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Why Retention Drives SaaS Valuation Multiples

Written by Harry Prabandham

Curated by Rubric Financial

Last updated

1 / 5

The Multiple Is About the Future

  • A revenue multiple is really a bet on how much future cash a dollar of revenue will generate.
  • Retention tells investors whether today's revenue will still exist and grow next year.
  • High retention means growth compounds on a stable base instead of refilling a leaky bucket.
  • That compounding is why retention moves valuation more than almost any other input.

About the author

Harry Prabandham

Founder & CEO

Founder and CEO of StartupCFO. MBA from Wharton, MS in Computer Science, and decades of experience building and advising venture-backed startups.

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