Series A ROAS Benchmark & Strategy Guide: Comprehensive Analysis (2025)

Target Growth Metrics

Here’s what we’re seeing across successful Series A companies:

• Good Growth: 3x year-over-year (or 10% month-over-month)
• Great Growth: 5x year-over-year (or 16% month-over-month)
• Typical Marketing Budget: 18-20% of revenue

Why these numbers? Because they show investors you can scale efficiently while building a sustainable business. But here’s the thing – these aren’t just numbers to chase. They’re indicators that your growth engine is working.

“Series A isn’t about growth at all costs – it’s about finding the line between aggressive expansion and sustainable unit economics. While investors expect rapid scaling, burning cash for vanity metrics is a recipe for a down round. The companies that succeed focus on building repeatable, profitable growth engines rather than chasing growth numbers that look good in pitch decks but crumble under scrutiny. Your ROAS shouldn’t be a sacrifice to the gods of hockey-stick graphs.”

Channel Performance: What’s Actually Working in 2025

Let’s break down what we’re seeing across different marketing channels. This isn’t just about where to spend money – it’s about understanding how each channel can serve your specific growth goals.

Organic Channels: The Long Game That’s Worth Playing

SEO (9.10x ROAS) Why it matters: SEO is your foundation for sustainable growth. Yes, it takes time, but it’s one of the few channels where performance compounds over time. Think of it as building an asset that appreciates.

What makes it work:

• Technical optimization that scales
• Content that serves both search engines and users
• Strategic link building that builds authority
• International SEO for market expansion

Webinars (4.95x ROAS) Why they’re powerful: Webinars combine education, demonstration, and relationship building. They’re especially effective for complex B2B products where education is part of the sales process.

Keys to success:

• Professional production that reflects your brand
• Expert speakers who add credibility
• Marketing automation that captures and nurtures leads
• Interactive elements that boost engagement

Paid Channels: Smart Money for Fast Growth

Influencer Marketing (3.45x ROAS) Why it’s effective: B2B influencer marketing isn’t about celebrity endorsements – it’s about leveraging industry experts and thought leaders to build credibility and reach.

What makes it work:

• Strategic partner selection
• Content that serves both audiences
• Clear performance metrics
• Multi-platform amplification

LinkedIn Ads (2.30x ROAS) Why it matters: For B2B, LinkedIn offers unmatched targeting capabilities. Yes, it’s expensive, but the quality of leads often justifies the cost.

Keys to success:

• Account-based marketing alignment
• Advanced audience targeting
• Integration with your CRM
• Content that speaks to specific roles

Making It Work: The Implementation Plan

Phase 1: Building Your Foundation (Months 1-3)

Why this matters: Your first three months set the stage for everything that follows. This is where you build the infrastructure that will support your growth.

What needs to happen:

• Set up comprehensive tracking (because you can’t improve what you can’t measure)
• Implement your core tech stack (this gets harder the longer you wait)
• Launch initial campaigns (start collecting data early)
• Begin content development (it takes time to see results)

Phase 2: Optimization (Months 4-6)

This is where the real work begins. You’ve got data, now it’s time to use it.

Focus areas:

• Campaign optimization based on early data
• Audience refinement
• Creative testing and iteration
• Channel performance analysis

Phase 3: Scaling What Works (Months 7-9)

Now you can start pushing harder on what’s working. This is where having agency support becomes crucial – scaling requires both expertise and resources.

Key activities:

• Expanding successful campaigns
• Entering new markets
• Developing advanced content
• Building automated systems

Why Agency Partnership Makes Sense at Series A

Let’s be honest about what you’re facing: Series A companies need sophisticated marketing operations, but building an in-house team is expensive and time-consuming. Here’s why many companies choose agency partnerships:

Immediate Access to Expertise

Think about what you’d need to hire for:

• Paid media specialists
• SEO experts
• Content strategists
• Analytics professionals
• Creative teams

An agency gives you instant access to all these skills without the recruitment and management overhead.

Scale When You Need It

Your needs will vary month to month. Agencies can flex resources up or down as needed – something that’s much harder with an in-house team.

Enterprise-Level Tools Without Enterprise-Level Cost

Consider the tech stack you’d need:

• Analytics platforms
• Marketing automation
• SEO tools
• Social media management
• Creative suites

Agencies already have these tools and the expertise to use them effectively.

Making the Decision: Next Steps

If you’re considering how to build out your marketing function post-Series A, here’s what to think about:

1. Audit Your Current Capabilities What can you do well in-house? Where are the gaps?
2. Assess Your Growth Targets What kind of growth do you need to hit your next milestone?
3. Consider Your Timeline How quickly do you need to scale?
4. Evaluate Your Budget How can you most effectively deploy your marketing budget?

Remember, Series A is about building foundations for scale while delivering immediate growth. The right partner can help you do both.