SaaS Metrics School

61% R&D Spend?! What SaaS Benchmarks Reveal by Revenue Size


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How much R&D spend is too much—or not enough? In episode #290 of SaaS Metric School, Ben Murray breaks down R&D spend benchmarks by company revenue size, based on data from Ray Rike’s Benchmarkit.ai. Whether you’re a founder, CFO, CTO, or finance leader, understanding how your R&D investment compares is crucial for building operational leverage and scaling sustainably.

What You’ll Learn:

  • Why R&D spend can feel like a black box—especially for CFOs

  • Top vs. lean R&D spending benchmarks by revenue tiers:

  • How R&D spend typically scales down as companies grow

  • Why controlling opex and creating operating leverage is key to cash flow and EBITDA

    Resources & Links:

    • 🔗 Benchmark your metrics for free at Benchmark.ai

    • 📩 Join Ben’s SaaS community for templates, training, and upcoming events: 

      https://www.thesaasacademy.com/offers/dzSx6W32

    • Join Ben's SaaS newsletter: 
    • https://mailchi.mp/df1db6bf8bca/the-saas-cfo-sign-up-landing-page

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      SaaS Metrics SchoolBy Ben Murray

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