The SaaS Academy

🚨 SaaS Founders, CFOs, and Finance Leaders—Are you feeling the strain of cash burn and unclear financials? 🚨 I just wrapped up a call with a SaaS company facing this exact issue, and I can't stress enough the importance of having the right financial structure in place. 📊 The first step to solving cash flow issues is building a SaaSified chart of accounts—properly categorized revenue and expenses are the foundation of your business. 💡 Next comes the SaaS P&L. If your expenses are in a big bucket or wages are misclassified, you'll struggle to get the visibility you need to reduce cash burn and improve profitability. A structured P&L helps you: ✅ See where you're overspending. ✅ Understand your gross profit. ✅ Allocate costs properly between departments. ✅ Make informed decisions on expenses. If your financials aren’t giving you the insights you need, it’s time to make a change. Let’s get those financials in order so you can manage your cash runway with confidence! 💼 Questions? Need help getting started? Reach out to me at [email protected]. #SaaS #CashBurn #SaaSFinance #FinancialVisibility #P&L #Profitability #SaaSFinancials #CashFlow #ChartOfAccounts #OPEX #RevenueStreams #ContractorCosts #ExpenseManagement #SaaSAccounting #GrossProfit #FinancialStructure #CFO #SaaSBusiness #SaaSLeadership #CashRunway #ExpenseVisibility

🔍 Spotting Opportunities in Unexpected Places 🔍 In this episode of The SaaS CFO Podcast, I had a fascinating conversation with Pujun Bhatnagar, who saw an opportunity in a space many wouldn't consider "sexy"—sales tax compliance. 🚀 Pujun's background, combined with his keen observation of market gaps, led him to tackle this complex industry. He discusses how Avalara, the 800-pound gorilla in the space, IPO’d at $19 billion and then was sold for $8.5 billion—an eye-opener about the evolving landscape of sales tax compliance. If you're in SaaS and looking to explore niche markets, this episode is a must-listen! 🎙️ Tune in for insights on how to identify and capitalize on market gaps. Episode 151 is now available, links down below 👇 YouTube: https://lnkd.in/ddARzTfx Apple: https://rpb.li/tgVFdD Spotify: https://rpb.li/7pwzP5 #SaaS #SalesTaxCompliance #SaaSFounders #TaxTechnology #StartupJourney #MarketOpportunity #SaaSInsights #BusinessStrategy #TechStartups #VentureCapital #StartupLife #FoundersAdvice #B2B #NicheMarkets #TaxCompliance #SaaSGrowth #Fintech #Avalara #SaaSFinance #GrowthStrategy #PrivateEquity #TheSaaSCFO

🌟 Fundraising Insights for SaaS Founders 🌟 In this episode of The SaaS CFO Podcast, I had an insightful conversation with Pujun Bhatnagar about key lessons learned during fundraising, from pre-seed to Series A. Pujun shares an essential tip for founders: be prepared for honest and sometimes tough conversations with your VCs. It’s crucial to align not only on the market you’re targeting but also on the long-term vision and end goal of your company. Think of it like raising a child together—collaborating toward a shared exit strategy or future path. Don’t miss this episode if you’re gearing up for a raise or want to better navigate investor relationships! 🎙️ Listen now and get valuable advice for your next fundraising round. Episode 151 is now available, links down below 👇 YouTube: https://lnkd.in/ddARzTfx Apple: https://rpb.li/tgVFdD Spotify: https://rpb.li/7pwzP5 #SaaS #VCfunding #Startups #SaaSFounders #FundraisingTips #StartupFunding #VentureCapital #SaaSCommunity #SaaSFinance #StartupLife #GrowthStrategy #FoundersAdvice #BusinessGrowth #SeriesAFunding #VCPartners #SaaSLeadership #Entrepreneurship #FoundersJourney #TechStartups #VCInsights #ExitStrategy #TheSaaSCFO

Selling your SaaS company is one of the most significant decisions you'll make as a founder. 🚀 Whether it's a strategic exit or a smaller sale, having the right advisors by your side is crucial to ensure a smooth and successful process. In this episode, I break down the key roles you need on your team—from investment bankers to corporate M&A attorneys—and why going it alone could cost you. Ready to maximize your exit? Watch now and learn how to build the ultimate advisor circle! 💼 Episode 162 now on YouTube: https://lnkd.in/g_qiTZAu #SaaSExit #SaaSBusiness #MergersAndAcquisitions #InvestmentBanker #TaxCPA #CorporateAttorney #MAndA #StartupExit #BusinessStrategy #Entrepreneurship #SaaSFounder #BusinessSale #SaaSCompany #FinancialPlanning #ExitStrategy #StartupLife #BusinessAdvisors #GrowthStrategy #SaaSCFO #CompanySale

Worried about your cash runway? Make sure you have invoice discipline in place. Sep 1 was a weekend and a holiday in the US, but did your monthly invoices go out to customers? Once you issue the invoice, the due date starts ticking. It's great if you auto-charge your customers. Just make sure you have this set up correctly. But if you send "manual" invoices, you must stay on top of this. No invoice, no cash in the door. And follow up! Just like your sales team follows up on leads, your accounting team must follow up on open invoices. I have cadences set up to follow up on open invoices with the right person at the right time. In a future post, I'll share my email that gets the highest open rate when checking in on overdue invoices.

