Financial Intelligence

5 Metrics Every SME Founder Should Track Monthly

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Avenxa Team
May 27, 2026 · 4 min read

Most founders track revenue. Fewer track the five numbers that actually predict whether the business is healthy — and investor-ready.

Revenue is a vanity metric if the business underneath it is unhealthy. These five numbers give you a much clearer picture.

1. Gross Margin — Gross margin = (Revenue - COGS) / Revenue. SaaS businesses typically target 70–85%.

2. Net Revenue Retention (NRR) — NRR above 100% means your existing customers are growing faster than they churn.

3. Payback Period — Below 12 months is healthy for most B2B SaaS.

4. Operating Cash Flow — Track operating cash flow separately from net profit.

5. Months of Runway — This is the number that determines whether you're fundraising from a position of strength or desperation.

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