist on Jan 17. Register at the link below. - My steps to spin up SaaS metrics - SaaS metrics checklist Register here:  https://www.thesaasacademy.com/pl/2148142066 Subscribe to Ben’s SaaS metrics newsletter:   https://saasmetricsschool.beehiiv.com/subscribe Subscribe to Ben’s SaaS mont...

In episode #157, I address bookings and budgets or forecasts. You really cannot create a proper forecast or budget without bookings targets. This is similar to my days in the airlines where we needed the capacity plan first. Otherwise, how do we know what resources we need to support our targets. - Bookings alignment - Revenue - Headcount planning - S&M efficiency metrics Subscribe to Ben’s Sa...

In episode #155, I address an article in CFO Dive about tech companies wanting operational CFO’s. - What is an operational CFO? - How does this help? Subscribe to Ben’s SaaS metrics newsletter: https://saasmetricsschool.beehiiv.com/subscribe Subscribe to Ben’s SaaS monthly newsletter: https://mailchi.mp/df1db6bf8bca/the-saas-cfo-sign-up-landing-page SaaS Metrics courses here: https://www.thesaasac...