As a startup founder in 2025, setting realistic revenue expectations is crucial for driving growth, attracting investors, and scaling your business. However, the question of “What is a good amount of revenue for a startup?” can vary significantly depending on the stage of development, the industry, and the business model you are pursuing.
In this updated guide, we’ll explore how startups should approach revenue goals at different stages, industry-specific revenue expectations, and how emerging platforms like MBNB Group can be an essential tool in boosting your revenue by offering unique financing solutions.
Understanding Startup Revenue by Stage in 2025
Before we dive into specific numbers, it’s important to break down how much revenue a startup should target at different stages. Here’s an updated overview for 2025:
1. Pre-Revenue Stage: Laying the Foundation
For many startups, particularly in industries like technology, biotech, or SaaS, the pre-revenue stage is more about validation, product development, and testing the market.
Typical Revenue Target: $0
What is revenue in a startup at this stage? At this point, the startup isn’t generating any revenue yet. The focus is on securing seed funding and validating the product or business model rather than generating sales.
What is a good revenue for a startup at this stage? A revenue target of $0 is typical, as startups are primarily working on their MVP or product-market fit.
2. Seed Stage: Gaining Traction
At the seed stage, startups begin developing a minimum viable product (MVP) and testing it in the market. They may have early adopters or customers but aren’t yet scaling.
Typical Revenue Target: $10,000 to $100,000 annually
How much revenue is considered a startup at this stage? At this stage, generating revenue proves the product has demand. Revenue is generally modest, but investors look for growth potential.
What is a good ARR (Annual Recurring Revenue) for a startup at this stage? A good ARR at this stage is often in the range of $50,000 to $200,000. This indicates that customers are willing to pay for the product or service, providing solid proof of concept.
3. Early Stage: Validation and Growth
In the early stage, startups have launched their product or service, and revenue begins to grow as they refine their offerings and expand their customer base. Startups in this stage are working toward Series A funding.
Typical Revenue Target: $100,000 to $1 million annually
What is a good revenue for a startup at this stage? Revenue in this range shows that the startup is gaining traction in the market. It indicates that the business has product-market fit and that it’s scalable.
What is a good ARR for a startup at this stage? A good ARR for early-stage startups might range from $100,000 to $500,000. Startups need to show that they can build recurring revenue streams and keep customers engaged long-term.
4. Growth Stage: Scaling Up
By the growth stage, startups have established their brand, product, and customer base. This is when startups aggressively scale and aim to secure additional rounds of funding (Series B and beyond).
Typical Revenue Target: $1 million to $10 million annually
What is revenue for a startup at this stage? Startups at this stage are expected to generate significant revenue, as they have proven their ability to scale. Businesses are usually expanding into new markets or developing new products.
What is a good revenue for a startup at this stage? Achieving $1 million in annual revenue is often considered a strong indicator that the startup is on track for further growth. A good ARR at this stage could be $500,000 to $2 million.
5. Expansion Stage: Market Dominance
In the expansion stage, startups are focused on maximizing market share, expanding to new regions, and diversifying product offerings.
Typical Revenue Target: $10 million+
What is a good revenue for a startup at this stage? Startups in this stage are expected to have multiple revenue streams, extensive customer bases, and infrastructure to support rapid expansion.
What is a good ARR for a startup at this stage? At this stage, a good ARR is often $5 million to $20 million or more, as the startup is looking to dominate the market and expand internationally.
Industry-Specific Revenue Expectations in 2025
Different industries have varying revenue expectations at each stage of the startup lifecycle. Below, we highlight what revenue goals should look like across popular industries in 2025.
Tech Startups
Tech startups, particularly in SaaS, AI, and fintech, often experience rapid growth, even if revenue starts off relatively low. These industries are expected to attract investors based on growth potential rather than current revenue alone.
Revenue Range by Stage:
- Seed Stage: $50,000 to $200,000
- Early Stage: $500,000 to $5 million
- Growth Stage: $5 million to $50 million
Consumer Goods Startups
Consumer goods startups typically require more upfront investment in inventory and manufacturing. As such, they tend to have higher revenue targets earlier in their lifecycle.
Revenue Range by Stage:
- Seed Stage: $50,000 to $250,000
- Early Stage: $250,000 to $1 million
- Growth Stage: $1 million to $10 million
Health and Biotech Startups
Health and biotech startups often have longer timelines for generating revenue due to regulatory processes and product development cycles.
Revenue Range by Stage:
- Seed Stage: $0 to $100,000
- Early Stage: $100,000 to $500,000
- Growth Stage: $500,000 to $5 million
How MBNB Group Can Help Boost Your Startup’s Revenue
One of the biggest challenges for startups in 2025 is managing cash flow, offering flexible payment options, and retaining customers. While focusing on revenue generation, integrating financial tools that benefit both your business and your customers can be a game-changer.
This is where MBNB Group comes in. MBNB Group is an innovative account servicing platform that helps businesses like yours seamlessly integrate financing tools into your operations, ultimately boosting sales and maximizing cash flow.
The Power of Trade Lines and In-House Financing
By partnering with MBNB Group, your startup can access custom trade lines for your customers, offering them up to $15,000 in credit. This not only helps improve your customers’ credit standing but also allows you to provide flexible financing options to enhance their purchasing power.
Here’s how integrating MBNB Group’s platform can help:
- Increase Sales and Cash Flow: By offering in-house financing to your customers, you can make your products or services more affordable. This increases your conversion rates and average order value, leading to higher sales.
- Create Recurring Income Streams: Offering trade lines to your customers opens up opportunities for recurring income. With MBNB Group’s platform, you can create long-term relationships with clients by offering them financial services under one roof.
- Boost Customer Retention: Offering your customers the ability to finance their purchases not only makes it easier for them to buy from you but also helps build trust and loyalty. With the flexibility of financing, they’re more likely to return to your business for repeat purchases.
- Simplified Account Management: One of the best aspects of MBNB Group is that they handle all the backend processes for you, including reporting to credit agencies and managing payment collections. This allows you to focus on what you do best—running your business—while they take care of the heavy lifting.
- Grow Your Customer Base: With the option of financing, your business can attract a broader range of customers, particularly those who may not have had access to credit in the past. This opens up new market segments and helps you expand your reach.
How MBNB Group Supports Your Business’s Growth
MBNB Group is dedicated to making the process seamless. Their state-of-the-art platform allows you to open accounts for your customers quickly, enabling fast transactions and boosting customer satisfaction. You control the pricing, down payments, and monthly installments while MBNB Group handles the paperwork, credit reporting, and payment collection.
By integrating MBNB Group’s financing solutions into your business, you’re not only helping your customers build their credit, but you’re also enhancing your cash flow, improving sales, and ensuring long-term business success.
In 2025, offering flexible financing options will be crucial for startups looking to stay competitive. With MBNB Group as a partner, you can seamlessly integrate these services into your business model, attracting more customers and creating greater revenue opportunities.
Conclusion
In 2025, what constitutes “good” revenue for a startup depends on various factors including your stage of growth, industry, and market conditions. However, having the right financial tools at your disposal is key to scaling efficiently. By partnering with MBNB Group, startups can unlock new revenue streams through trade lines and in-house financing, boost sales, and improve cash flow—all while providing greater value to their customers.
Whether you’re just starting out or looking to scale, MBNB Group can be the catalyst that drives your revenue growth and ensures the financial success of your startup.
