How is ACV calculated in SaaS?

Knowledge Base > SaaS > How is ACV calculated in SaaS?

ACV (Annual Contract Value) is a key metric used in SaaS (Software as a Service) to measure the annualized value of a customer’s contract. ACV represents the total value of a customer’s contract, divided by the number of years in the contract term.

To calculate ACV, you need to know the total value of a customer’s contract over the course of a year. This typically includes recurring charges, such as subscription fees, as well as any one-time charges for additional services or features. To calculate ACV, you would divide this total value by the number of years in the contract term.

For example, if a customer signs a two-year contract for $24,000, the ACV would be calculated as follows:

ACV = $24,000 / 2 = $12,000 per year

This means that the customer’s contract is worth $12,000 per year in annualized revenue for the SaaS company.

It’s important to note that ACV is typically used for subscription-based SaaS models, where customers pay a recurring fee over a set period of time. For other types of SaaS models, such as usage-based or transactional pricing, different metrics may be used to measure revenue.

Here are the steps to calculate Annual Contract Value (ACV):

  • Determine the total value of the customer’s contract: This includes all recurring charges and any one-time charges for additional services or features. For example, if a customer signs up for a two-year contract that includes a $2,000 setup fee and a monthly subscription fee of $100, the total value of the contract would be $4,400 ($2,000 + ($100 x 24 months)).
  • Determine the number of years in the contract term: This is the length of the customer’s contract. In the example above, the contract term is two years.
  • Divide the total contract value by the number of years in the contract term: This will give you the Annual Contract Value. Using the example above, the calculation would be: $4,400 / 2 years = $2,200 per year.
  • Round the ACV to an appropriate level of precision: Depending on your needs, you may want to round the ACV to the nearest dollar or to a certain decimal place.

By following these steps, you can calculate the Annual Contract Value for any SaaS customer contract.

Useful Links:

  1. What are ACV and ARR? – Chargebee
  2. ACV: What It Means & How to Calculate It

Common Questions

  • What is ACV in SaaS?

    ACV stands for Annual Contract Value, which is a metric used in SaaS to measure the annualized value of a customer’s contract. It represents the total value of a customer’s contract, divided by the number of years in the contract term.

  • How is ACV calculated in SaaS?

    To calculate ACV in SaaS, you need to know the total value of a customer’s contract over the course of a year. This includes recurring charges, such as subscription fees, as well as any one-time charges for additional services or features. You would then divide this total value by the number of years in the contract term to get the ACV.

  • Why is ACV important in SaaS?

    ACV is an important metric in SaaS because it helps companies to measure the annualized value of their customer contracts, which is useful for forecasting revenue and measuring customer lifetime value. It also helps companies to compare the value of different contracts and track changes in revenue over time.

  • How does ACV differ from MRR in SaaS?

    MRR (Monthly Recurring Revenue) is another important metric in SaaS that measures the monthly recurring revenue generated by a customer. While ACV measures the annualized value of a customer’s contract, MRR measures the recurring revenue generated on a monthly basis. However, both metrics are used to measure the value of customer contracts and track changes in revenue over time.

  • Can ACV be negative in SaaS?

    Yes, ACV can be negative in SaaS if a customer cancels their contract before the end of the contract term, resulting in a refund or a loss for the SaaS company. However, negative ACV is not ideal and companies should aim to reduce churn and retain customers to maintain positive ACV.

  • How can SaaS companies increase their ACV?

    SaaS companies can increase their ACV by upselling or cross-selling additional services or features to customers, increasing the price of their subscription plans, or targeting larger customers with higher-value contracts. However, it’s important to balance this with maintaining customer satisfaction and avoiding churn.