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What is Monthly Recurring Revenue (MRR)?
Monthly Recurring Revenue (MRR) is a key financial metric used primarily by subscription-based businesses to measure predictable and recurring monthly income. It reflects the total revenue a company expects to receive every month from active subscriptions.
Definition
Monthly Recurring Revenue (MRR) is the normalized monthly revenue generated from all active subscription customers.
Key Takeaways
- Measures predictable, recurring monthly income.
- Essential for SaaS and subscription business forecasting.
- Helps track growth, churn, and customer value.
Understanding Monthly Recurring Revenue (MRR)
MRR provides clarity on how much predictable revenue a business generates each month, excluding one-time fees or variable charges. It is crucial for SaaS companies, membership platforms, and any recurring billing model.
MRR helps companies understand revenue stability, evaluate customer acquisition performance, and forecast future growth. It also highlights how upgrades, downgrades, and churn affect revenue.
MRR is typically broken into components such as new MRR, expansion MRR, contraction MRR, and churned MRR.
Formula (If Applicable)
MRR = Total Number of Customers × Average Revenue per Account (ARPA)
Other formulas:
- New MRR: Revenue from new customers.
- Expansion MRR: Revenue gained from upgrades.
- Churned MRR: Revenue lost from cancellations.
- Net MRR Growth: (New + Expansion − Churn) MRR.
Real-World Example
A SaaS company with 200 customers paying $50 per month has:
MRR = 200 × $50 = $10,000
Expansion, upgrades, and churn will adjust this figure monthly.
Importance in Business or Economics
MRR allows businesses to forecast revenue, plan cash flow, determine valuation, and assess long-term sustainability. It is a key performance indicator used by investors evaluating subscription-based business models.
Types or Variations
- New MRR
- Expansion MRR
- Churned MRR
- Net New MRR
Related Terms
- Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR)
- Customer Lifetime Value (CLV)
- Churn Rate
Sources and Further Reading
- HubSpot – SaaS Metrics Guide: https://www.hubspot.com
- ProfitWell – Subscription Metrics: https://www.profitwell.com
- Investopedia – Recurring Revenue: https://www.investopedia.com
Quick Reference
- Measures recurring subscription revenue.
- Core metric for SaaS forecasting.
- Reflects customer growth, upgrades, and churn.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is MRR the same as revenue?
No, MRR includes only recurring revenue, not one-time fees.
Why is MRR important for SaaS companies?
Because it reflects predictable income and helps forecast growth.
Can MRR decrease?
Yes, due to churn, downgrades, or lost customers.
