Startup valuation is as much art as science, but revenue and growth multiples provide a useful framework.
SaaS valuation: 5–15× ARR. E-commerce: 1–3× revenue. Profitable businesses: 10–20× earnings.
Reach for this calculator when you need to present a business metric to stakeholders. Accurate, consistently-defined figures command more credibility than estimates, particularly in financial discussions.
A common mistake is comparing metrics that use different definitions — gross margin versus net margin, revenue versus profit, customer count versus paying customer count. Always confirm the definition of each input before comparing results across periods or sources.
A startup founder uses the calculator to determine break-even point: fixed monthly costs £12,000, variable cost per unit £18, selling price £42. Break-even is 500 units per month — a concrete sales target that the team can evaluate against pipeline and capacity.
Common methods: revenue multiples (5–15× for SaaS), DCF, comparables, and pre-money VC method.