What SaaS metrics actually move the needle on your company valuation? In episode #304, Ben Murray shares his “Power 3” SaaS metrics — the three investor metrics that consistently signal scalable growth and increase SaaS valuations. While many articles list “top metrics” without context, these three have proven to be the most impactful in boardrooms, investor meetings, and due diligence.

If you want to attract investors, strengthen your business model, and maximize your valuation, start by mastering these three metrics.

What You’ll Learn:

Gross Profit
- Why high gross profit (80%+ for pure-play SaaS) is a foundation for growth.
- How revenue mix and margins by stream impact scalability and valuation.
Gross Revenue Retention (GRR)
- Why GRR is the ultimate measure of product stickiness.
- How poor retention erodes efficiency and drags on working capital.
ROSE (Return on SaaS Employees)
- Ben’s proprietary alternative to “revenue per FTE.”
- Now updated to account for AI-driven roles that replace human labor.
- Why ROSE is more accurate for modern SaaS org efficiency.

Why These Metrics Matter for Investors & Valuation

Investors look for predictable, efficient growth — these metrics show exactly that.
High gross profit and retention indicate a sustainable business model.
ROSE reveals operational efficiency that supports long-term profitability.
Together, these KPIs create a clear narrative for maximizing company valuation.

Resources Mentioned:

The Power 3 SaaS Metrics — Blog post + downloadable templates: https://www.thesaascfo.com/the-power-3-saas-metrics-that-predict-if-youll-scale-or-stall/

Quote from Ben:

“If I could only choose three metrics to see if you’re scaling the right way, it would be gross profit, gross revenue retention, and ROSE.”

The Top 3 SaaS Metrics That Drive Your SaaS Valuation

SaaS Metrics School