Glossary/MRR / ARR (Monthly & Annual Recurring Revenue)
Financial Metrics

MRR / ARR (Monthly & Annual Recurring Revenue)

Also known as: MRR, ARR, Monthly Recurring Revenue, Annual Recurring Revenue

Predictable, recurring revenue from subscriptions, measured monthly (MRR) or annually (ARR).

Full Definition

MRR (Monthly Recurring Revenue) and ARR (Annual Recurring Revenue) are key metrics for subscription-based businesses that measure the predictable, recurring revenue generated from customers on a monthly or annual basis.

Calculating MRR

  • New MRR: Revenue from new customers acquired this month
  • Expansion MRR: Additional revenue from existing customers (upgrades, add-ons)
  • Churned MRR: Revenue lost from cancellations or downgrades
  • Net New MRR: New MRR + Expansion MRR - Churned MRR

ARR = MRR × 12

ARR is simply MRR multiplied by 12. It's the preferred metric for companies with annual contracts and for calculating SaaS company valuations.

MRR/ARR Benchmarks for Fundraising

  • Seed: $0 - $50K MRR
  • Series A: $50K - $200K MRR ($600K - $2.4M ARR)
  • Series B: $200K+ MRR ($2.4M+ ARR)

MRR / ARR Calculations

ARR:MRR × 12
Net New MRR:New MRR + Expansion MRR − Churned MRR
Example:500 customers × $100/mo = $50K MRR = $600K ARR

Real-World Example

A SaaS startup with 500 customers paying $100/month has $50K MRR ($600K ARR). With 20% monthly growth, they target $200K MRR for Series A.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between MRR and ARR?
MRR (Monthly Recurring Revenue) measures predictable recurring revenue on a monthly basis. ARR (Annual Recurring Revenue) = MRR × 12. MRR is used for month-to-month tracking, while ARR is used for annual planning and SaaS company valuations.
How do you calculate MRR?
MRR = sum of all monthly subscription revenue. Net New MRR = New MRR (new customers) + Expansion MRR (upgrades) − Churned MRR (cancellations). For annual contracts, divide the annual amount by 12 to get the MRR contribution.
What MRR do you need for Series A?
Most VCs expect $50K-$200K MRR ($600K-$2.4M ARR) for a Series A. However, growth rate matters more than absolute numbers. A company with $80K MRR growing 25% month-over-month is more attractive than one with $200K MRR growing 5%.
Free Resource

Investor Outreach Template Pack

Get our proven email templates, pitch frameworks, and investor research guides — used by 1,000+ founders.

  • Cold email templates that get 40%+ open rates
  • Follow-up sequence frameworks
  • Investor research checklist
Datapile | #1 Investor Database - Find 100K+ VCs & Angel Investors