257 Dan DeGolier - Cash Flow Essentials: Strategies for Sustainable Growth

What if poor financial management was the biggest risk to your SaaS business—not your competitors or even AI? In this episode of SaaS Fuel, host Jeff Mains sits down with Dan DeGolier, founder of Ascent CFO Solutions, to dive deep into the financial strategies that separate thriving SaaS companies from those constantly struggling with cash flow, compliance, and scalability.

If you're a SaaS founder, CFO, or executive looking to improve financial efficiency, cash flow visibility, and revenue recognition, this episode is packed with actionable insights you don’t want to miss!

Key Takeaways

00:00 – Introduction: The biggest financial risks SaaS founders face

02:45 – Why cash flow management can make or break your business

06:20 – Revenue recognition: What SaaS founders need to know

10:30 – When to hire a fractional CFO vs. a full-time CFO

15:00 – Building financial systems right the first time

20:20 – The biggest financial mistakes SaaS companies make

25:40 – Metrics that matter: MRR, ARR, CAC, and more

30:15 – Capital-efficient growth: Why it’s replacing “growth at all costs”

35:50 – Preparing for fundraising, M&A, or an exit

40:00 – Financial forecasting & risk management

45:20 – Next steps: How to optimize your SaaS financial strategy today

Tweetable Quotes

💡 "Poor financial management—not competition—is the biggest threat to your SaaS startup." – Jeff Mains

💰 "Cash flow mismanagement is the silent killer of SaaS companies. Ignore it at your own risk." – Dan DeGolier

📊 "Growth at all costs is dead. Capital-efficient growth is the future of SaaS." – Jeff Mains

🚀 "A fractional CFO can save your SaaS business more than they cost—if you bring them in at the right time." – Dan DeGolier

SaaS Leadership Lessons

Cash flow is king – Mismanagement is the fastest way to kill a promising SaaS startup.

Revenue recognition matters – Doing it wrong can lead to compliance issues and financial disaster.

Fractional CFOs can be a game-changer – Get high-level financial expertise without the full-time cost.

Growth at all costs is dead – Smart SaaS founders focus on capital-efficient growth instead.

rack the right metrics – If you're not monitoring MRR, CAC, NRR, and burn rate, you’re flying blind.

Guest Resources

dan@ascentcfo.com

Website: https://ascentcfo.com/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/degolier/

Episode Sponsor

Small Fish, Big Pond – https://smallfishbigpond.com/ Use the promo code ‘SaaSFuel’

Champion Leadership Group – https://championleadership.com/

SaaS Fuel Resources

Website - https://championleadership.com/

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