SaaS Micro-Acquisition ROI Calculator 2026
Buying a small profitable SaaS (typically $5K–$50K) and growing it is one of 2026's highest-ROI investment strategies — but only if the numbers work. This calculator models your return based on the acquisition price, existing MRR, your growth rate assumption, and monthly operating costs. Use it to stress-test any deal before you sign.
Reality Check — What the viral posts don't tell you
Claim: "Buy a $15K SaaS and make $8,500/month passively"
A $15,000 SaaS acquisition earning $8,500 MRR sounds great — until you account for Acquire.com's 4% success fee ($600), Stripe fees (~$250/mo), support costs, and churn. Net profit is closer to $7,800/mo, with break-even at Month 2. Still excellent — but not truly passive in year 1.
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Real Cost Breakdown — SaaS Micro-Acquisition
Acquire.com fee
Success fee on completed acquisition
Stripe processing
Per transaction on MRR
Hosting/infra
AWS/Hetzner — varies by user count
Support time
Drops after first 30 days of ownership
Best For
Developers or operators with $5,000–$50,000 capital who want recurring revenue without building from scratch.
Insider Tips
Always verify MRR directly in Stripe before signing — ask for read-only API access or a live screen share of the dashboard.
Churn rate is more important than MRR — a $3,000 MRR SaaS with 2% monthly churn is worth far more than one with 8% churn.
Your first month post-acquisition, focus only on keeping existing customers happy — don't add features, fix what's broken.
Frequently Asked Questions
What multiple should I pay for a micro-SaaS in 2026?
Most micro-SaaS businesses sell at 3–5× annual profit (36–60× MRR). A stable, low-churn SaaS commands 4–5×; a growing but riskier one trades at 2–3×. This calculator uses your purchase price directly — enter the actual deal amount.
Where can I find SaaS businesses for sale under $50,000?
Acquire.com, MicroAcquire, Flippa, and SideProjectors are the main marketplaces. Acquire.com typically has the highest quality listings. Always verify MRR with Stripe/Paddle access before making an offer.
What are the biggest hidden costs when buying a SaaS?
Migration/hosting ($50–$200/mo), customer support time (5–10 hrs/week initially), Acquire.com's 4% success fee, and the risk of churn post-acquisition. This calculator's 'Monthly Expenses' field is where you model these.