ProcurementExpress.com Logo
Start Free Trial
ProcurementExpress.com Logo
Book a Demo
April 17, 2025

Jamie Odegaard – The Dark Truth about Buying Businesses

This week James sits down with Jamie Odegaard, founder of Aardvark, to unpack what he calls an “inflationary war story” – from swinging a shovel in high-end construction to launching a thriving fractional CFO firm. They explore Jamie’s unconventional journey, how he navigated a failed acquisition, the harsh realities of private equity partnerships, and how his firm helps small creative and service businesses build real financial health. Jamie also shares his thoughts on popular business influencers, the value of gross margin clarity, and why invoicing on time might be the most underrated financial lever of all.
The Gross Profit Podcast
The Gross Profit Podcast
Jamie Odegaard - The Dark Truth about Buying Businesses
Loading
/
Download File
Play in new window
  • 38.42 mins
  • 2025-04-17
Subscribe on

Show Notes

In this episode James Kennedy sits down with Jamie Odegaard, founder of Aardvark, to unpack what he calls an “inflationary war story” – from swinging a shovel in high-end construction to launching a thriving fractional CFO firm.
They explore Jamie’s unconventional journey, how he navigated a failed acquisition, the harsh realities of private equity partnerships, and how his firm helps small creative and service businesses build real financial health.
Jamie also shares his thoughts on popular business influencers, the value of gross margin clarity, and why invoicing on time might be the most underrated financial lever of all.

About Jamie Odegaard:
 Jamie Odegaard is the founder of Aardvark, a fractional CFO firm helping small businesses – from creative agencies to boutique law firms – get clarity on their numbers and improve cash flow. With a background in high-end construction, property management, and private equity operations, Jamie blends operational rigor with hands-on business strategy. His approach is grounded in trust, communication, and helping owners prioritize financial performance – without losing sight of their craft.

What You’ll Learn:

  • Gross Margin Mastery: Why most small business owners misunderstand their profit margins – and how Jamie helps fix that.
  • ETA & Acquisition Lessons: Jamie reflects on what went wrong (and right) during his entrepreneurial search journey and PE experience.
  • Practical CFO Advice: From cash flow triage to when (and how) to use timesheets – Jamie shares actionable tips for founders trying to make smarter financial decisions.

Episode Highlights:

  • “If you surprise someone about money, you’re doing it wrong. Nobody likes money surprises.”
  • “We start by asking: Are you building to sell, or building to earn? That answer shapes everything.”
  • “Invoicing late is often the real reason for cash issues – it’s not always complicated.”

More about Jamie’s Role:
 As the founder of Aardvark, Jamie Odegaard helps small business owners gain control of their financial destiny. His company focuses on businesses earning between $300K and $3M in revenue – owners who love their craft, but need a trusted partner to optimize their margins, cash flow, and strategic planning. Jamie’s unique blend of construction grit, PE insight, and down-to-earth communication makes him a CFO for the real world.

This podcast is tagged under:

The Gross Profit Podcast

More Episodes

Merushka Chetty

Luca Aversa – Beyond Budgeting: Italian CFO’s Method

In this episode, James Kennedy sits down with Luca Aversa, corporate finance advisor and fractional CFO based in Northern Italy, to explore why banking relationships, timing, and disciplined financial strategy can be a true superpower for growing businesses. From Luca’s early career inside major Italian banks to advising SMEs across manufacturing, construction, real estate, and distribution, this episode dives into how founders can secure funding, choose the right financial partners, and move beyond rigid budgeting toward more adaptive, strategic finance models.

Drawing parallels between karate and CFO decision-making, Luca explains why timing matters more than force, how scenario planning builds lender confidence, and why concepts like Beyond Budgeting, North Star metrics, and OKRs are reshaping modern finance leadership.

Listen Now »
Merushka Chetty

Patrick McCarthy – How This Fractional CFO Navigated a $111M Acquisition

In this episode, James Kennedy sits down with Patrick McCarthy, founder of My Startup Consulting, to explore what it really takes to be a fractional CFO for early-stage startups – where chaos is constant and clarity is priceless. Patrick shares how his love of metal music and the “rules of the mosh pit” mirror startup leadership, why he left M&A for the unpredictable world of startups, and what founders must do to operationalize budgets so forecasts become reality. They also dig into fundraising realities, making tough cost-cutting decisions, EOS Rocks alignment, and Patrick’s firsthand experience helping guide a major acquisition exit.

Listen Now »
Merushka Chetty

Vincent Biscaye – Why Food Startups Fail (Finance Secrets)

In this episode, James Kennedy sits down with Vincent Biscaye, founder of Two Step Advisors and former commodities trader who walked away from a high-flying career to help entrepreneurs build real, sustainable businesses in CPG (especially food & beverage). Vincent shares how growing up across multiple countries shaped his leadership style, why finance in CPG is uniquely brutal (and why so many brands get blindsided), and what founders must understand about working capital, distributor deductions, promotions, and inventory accounting. They also unpack the fundraising reality for beverage brands, the pivot Vincent made from building a cold-pressed juice brand to launching his advisory firm, and the exact stage where fractional finance support becomes a game-changer.

Listen Now »