SAAS

Net Revenue Retention

Compare expansion vs churn + SQL to compute net retention %.

Table of Contents

This is also a heading
This is a heading

In the dynamic world of SaaS, data is your roadmap to clarity and confidence.

This playbook equips you with ready-to-use SQL queries for the metrics that drive growth, retention, and profitability.

No need for advanced technical skills—just adapt the table and column names to your database, and let the insights unfold.

How to Use This Playbook

Choose your metric.
Find the metric that answers your most pressing questions.
Copy the SQL.
Swap in your own table and column names.
Run it in your database tool.
Watch as the numbers reveal your business’s story.

Industry Benchmarks & Standards

Metric	Industry Benchmark (2025)	What It Means
Net Revenue Retention (NRR)	101% (B2B SaaS median)	Above 100% means your customers are growing their investment.
Customer Churn Rate	5% - 10% (varies by segment)	Lower is better; aim for <5% in high-growth SaaS.
Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR) Growth Rate	17% - 26% (median, varies by size)	Top performers can exceed 50%.
DAU/MAU Ratio	20% - 50% (varies by product)	Higher means your users are truly engaged.
LTV/CAC Ratio	3:1 or higher	Ensures your business model is robust and sustainable.
Contribution Margin	70% - 85% (healthy SaaS)	Direct costs should be a small slice of your revenue pie.
Average Revenue Per User (ARPU)	Varies by segment	Higher ARPU means your customers find more value in your product.

Your Data Foundation

These tables are the pillars of your SaaS analytics:

main.saas_data_clients: The foundation of every client relationship.
- client_id, client_name, created_at
main.saas_data_customers: Every user’s journey, captured in detail.
- customer_id, client_id, customer_name, signup_date, is_active
main.saas_data_plans: Your product’s menu of options.
- plan_id, client_id, plan_name, monthly_price, annual_price, is_active
main.saas_data_subscriptions: Captures the full lifecycle: sign-ups, renewals, and cancellations.
- subscription_id, client_id, customer_id, plan_id, start_date, end_date, status
main.saas_data_payments: The flow of revenue through your business.
- payment_id, client_id, customer_id, subscription_id, amount, payment_date, is_refund
main.saas_data_events: The story of every login, upgrade, and farewell.
- event_id, client_id, customer_id, event_type, event_date, is_churn
main.saas_data_costs: The price of delivering value to your customers.
- cost_id, client_id, customer_id, cost_type, cost_amount, cost_date

Net Revenue Retention (NRR)- NRR goes beyond simply holding on to customers

It measures how well you turn satisfied users into loyal advocates who spend more over time. A healthy NRR above 100% signals that your existing customers aren’t just sticking around; they’re deepening their commitment and expanding their investment in your product.

Source Table	Columns used
main.saas_data_customers	signup_date, customer_id
main.saas_data_subscriptions	customer_id, plan_id, start_date, end_date
main.saas_data_plans	plan_id, monthly_price
main.saas_data_events	customer_id, event_id, is_churn, event_date

WITH
"cohort_signups" AS (
  SELECT
    DATE_TRUNC('month', "customers"."signup_date") AS "cohort_month",
    "customers"."customer_id"
  FROM "main"."saas_data_customers" AS "customers"
),

"cohort_revenue" AS (
  SELECT
    "cohort_signups"."cohort_month",
    ROUND(SUM("plans"."monthly_price")::DOUBLE, 2) AS "retained_revenue"
  FROM "main"."saas_data_subscriptions" AS "subscriptions"
  JOIN "main"."saas_data_plans" AS "plans"
    ON "subscriptions"."plan_id" = "plans"."plan_id"
  JOIN "cohort_signups"
    ON "subscriptions"."customer_id" = "cohort_signups"."customer_id"
  LEFT JOIN "main"."saas_data_events" AS "events"
    ON "subscriptions"."customer_id" = "events"."customer_id"
    AND "events"."is_churn"
    AND "events"."event_date" BETWEEN "subscriptions"."start_date" AND COALESCE("subscriptions"."end_date", CURRENT_DATE)
  WHERE "events"."event_id" IS NULL
  GROUP BY "cohort_signups"."cohort_month"
),

"cohort_churn" AS (
  SELECT
    "cohort_signups"."cohort_month",
    ROUND(SUM("plans"."monthly_price")::DOUBLE, 2) AS "churned_revenue"
  FROM "main"."saas_data_subscriptions" AS "subscriptions"
  JOIN "main"."saas_data_plans" AS "plans"
    ON "subscriptions"."plan_id" = "plans"."plan_id"
  JOIN "cohort_signups"
    ON "subscriptions"."customer_id" = "cohort_signups"."customer_id"
  JOIN "main"."saas_data_events" AS "events"
    ON "subscriptions"."customer_id" = "events"."customer_id"
    AND "events"."is_churn"
    AND "events"."event_date" BETWEEN "subscriptions"."start_date" AND COALESCE("subscriptions"."end_date", CURRENT_DATE)
  GROUP BY "cohort_signups"."cohort_month"
)

SELECT
  "cohort_revenue"."cohort_month" AS "cohort_month",
  ROUND(
    100 *
    (COALESCE("cohort_revenue"."retained_revenue", 0) - COALESCE("cohort_churn"."churned_revenue", 0))
    / NULLIF(COALESCE("cohort_revenue"."retained_revenue", 0), 0),
    2
  ) AS "nrr"
FROM "cohort_revenue"
LEFT JOIN "cohort_churn"
  ON "cohort_revenue"."cohort_month" = "cohort_churn"."cohort_month"
ORDER BY "cohort_revenue"."cohort_month"

Visualization Ideas:

Line Chart: Track churn over time to spot trends before they become problems.

Implementation Checklist

Define your metrics and add them to a data dictionary.
Ensure your database schema supports the required calculations.
Write and test SQL queries for each metric.
Import results into your BI tool. Get started with DataBrain today!
Build and share dashboards with stakeholders.
Schedule regular reviews and updates.

Unlock the power of your data.
Start using this SQL Playbook today!

“In the world of SaaS, data is everyone’s responsibility. With this playbook, anyone can own their metrics and drive better outcomes.”

Now, simply run the SQL queries on your data and unlock the power of your SaaS analytics!