Profit multiples and revenue multiples answer different questions
A 3× annual profit calculation is not the same as 3× annual recurring revenue. Consider a fictional SaaS with $120,000 annual recurring revenue and $60,000 annual operating profit. Applying 3× to profit gives $180,000; applying 3× to revenue gives $360,000. The arithmetic differs because the denominator differs, not because one estimate has become more accurate.
Before comparing a broker estimate, a listing or a calculator, identify whether it uses annual profit, monthly profit, revenue or seller’s discretionary earnings. Those terms are not interchangeable. AppsWorth does not convert or verify another provider’s financial definitions.
The model’s size-aware starting point
| Entered monthly profit × 12 | Base multiple |
|---|---|
| Below $12,000 | 2.0× |
| $12,000 to below $36,000 | 2.3× |
| $36,000 to below $100,000 | 2.6× |
| $100,000 to below $250,000 | 2.9× |
| $250,000 or more | 3.1× |
These are model settings, not a database of comparable transactions or a claim about current market prices. Crossing a band boundary can change the estimate abruptly. That discontinuity is a property of the current rules, not evidence that a small profit change immediately changes a buyer’s offer.
Six adjustments to the base multiple
Annual growth, monthly churn, the largest customer’s revenue share, founder hours, operating age and acquisition channel adjust the starting point. Financial margin contributes to the separate AppsWorth Score; business model and customer count are collected but do not independently adjust the current multiple.
For the full fictional inputs in the calculator walkthrough, annual profit is $60,000. A 2.60× base gains 0.25 for 22% growth, 0.10 for 2.5% churn, 0.15 for 10% customer concentration and 0.10 for Organic acquisition. At 15 founder hours and 30 months of history, those two adjustments are zero. The central multiple is 3.20×.
Low: 3.20 − 0.30 = 2.90×
High: 3.20 + 0.30 = 3.50×
Estimated value: $174,000–$210,000
Range limits are guardrails, not confidence intervals
The central multiple is clamped between 1.8× and 5.2×. The range applies ±0.30 and clamps endpoints between 1.5× and 5.5×. These limits are not a statement that all SaaS businesses sell within those bounds, and the range is not a statistical confidence interval. A real transaction can fall outside it.
Use Value Leaks to explain the adjustments
Value Leaks point to selected operating weaknesses, but their thresholds are not identical to every multiple adjustment. For example, churn above 3% already reduces the multiple, while the High churn leak appears only above 4%. A result with no displayed leak does not mean every multiple adjustment is positive.
Can I turn a score into a multiple?
No. The score and valuation use separate rule sets. Compare the underlying inputs rather than treating a score increase as a fixed dollar gain.
Where are the market comparables?
This version does not contain a transaction-comparables feed. Use the output as a transparent planning estimate and keep any external market evidence separate. The valuation workflow explains how to document assumptions.
AppsWorth estimates are informational, not formal appraisals, investment advice or guaranteed transaction prices.