Everything about SaaS Finance

Welcome to our guide about SaaS Finance! Here you’ll find many resources to help you get started with the finance of your SaaS company.

How is SaaS finance different from other businesses?

SaaS finance is different from more traditional B2B businesses as this business model can have more specificities.

For starters, SaaS businesses typically handle higher sales volumes, resulting in increased transaction processing. Secondly, B2B SaaS companies can offer a range of products or services. This can include a simple plan to fully customizable offers for certain clients.

SaaS finance also includes processing training fees, and accounting management fees, and deals with discounts, coupons, and various add-ons. On top of that, most of the time SaaS company relies on a subscription model, the businesses also have to deal with deferred revenues. All these specificities result in more complex accounting processes and could benefit from automation.

4 ways to make your revenue grow with SaaS accounting

SaaS Finance is a crucial part of any SaaS business. It involves managing the financial aspects of your SaaS business, including revenue growth, expenses, and profitability. To make your revenue grow with SaaS accounting, there are several strategies you can implement:

Firstly, focus on customer retention and upselling to existing customers and avoid churn. This will help you increase revenue without having to acquire new customers.
Secondly, invest in marketing and sales efforts to acquire new customers and increase brand awareness. This will help you bring in new revenue streams and expand your customer base. Additionally, consider implementing a pricing strategy that is based on usage, rather than a flat fee. This will allow you to increase revenue as your customers use more of your services.
Finally, monitor and analyze your financial data dashboards regularly to identify areas of improvement for data decision-making. By implementing these strategies for better financial planning, you can effectively manage your SaaS finance and increase revenue growth.
Use dedicated Accounts Receivable management software to streamline your cash collection efforts. Closing deals is good but if the cash never ends up in your business’s bank account it won’t do you much good. An AR solution will replace your pesky excel spreadsheet and help your finance team be more efficient. Thanks to revenue recognition automated invoicing you can save tones of time.

The right SaaS Finance Tech Stack for your Business?

Building your SaaS finance tech stack can save you time on repetitive tasks such as billing, collecting and recognizing revenue, and reducing overdue payments. When choosing accounting software for your SaaS business, it is essential to consider scalability, automation, and reporting. QuickBooks and NetSuite are both leaders in the industry but have some crucial differences Choosing the right software is a business decision that should be made in conjunction with your business team.

In addition to accounting software, other elements of a finance tech stack include a billing and a payment processor. An open and integrated tech system can improve accounts receivable management, automate repetitive tasks, and provide real-time financial reporting. Automation can also enhance productivity, reduce human error, and promote collaboration within the company.

A robust finance tech stack can support revenue expansion and growth by connecting your CRM, accounting, and billing tools together. A CRM like Salesforce can track marketing and sales activities, while a subscription management software like Chargebee can manage the subscription lifecycle and act as a billing tool. The size of your business will determine which accounting SaaS software is best for you.

What are the key SaaS financial metrics you should be tracking?

MRR, ARR and DSO are key metrics your SaaS finance team should be tracking.

MRR (Monthly Recurring Revenue) represents the recurring revenue coming in every month, including subscription fees, add-ons, and special features. It's a good indicator of business health for fast-growing companies. To grow MRR, you can either increase your average subscription fee or the number of clients you have.

ARR (Annual Recurring Revenue) is the yearly amount of recurring revenue from clients. It helps you compare growth year after year and make long-term decisions. To calculate ARR, simply multiply MRR by 12.

CAC (Customer Acquisition Cost) is the cost incurred to acquire new customers over a given period. It's essential for tracking which marketing actions were effective and keeping an eye on the cost of acquiring new customers. If CAC is higher than CLV (Customer Lifetime Value), it means you're losing money. CAC can be calculated by taking marketing and sales expenses incurred over the number of new clients gained during a given period.