Revenue Recognition Calculator
Free ASC 606 revenue recognition calculator: straight-line a contract over its term and see monthly revenue, recognized-to-date, and deferred balance.
The subscription/service portion for the full term, excluding any setup fee.
One-time implementation or onboarding fee. Enter 0 if none.
A fee is distinct only if the customer gets standalone value from it.
How far into the contract you are.
Results
Total transaction price
$27,000
- Monthly recognized revenueSetup fee bundled and spread over the term.
- $2,250
- Recognized through month 6
- $13,500
- Deferred (unrecognized) revenueThe liability remaining if the full contract was billed up front.
- $13,500
Because the setup fee is not distinct, the full $27,000 spreads evenly at $2,250 per month - $13,500 recognized through month 6, with $13,500 still deferred.
Free and instant - nothing is stored or sent. Estimates for planning purposes, not accounting, tax, or investment advice.
Under ASC 606, revenue is recognized as you deliver, not when you invoice. A 12-month subscription billed up front is not month-one revenue - it is a deferred revenue liability that converts to revenue one month at a time as the service is provided.
This calculator models the most common SMB pattern: a subscription or service contract recognized straight-line over its term, with an optional upfront setup fee. Toggle whether that fee is a distinct performance obligation and watch the schedule change - the treatment difference surprises most first-time SaaS founders.
How straight-line recognition works
For a subscription delivered evenly over time, ASC 606 recognizes the transaction price ratably: monthly revenue = total transaction price ÷ term months. Everything billed but not yet recognized sits on the balance sheet as deferred revenue - a liability, because you still owe the service.
With the defaults - a $24,000 recurring contract plus a $3,000 non-distinct setup fee over 12 months - the full $27,000 spreads at $2,250 per month. Six months in, $13,500 is recognized and $13,500 remains deferred.
The setup fee question: distinct or not?
A setup fee is a separate (distinct) performance obligation only if the customer could benefit from it on its own - for example, genuine standalone training or a deliverable usable without the subscription. Most SaaS onboarding and configuration fails that test: the setup is worthless without the service it enables.
Non-distinct fees are combined with the subscription and recognized over the term (or the expected customer life, if renewals are expected - this tool uses the contract term). Flip the toggle to "distinct" and the $3,000 is recognized when delivered: recognized-to-date at month six becomes $15,000 instead of $13,500.
How to interpret the result
The deferred balance is the number auditors, acquirers, and lenders check: it represents service you have been paid for but not yet delivered. Cash-basis books that recognized the full invoice on day one will overstate month-one revenue and carry no liability - the most common ASC 606 cleanup in diligence.
Real contracts add wrinkles this simple model omits: multiple performance obligations with allocated prices, usage-based fees, and mid-term modifications. The related ASC 606 guide walks the full five-step model.
Frequently asked questions
When can I recognize revenue on an annual contract billed up front?
Ratably as you deliver - for an evenly delivered 12-month subscription, one-twelfth per month. The upfront payment creates deferred revenue (a liability) that converts to revenue each month. Recognizing the full invoice at billing overstates revenue and fails GAAP.
Is a setup or onboarding fee recognized up front?
Usually not. Unless the setup delivers standalone value to the customer independent of the subscription, it is not a distinct performance obligation - the fee is bundled into the transaction price and recognized over the service period. Truly distinct deliverables are recognized when delivered.
What is deferred revenue and why is it a liability?
Deferred revenue is cash collected (or invoiced) for service not yet delivered. It is a liability because you owe the customer either the service or a refund. As each month of service is provided, a slice moves from the deferred revenue balance to recognized revenue.
Does ASC 606 apply to small private companies?
Yes - ASC 606 applies to all entities reporting under US GAAP, public or private. Many small businesses run cash-basis books day to day, but GAAP-compliant revenue recognition becomes mandatory in practice the moment you face an audit, institutional investors, lenders requiring GAAP statements, or an acquisition.
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