🌟 Exciting Episode Alert! 🌟 🎧 Just wrapped up an inspiring episode of The SaaS CFO Podcast with our guest, Pujun Bhatnagar, Co-founder and CEO of Kintsugi. In this latest episode, Pujun dives into the intricacies of sales tax compliance, the journey of rapid growth, and the strategic decisions behind fundraising. Catch the full episode to explore the highs and lows of scaling a startup and how Kintsugi is transforming the sales tax compliance landscape with cutting-edge technology. 🔑 Key Takeaways: 🔹Growth Metrics Over Valuation: Pujun emphasizes focusing on growth as the main metric guiding business decisions rather than worrying about pre-seed valuations. This approach has driven Kintsugi's plans to expand internationally and increase their customer base. 🔹Customer-Centric Innovation: Leveraging AI and personalized service through in-house CPAs, Kintsugi has built a robust sales tax engine that automates compliance and provides intelligent tax-saving recommendations, serving over 300 companies and expanding into key global markets. 🔹Strategic Fundraising: Pujun shares insightful lessons on raising funds and the importance of transparent, honest conversations with investors. Kintsugi's journey from a pre-seed investment to a Series A of $6 million underscores the importance of demonstrating traction and understanding customer conversion cycles. ✨ Plus, exclusive for The SaaS CFO Podcast listeners, Kintsugi is offering a 15% discount on their services! Don’t miss out on this opportunity to streamline your sales tax compliance. 15% off using this link: https://lnkd.in/dnm4vZWZ Episode 151 is now available, links down below 👇 YouTube: https://lnkd.in/ddARzTfx Apple: https://rpb.li/tgVFdD Spotify: https://rpb.li/7pwzP5 #SaaS #FinTech #StartupGrowth #SalesTaxCompliance #Podcast #Fundraising #AI #InternationalExpansion #Kintsugi #BusinessGrowth #StartupJourney #TechInnovation #SalesTax #Investment #SeriesA #Compliance #Ecommerce #GlobalBusiness #TaxTechnology #CustomerExperience #MachineLearning #TaxCompliance

In episode #225, I address churn and retention rates. What is good? What is bad? And how we source these benchmarks. - What is a good customer churn rate? - How to correctly benchmark your churn Grab your customer benchmarks at: Benchmarkit.ai Join my SaaS community here: https://lnkd.in/g8SdGKzs Listen to the episode here: https://lnkd.in/gMfpfdyQ #SaaS

🎯 Targeting the Right Profile: It’s All About the Data In this episode of The SaaS CFO Podcast, I spoke with Aurora Maggio about the importance of identifying the right customer profile. Aurora shared that while they initially focused on company size—targeting those with 200+ employees—they soon discovered that the true differentiator is the amount of data a company collects. Aurora explained that smaller B2C companies with a high volume of data and touchpoints can be just as valuable as larger B2B firms. It's not about the number of employees, but the complexity and scale of their customer interactions. Additionally, for large B2B companies with high customer acquisition costs, reducing churn becomes critical. This insight highlights the importance of looking beyond surface-level metrics and focusing on what truly drives value for your SaaS product. Episode 150 is now available, links down below 👇 YouTube: https://lnkd.in/gGCivuKH Apple: https://rpb.li/tgVFdD Spotify: https://rpb.li/7pwzP5 #SaaS #CustomerProfile #DataDriven #TargetMarket #B2C #B2B #CustomerExperience #ProductManagement #CustomerRetention #ChurnReduction #SaaSFounders #BusinessStrategy #TechStartups #SaaSLeaders #MarketSegmentation #StartupGrowth #CustomerSuccess #VentureCapital #ProductStrategy #DataAnalytics

🚀 Thinking of selling your SaaS company or gearing up for a fundraising round? Preparation is key! 🗝️ A founder recently reached out, eager to create a financial forecast and SaaS metrics on a tight timeline. But here's the reality: when it comes to due diligence, there's no substitute for thorough preparation. ⏳ You need at least 3 months—ideally 6 months—to ensure your metrics and forecasts are rock-solid. Rushing the process can lead to costly mistakes that may jeopardize the deal. In my latest video, I dive into why taking the time to get it right is crucial for a successful exit or fundraising event. Ready to learn more? Check out the full video and start planning your timeline today! Episode 161 is now on YouTube: https://lnkd.in/gV2j2Pgs #SaaS #FinancialPlanning #Metrics #DueDiligence #SaaSFounders #StartupGrowth #ExitStrategy #Fundraising #SaaSFinance #BusinessStrategy #StartupSuccess #SaaSCommunity #MetricsThatMatter #BusinessPlanning #MergersAndAcquisitions #FinancialForecasting #StartupAdvice #InvestorRelations #StrategicPlanning #SaaSCFO

🌱 Building Strong Relationships: A Key Lesson for SaaS Founders In this episode of The SaaS CFO Podcast, I had the pleasure of speaking with Aurora Maggio, who shared invaluable advice for early-stage SaaS founders. Aurora emphasized that while strategy is crucial, the real key to success lies in building strong relationships. She learned that it's not just about pitching your product—it's about connecting with people, understanding their backgrounds, and involving them in your journey. Aurora advises founders to openly share their challenges, involve potential investors in discussions, and even let them speak with your customers. It's about making sure they truly understand the problem you're solving and the passion driving your 24/7 efforts. In the end, it's the people, not just the strategy, that make all the difference. Episode 150 is now available, links down below 👇 YouTube: https://lnkd.in/gGCivuKH Apple: https://rpb.li/tgVFdD Spotify: https://rpb.li/7pwzP5 #SaaS #StartupAdvice #FoundersJourney #RelationshipBuilding #SeedFunding #Entrepreneurship #StartupLessons #EarlyStageStartups #InvestorRelations #CustomerEngagement #SaaSFounders #BusinessGrowth #TechStartups #Leadership #StartupTips #VentureCapital #ProductStrategy #SaaSLeaders #StartupWisdom #Networking