Definition

Net Revenue Retention (NRR)

The percentage of recurring revenue retained from existing clients, including expansions, contractions, and churn.

The percentage of recurring revenue retained from existing clients, including expansions, contractions, and churn.

Definition first

The percentage of recurring revenue retained from existing clients, including expansions, contractions, and churn.

Who this is for

Best for operators who need a quick definition first and then the operational context behind net revenue retention (nrr).

Best fit when

  • For firms with recurring engagement models, NRR is arguably more important than client count. You can lose clients but still grow if remaining clients expand their contracts. Top-performing firms achieve 110-130% NRR through strategic account growth.
  • Starting MRR: $100,000. Expansion: +$15,000. Contraction: -$5,000. Churn: -$8,000. Ending MRR from existing: $102,000. NRR = 102%
  • Angelwood helps identify expansion opportunities and protect against downgrades by tracking client engagement and satisfaction.
Explore the glossary

Reviewed March 2026

Definition

Net Revenue Retention measures how much recurring revenue you keep and grow from your existing client base. Unlike simple retention rate, NRR accounts for upsells (expansion revenue), downgrades (contraction), and churn. An NRR above 100% means you're growing revenue from existing clients even without new sales.

Why This Matters for Professional Services Firms

For firms with recurring engagement models, NRR is arguably more important than client count. You can lose clients but still grow if remaining clients expand their contracts. Top-performing firms achieve 110-130% NRR through strategic account growth.

Formula

((Starting MRR + Expansion - Contraction - Churn) / Starting MRR) × 100
Starting MRR:Monthly recurring revenue at period start
Expansion:Revenue from upsells and upgrades
Contraction:Revenue lost from downgrades
Churn:Revenue lost from cancelled clients

Example

Starting MRR: $100,000. Expansion: +$15,000. Contraction: -$5,000. Churn: -$8,000. Ending MRR from existing: $102,000. NRR = 102%

Grow Revenue from Existing Clients

Angelwood helps identify expansion opportunities and protect against downgrades by tracking client engagement and satisfaction.