In this episode of the Startup CPG Podcast, Daniel Scharff interviews Paul Bianco, founder and CEO of Graphite Financial. They highlights the essential role finance plays in startup success, particularly within the e-commerce and CPG sectors. Paul emphasizes that finance should go beyond mere number-crunching, offering actionable insights that empower founders to make informed decisions. They discuss critical financial metrics such as margins, customer acquisition costs (CAC), and product costs, shedding light on how understanding these can guide strategic planning and promote sustainable growth.

They also address the challenges of early-stage financial planning, underscoring the importance of having a good finance partner who assists in navigating risks while encouraging innovative ideas. Paul shares insights on effectively calculating CAC, considering direct and indirect expenses, and highlights the importance of analyzing customer behavior for evaluating profitability.

With a focus on cash flow management, unit economics, and the experiences of entrepreneurship, this episode offers valuable strategies for startups looking to scale responsibly. Tune in now and discover how to elevate your financial strategy for long-term success!

Listen in as they share about:

• Basics of Finance for Startups
• Finance Tools and Templates for Founders
• Stages of Growth and Financial Focus
• Finance as a Strategic Co-pilot
• Finance Strategy as Startups Grow
• Profitability and Margins
• Customer Acquisition Costs (CAC)
• Using Agencies vs. In-House Staff
• Optimizing Payroll and Resources
• Lifetime Value (LTV)
• ROAS (Return on Ad Spend) Limitations
• Graphite’s Services
• Handling Underperforming Employees
• Business Strategy and Exits
• Diversification

Episode Links:

Website: https://graphitefinancial.com/https://graphitefinancial.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paullbianco/ 

Don't forget to leave a five-star review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify if you enjoyed this episode. For potential sponsorship opportunities or to join the Startup CPG community, visit http://www.startupcpg.com.

Show Links:

• Transcripts of each episode are available on the Transistor platform that hosts our podcast here (click on the episode and toggle to “Transcript” at the top)
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• Questions or comments about the episode? Email Daniel at podcast@startupcpg.com
• Episode music by Super Fantastics