2022 Private SaaS Company Survey Results - KeyBanc Capital Markets
KeyBanc Capital Markets' 13th annual survey of 110+ private SaaS companies reveals a median ARR of $17.6MM with 31% organic growth, though growth forecasts for 2022 decline to 36% as S&M efficiency deteriorates and free cash flow margins turn negative. Key metrics show subscription gross margins of 77%, blended CAC ratios of $1.20, and only 32% of companies achieving the Rule of 40, with significant variance by go-to-market model, customer profile, and software category.
Metrics in this report
36percent
median
Companies with $5MM+ ARR
10percent
median
2021, excluding upsells and expansions
5percent
median
2021
110percent
median
2021, including upsells and expansions
8percent
median
2021, dollar basis
1year
median
Survey participants
1year
median
Survey participants
1.20ratio
median
Fully-loaded S&M spend per $1 new ARR, 2021
11months
median
Gross margin basis
17months
median
Gross margin basis
72.7MM
median
2021 data
31.5MM
median
2021 data
9.2MM
median
2021 data
-10percent
median
2021
0.61ratio
median
Upsells and expansions, 2021
1.00ratio
median
Field-sales dominated companies
9percent
median
Field-sales dominated companies
110percent
median
Field-sales dominated companies
-5percent
median
2021, private SaaS companies
19percent
median
2021
154thousand per FTE
median
2021 ARR per FTE across survey
0.91ratio
median
Inside-sales dominated companies
13percent
median
Inside-sales dominated companies
104percent
median
Inside-sales dominated companies
17.6MM
median
Private SaaS companies surveyed in 2022, excluding <$5MM ARR
413count
median
Survey participants
181count
median
Survey participants
40thousand
median
Survey participants, 2021
1.78ratio
median
2021, private SaaS companies
31percent
median
2021 actual, private SaaS companies with $5MM+ ARR
8percent
median
Field-sales companies
2percent
median
Inside-sales companies
-20percent
median
Companies targeting public listing
59MM
median
Companies targeting public listing
56percent
median
Companies targeting public listing
25percent
median
2021
32percent
median
Percentage of surveyed companies meeting or exceeding 40% threshold
25percent
median
Entire survey group
17.6MM
median
Companies not meeting Rule of 40
25percent
median
Companies not meeting Rule of 40
21.5MM
median
Companies meeting Rule of 40
59percent
median
Companies meeting Rule of 40
40percent
median
2021, private SaaS companies
9percent
median
Companies targeting sponsor acquisition
44MM
median
Companies targeting sponsor acquisition
22percent
median
Companies targeting sponsor acquisition
77percent
median
2021, private SaaS companies with $5MM+ ARR
73percent
median
2021, including customer support in COGS
6.1x ARR
median
Capital raises or change of control since January 2021
9.3years
median
2021 data
7.1years
median
2021 data
4.5years
median
2021 data