Acquisition payback calculator
Before you make an offer on a SaaS or app: how many months of profit will it take to get your money back, and how does that compare with the market?
Results
The payback formula
- Monthly profit = monthly revenue × profit margin
- Payback period = purchase price ÷ monthly profit
- Annual return = monthly profit × 12 ÷ purchase price
The second result adds monthly growth (or decline) to see how momentum changes the picture.
How the market compares
| Metric (896 TrustMRR listings, Oct 2026) | 25th pct | Median | 75th pct |
|---|---|---|---|
| Payback at stated margin | 28 months | 50 months | 98 months |
| Revenue multiple | 1.8x | 3.3x | 5.8x |
| Stated profit margin | 70% | 85% | 95% |
Margins are self-reported: recompute them from real costs before trusting a short payback. Category-level numbers are in our valuation multiples report, and every listing on MRRdeals already shows its payback.
Frequently asked questions
How do you calculate the payback period of an acquisition?
Payback period = purchase price ÷ monthly profit. A $30,000 SaaS making $1,200 a month at an 80% margin earns $960 of profit a month and pays back in about 31 months.
What is a good payback period for buying a SaaS?
On TrustMRR in October 2026, the median verified-revenue listing pays back in 50 months at the seller's stated margin, and fewer than a quarter pay back in under 24 months. Anything under 24-36 months deserves a close look.
How does payback relate to the revenue multiple?
Payback in years ≈ revenue multiple ÷ profit margin. A 3x ARR multiple at 75% margin pays back in about 4 years; the same multiple at 100% margin, in 3.