Educational guide · Not an audit or consulting

SaaS Spend Estimator Guide

How to use self-reported inputs and reference coefficients to prioritize a cloud and SaaS spend review.

What the SAARS estimator does

SAARS is a browser-based, self-reported reference calculator. You type monthly cloud and SaaS figures; the site applies versioned coefficients from pricing-table.json and shows reference ranges—not guaranteed savings.

What it does not do

  • Connect to AWS, Azure, Salesforce, or Google APIs.
  • Store your inputs on our servers by default (processed in your browser).
  • Replace a custom audit, tax advice, or vendor negotiation.

Inputs supported (MVP)

  • AWS monthly spend (USD)
  • Azure monthly spend (USD)
  • Salesforce total seats vs active users
  • Google Workspace seats
  • Zoom licensed seats

How to use it in a review cycle

  1. Week 1: Gather invoices and admin-console exports.
  2. Week 1: Enter self-reported figures in the estimator.
  3. Week 2: Work vendor checklists (AWS, Azure, Salesforce, Workspace).
  4. Week 3: Reconcile facts with finance; document in CSV templates (included in the Pro bundle).
  5. Week 4: Escalate contract questions to legal/IT—do not rely on reference outputs alone.

Sharing results

After you run an estimate, use Copy share link on the results panel to send a URL with your inputs pre-filled (reference midpoint included in the shared text). Recipients should verify all numbers against their own contracts.

Related guides

Run a reference estimate

Use SAARS's free self-reported estimator—no API keys, no account access.

Open free estimator See workbook bundle

For informational purposes only. Not legal, tax, or financial advice. Verify all figures against your contracts and vendor consoles.

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