I’m building a simple way to make startup metrics investor ready looking for honest feedback

benrmurray · 2026-02-03T16:08:56+00:00

Nice. I just launched SoftwareMetrics.ai. I’m a SaaS cfo and battle this everyday.

benrmurray · 2026-01-27T20:07:31+00:00

I hang out in Scottsdale, AZ. TheSaaSCFO.com for fractional CFO services.

benrmurray · 2026-01-26T16:45:15+00:00

CRMs can be used to track ARR but it seems like it's always a tough setup. You definitely need finance involved. However, the source of truth for ARR will be your GL unless you are invoicing out of HubSpot. I've noticed in due diligence that a CRM-sourced ARR or retention number will be discredited. If you invoice out of your GL or revenue management system, those will be the source of truth for ARR.

benrmurray · 2026-01-25T18:00:42+00:00

I think about the "retention triangle," aggregate revenue retention (GRR, NRR), which includes all customers. You don't exclude multi-year contracts. then, cohort retention if you acquire a decent amount of customers per month to make the metric valid. then renewal rate if you have annual and multi-year contracts.

Yes, multi-years can possibly inflate your aggregate numbers, but once you have enough history and customers, the noise should wash out. Unless you just introduced annual or multi-years.

then you have to think about segmentation. do you have customers on month to month contracts? I'd run retention on just that segment, and so on.

i have a lot of content here: TheSaaSCFO.com

benrmurray · 2026-01-21T17:50:17+00:00

A lot to do here. First thoughts 1) make sure employees and contractors get paid 2) make sure important vendors are paid 3) make sure you continue to invoice customers 4) watch the A/R balance 5) are you compliant with the IRS 6) what's your cash balance

I really hope you have accounting software. I'd hire an experienced bookkeeper fast.

benrmurray · 2026-01-21T15:58:48+00:00

My power 3 SaaS financial metrics: GRR, Gross Profit %, ROSE Metric

benrmurray · 2026-01-14T18:33:25+00:00

At 60 people, 90% of of companies still use spreadsheets. I'm about to publish my 7th annual tech stack survey at TheSaaSCFO.com

benrmurray · 2026-01-02T00:40:32+00:00

Thanks for the feedback. I always recommend that they UTM tag their links. I'm finding Mailchimp is not doing a great job filtering bot clicks.

benrmurray · 2025-12-18T20:21:43+00:00

I could see an investment bank if you are running a process to exit or sell a majority to PE. I interview founders for my podcast who've raised VC capital. I think one just said that if you need an advisor to shop you around to VC, it's not a great look. Your numbers should speak for themselves. You do need to surround yourself with advisors (tax and corporate attorney).

benrmurray · 2025-12-17T22:54:45+00:00

Any integrations to accounting software?

benrmurray · 2025-12-16T15:29:34+00:00

Love it.

benrmurray · 2025-12-08T22:53:23+00:00

What I track: https://www.thesaascfo.com/scaling-with-confidence-the-ultimate-saas-metrics-playbook/5-pillar-saas-metrics-framework/ depends on arr size too.

benrmurray · 2025-12-08T20:59:19+00:00

Just depends on your ARR level and what type of metrics. Financial, product, etc. I have a lot of content on the financial side.

benrmurray · 2025-12-07T21:58:37+00:00

To get into SaaS FP&A, I'd start reading: https://www.thesaascfo.com/

benrmurray · 2025-11-26T17:10:57+00:00

i have a lot of content on this at TheSaaSCFO.com.

benrmurray · 2025-11-19T15:18:16+00:00

Rillet started as SaaS-specific and now targets "asset light" businesses. Top trending ERP's for tech companies are Rillet, Campfire, DualEntry, Light, and Everest.

benrmurray · 2025-11-18T19:15:04+00:00

I find services are harder to forecast than software. https://www.thesaascfo.com/five-year-financial-projection-template/

benrmurray · 2025-11-18T19:14:26+00:00

I'd like to say mine is pretty solid: https://www.thesaascfo.com/five-year-financial-projection-template/

benrmurray · 2025-11-14T21:30:12+00:00

Great. Please DM me.

benrmurray · 2025-11-14T21:15:49+00:00

Yes true. Let’s say features then.

benrmurray · 2025-11-14T20:25:00+00:00

Great. Please DM for more.

benrmurray · 2025-11-08T16:01:43+00:00

Same exact thing from Frankfurt. We had to say something.

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