New Zealand-based cloud software specialist Xero gets a sideways glance from some industry commentators because the
company burns cash.
They are right to worry; a high cash burn is often a warning sign.
But not in Xero's case.
Unlike the social media companies and dot-com boom and bust merchants Xero is sometimes unfairly compared with, the
company generates a steady and healthy flow of revenue.
Today Xero passed an important milestone hitting monthly revenue figures, which over a year would add up to $100 million.
That should silence some of the criticism.
Sure, Xero isn't profitable yet. However that day is now in sight.
Xero is using its capital to expand the business as quickly as possible. It has momentum, but that needs to keep going
until the software-as-a-service operation achieves global scale. In particular it needs to make inroads into the US
market where it faces a strong incumbent competitors.
This costs money. Lots of it. One day the spending will stop. At that point Xero's hundreds of thousands of customers
will continue paying their $50 or so every month — for years to come.
PC Software was a high risk business. Developers would build applications, then, if they had the right product, would
earn a one-off sale, with, perhaps, the chance of earning a little extra from upgrades.
The beauty of software-as-a-service is that revenue comes in regular as clockwork. It predictable and manageable.
Not so long ago the idea of accounting software as a service was revolutionary. Now it is mainstream.
Xero has already changed the face of the market. Now Xero is building a sustainable business for the long-term.