RE: Question10 Jul 2024 16:42
QD,
I'm actually a commercial qualified accountant and have always worked in tech, the last 15 or so in SaaS software managing commercial operations and finance across EMEA for US companies with revenues c quarter bn. Pre retirement going somethign different but related.
Software / SaaS always have a very high gross margin as the cost of sales are low (in this case running servers, tech support etc) as all of the value is in the IP. Operating costs are always high, a good enterprise sales person is usually on a base c £80k / OTC another £80k.
Key is most of these are fixed so CNS are at the turning point where most additional revenue should flow to direct profit. Key indicators are ARR and retention rates - the major problem with CNS RNSs are they dont tell you of the total orders which are renewals and which are net new and accretive.
I do look in a lot of detail into the accounts. Only worries are on governance on the ex CEOs pay who appears to have been paid for the whole of 2023 despite leaving of his own accord and one loan to directors which I really, really dont like. Options are high but in line with the very high averages in SaaS / SW.