Investors don’t fund spreadsheets, they fund stories they believe. Yet most founders fall into the trap of overloading pitch decks with numbers that don’t connect. In this episode of The CFO Edge, I share how to turn raw financials into a compelling narrative that builds trust and attracts capital.

If you’re preparing to raise capital or just want to make your financials speak louder, this episode will show you how to build a narrative investors actually believe.

Follow Carol for more CFO and Financial insights:

→ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zcb/

→ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crunch_timez_cfo

→ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@crunch_timeZ_CFO

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Reaching break-even feels like a milestone but as a founder, you can’t stop there. Break-even simply means you’re covering costs, not that your business is profitable or ready to scale.

From a CFO’s perspective, break-even is actually a decision point:

• Do your margins support growth?
• Are you pricing correctly for the market and your costs?
• Should you invest in hiring, marketing, or product — or hold steady?

In this episode of The CFO Edge, I’ll break down why break-even is not the finish line, but the moment to shift from survival mode to strategic growth. You’ll learn how to look beyond the numbers on paper and start building financial clarity that positions you for scaling with confidence.

👉 Whether you’re running a startup or a small business, this episode will give you a sharper lens on what break-even really tells you about your business health.

Stay sharp,
Zahra Carol Baghdadi , Fractional CFO

Follow Carol for more CFO and Financial insights:

→ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zcb/

→ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crunch_timez_cfo

→ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@crunch_timeZ_CFO

Support the show

Thanks for listening. Your financial edge starts HERE

Is your startup sitting on enough runway to survive and thrive or are you heading for a cash crunch?

In this episode, we unpack the different runway strategies founders can use depending on their stage, market conditions, and growth goals. You’ll learn the three runway mindsets, the mistakes that shorten your effective runway, and the simple framework to decide your ideal number.

Follow Carol for more CFO and Financial insights:

→ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zcb/

→ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crunch_timez_cfo

→ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@crunch_timeZ_CFO

Support the show

Thanks for listening. Your financial edge starts HERE

Not all revenue is created equal and if you’re only focused on top-line growth, you might be missing what really drives startup valuation: revenue quality.

In this episode, I break down what revenue quality really means (sticky, predictable, and diverse), why it matters more than ever in today’s funding climate, and how founders can start building stronger, more investor-ready revenue today.

We’ll also look at real-world examples like Salesforce vs. WeWork and the quiet CFO mindset that separates resilient startups from risky bets.

🎧 Tune in to learn how high-quality revenue can transform your growth narrative.

➡️ Want help improving your financial story? Learn more at https://www.crunchtmz.com/

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Thanks for listening. Your financial edge starts HERE

When a client asked, “Would it be okay to grow at 3x instead of 5x and focus on profitability now instead of later?” … it sparked a conversation worth sharing.

In this episode, we unpack the profitability vs. growth dilemma facing startups in today’s tighter funding environment.

✅ When is focusing on profitability a strategic move and when is it a sign of playing small?
✅ How to weigh the risks of scaling aggressively vs. running lean
✅ Why your funding options, team dynamics, and market position all play into the right growth decision

Whether you're fundraising or bootstrapping, this episode helps you think like a CFO when choosing your path forward.

🔄 It’s not just about numbers, it’s about narrative, risk appetite, and timing.

Follow Carol for more CFO and Financial insights:

→ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/zcb/

→ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crunch_timez_cfo

→ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@crunch_timeZ_CFO

Support the show

Thanks for listening. Your financial edge starts HERE

We’ve officially hit Episode 21! and to celebrate, I’m unpacking 10 of the most powerful financial lessons from our last 10 episodes. No fluff, no filler, just the core insights that have resonated the most with founders, CEOs, and small business leaders.

From pricing and forecasting to burn rate and profitability, this recap episode brings you the highlights AND the context, so you walk away with real takeaways you can apply to your business today.

It's time to make the next level of your growth intentional, Connect with me HERE

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Thanks for listening. Your financial edge starts HERE

our pricing says more about your business than you think. In this episode of The CFO Edge, we dive into how pricing shapes your brand, signals value to customers, and directly impacts how investors assess your company.

Whether you’re underpricing to stay “competitive” or unsure how to raise your rates, this conversation will help you reframe pricing as a strategic decision not just a number.

💼 Need help building a pricing strategy that reflects your true value? Connect with me HERE

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Thanks for listening. Your financial edge starts HERE

Setting prices isn't just about covering your costs—it's about building healthy margins, protecting profits, and fueling your growth. In this episode of The CFO Edge, we dive into the fundamentals (and blind spots) of pricing strategy that too many founders overlook.

🔍 You’ll learn:

• The difference between margin and markup—and why that matters
• How to set prices that align with your costs and growth goals
• What inflation and rising costs mean for your pricing strategy
• Common pricing traps founders fall into (and how to avoid them)

🎯 Whether you're just starting out or reevaluating your pricing model, this episode will help you charge with clarity and confidence.

It's time to make the next level of your growth intentional, Connect with me HERE

Support the show

Thanks for listening. Your financial edge starts HERE