Owner Salary Overview
Business Owners at SaaS companies hold ultimate authority over company strategy, operations, and financial outcomes. Unlike hired executives, owners typically combine equity stake with operational leadership, and often work directly alongside the CEO, CFO, and COO to drive growth.
Owner compensation in SaaS combines base salary with dividends, profit distributions, and equity appreciation. Many owners also act as Managing Director or Chief of Staff in day-to-day operations as the organization scales. View all SaaS salary benchmarks.
Detailed Owner Compensation Breakdown
Percentile Band | Average Base Salary | # of salaries |
|---|---|---|
| Top 25% | $200,000 | 16 salaries |
| Middle 50% | $116,945 | 33 salaries |
| Bottom 25% | $23,267 | 13 salaries |
What Drives Higher Owner Pay?
Company revenue and profitability — distributions scale with ARR
Ownership percentage and equity structure
Bootstrapped vs. venture-backed — bootstrapped owners retain more profit
Market vertical and competitive positioning of the product
Owner Compensation Structure
Base salary set by the board or self-determined at bootstrapped companies
Profit distributions or dividends as a significant additional income stream
Equity value grows with company valuation — the primary wealth driver
Exit proceeds (acquisition or IPO) often dwarf cumulative base salary
