Overview

(ARR) Annual recurring revenue is a measure of long-term revenue predictability that captures the value of repeat customers.

What is Annual recurring revenue?

Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR) is a financial metric used in ecommerce accounting that tracks the estimated revenue from customers on a yearly basis. ARR is calculated by taking the average revenue per user/account multiplied by the number of recurring customers over any given period of time. It gives companies a way to measure their long-term revenue stability since it only accounts for customers with ongoing, repeat business.

Formula

Annual Revenue = Average Order Value (AOV) x Number of Orders per Year

Example

Let’s consider an ecommerce store that sells clothing online.For this example:The Average Order Value (AOV), which represents the average amount spent per order, is $50.The Number of Orders per Year is 1,000.To calculate the Annual Revenue:Annual Revenue = $50 (AOV) x 1,000 (Number of Orders per Year) = $50,000In this example, the Annual Revenue for the ecommerce store is $50,000. This represents the total revenue generated by the store over the course of a year, considering the average order value and the number of orders placed.

Why is ARR important?

ARR provides a glimpse into the financial future of an ecommerce business by measuring the potential revenue that will be generated from existing customers over a 12-month period. This metric helps to gauge the stability and scalability of a business and provides important insights into customer growth and customer satisfaction.

Which factors impact ARR?

Factors that influence ARR include customer acquisition and retention, customer segmentation, marketing and advertising, product features, pricing, customer service, competition, and other industry trends.

How can ARR be improved?

ARR can be improved by increasing the number of customers, encouraging customers to renew or upgrade their subscriptions, and by decreasing customer churn.

What is ARR’s relationship with other metrics?

ARR is closely related to metrics such as Average Revenue Per User (ARPU), Customer Acquisition Cost (CAC), Customer Lifetime Value (CLV), and Gross Profit Margin (GPM). ARR measures the total revenue generated from customers while other metrics measure different aspects like cost and return on investment.

Free essential resources for success

Discover more from Lifesight

  • Web Analytics vs Marketing Measurement Tool

    Published on: March 27, 2025

    Web Analytics vs Marketing Measurement Tool

    Web analytics tracks user behavior on a website, but true marketing success lies in measurement tools that connect marketing efforts to actual business outcomes.

  • The Great Marketing Measurement Revolution A Billion Dollar Opportunity for Agencies in 2026 - Lifesight

    Published on: March 11, 2025

    The Great Marketing Measurement Revolution: A Billion-Dollar Opportunity for Agencies in 2025

    Agencies embracing advanced measurement will secure long-term, high-margin client relationships in the evolving marketing landscape.

  • 5 Common Media Measurement Mistakes To Avoid At All Costs

    Published on: February 25, 2025

    5 Common Media Measurement Mistakes To Avoid At All Costs

    Avoiding common media measurement mistakes is key to making smarter marketing decisions and maximizing ROI in 2025.