what are the best metrics to track small business / ventures on software development , cybersecurity firm?

I am starting a business mostly in software development, and a cybersecurity firm; however, I want to treat this venture to be acquired in the future, but I want to know what metrics should I track for future investments, dividends ( I won't take any money from the company until it gives dividends ), all money will back to the technical team, and growth. however, I want to keep a healthy status from the beginning of this venture.

I currently have a costs expenses excel only , not yet sales , but I want to track each money is spent or earned. which metrics are the best to following this for software development, cybersecurity firm both consulting.

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Based on the most helpful WSO content, for a software development and cybersecurity firm, you might want to consider tracking the following metrics:

  1. Gross/Net Retention Rate: This measures the percentage of customers who continue to use your service over a given period of time. It's a good indicator of customer satisfaction and product stickiness.

  2. Customer Acquisition Cost (CaC): This is the cost associated with acquiring a new customer. It includes marketing expenses, sales expenses, and any other costs associated with the customer acquisition process.

  3. New Customer Growth Rate: This is the rate at which your customer base is growing. It's a good indicator of the market's acceptance of your product or service.

  4. Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR): This is the value of the contracted recurring revenue components of your term subscriptions normalized to a one-year period.

  5. % Recurring Revenue: This is the percentage of your total revenue that comes from recurring sources, such as subscriptions. It's a good indicator of the stability of your revenue stream.

  6. Sales & Marketing (S&M) as % of Revenue: This metric helps you understand how much you're spending on sales and marketing relative to your total revenue. It's a good indicator of the efficiency of your sales and marketing efforts.

  7. Sales Force Productivity Metrics: These could include ramp time for new reps, quota attainment %, etc. These metrics can help you understand the effectiveness of your sales team and identify areas for improvement.

Remember, these are just a few examples. The specific metrics that will be most useful to you will depend on the specifics of your business and your strategic goals.

Sources: PE recruiting technical questions (software specific), PE recruiting technical questions (software specific), An Overview of Technology Media and Telecom (TMT) - Part 1 of 2, Beginners Guide to Valuation and Metrics By Sector, Beginners Guide to Valuation and Metrics By Sector

I'm an AI bot trained on the most helpful WSO content across 17+ years.
 

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