October 3, 2024

Purchasing Hacks for SMBs

In this episode of The Gross Profit Podcast, entitled “Purchasing Hacks for SMBs “, host James Kennedy speaks with Ben de la Cretaz. As a Partner and CFO at TechCXO, Ben works with founding teams and growth-stage companies in all aspects of finance, fundraising, and operations. We hear about how Ben helps entrepreneurs fresh from the bubble of academia realize their business dreams. Ben also shares how his dream of owning a restaurant changed to teaching clients how the cash in their business works.
The Gross Profit Podcast
The Gross Profit Podcast
Purchasing Hacks for SMBs
Loading
/

Show Notes

In this episode James Kennedy sits down with Ben de la Cretaz, Partner and CFO at TechCXO. Ben brings a wealth of experience working with startups and growth-stage companies, particularly in the tech and biotech industries. As a fractional CFO and COO, Ben helps businesses set up the systems they need to scale successfully, all while focusing on finance, fundraising, and operations.

In this episode, James and Ben explore the challenges small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) face when it comes to purchasing and finance management. Ben shares invaluable hacks and strategies to help entrepreneurs make smarter purchasing decisions, optimize cash flow, and avoid common financial pitfalls.

Episode Highlights:

  • From Academia to Entrepreneurship: Ben shares how he helps entrepreneurs fresh out of academia transition into the business world and turn their dreams into reality.
  • Cash Flow Mastery: Ben talks about the importance of understanding how cash moves through a business, and how teaching this concept became his passion after stepping away from his dream of owning a restaurant.
  • Strategic Purchasing for SMBs: Learn about the purchasing hacks Ben recommends for SMBs to save money and manage their cash flow more effectively.
  • Fundraising and Growth: Ben discusses his role in guiding startups through fundraising and equity rounds, and the systems he puts in place to support rapid growth.

What You’ll Learn:

  • Optimizing Purchasing for SMBs: Ben’s top tips for small businesses to manage purchasing, reduce costs, and boost profitability.
  • Understanding Cash Flow: How SMBs can get a better handle on their cash flow and avoid running out of funds during crucial growth stages.
  • Setting Up for Success: The systems and processes Ben helps startups implement to ensure long-term financial and operational success.
  • Fundraising and Scaling: Insights into how Ben helps startups navigate fundraising rounds, equity deals, and strategic planning for growth.

Ben’s diverse experience allows him to share practical, industry-specific advice for business owners in these fields, covering everything from platform implementation and business intelligence to M&A and international operations.

This podcast is tagged under:

The Gross Profit Podcast

More Episodes

Merushka Chetty

Martin Mellor – The One Hire That Changes Everything

In this episode, James Kennedy sits down with fractional CFO Martin Mellor to unpack what it really looks like to shepherd a customer through a live M&A journey – straight from the trenches (Q2 2025). Martin shares how a managed service provider (MSP) can shift from “comfortable lifestyle business” to a serious exit opportunity, what buyers care about (EBITDA multiples, recurring revenue, and quality of earnings), and how CFO-grade clarity turns a fuzzy growth plan into a focused value-creation roadmap. Along the way, they dig into target-setting (including Martin’s memorable “6-3-3” framework), leading vs lagging indicators, and how to translate finance-speak into operational decisions that actually move enterprise value.

Listen Now »
Merushka Chetty

Austin Moffat – Fractional CFO Empire: AI Tools + Family Legacy

In this episode, James Kennedy sits down with Austin Moffat, founder of DSO CFO, to unpack how Austin built a thriving fractional CFO firm for dentistry – despite taking a non-traditional route (no CPA). Austin shares how high-level competitive soccer shaped his business IQ, how an early “trial by fire” accounting role accelerated his learning, and why the dental industry urgently needs simple, decision-ready financial clarity. They also dig into dental-specific KPIs, the rise of DSOs and private equity in dentistry, and the practical AI/tech stack Austin is using to run a modern accounting firm.

Listen Now »
Merushka Chetty

Wendy Laxton – Fund Accounting Explained: Why Grant Money Gets Spent Wrong

In this episode, James Kennedy sits down with Wendy Laxton, founder of Laxton CFO Services, to unpack the “modern” version of fund accounting – how nonprofits manage restricted vs. unrestricted funds, align grant requirements with real-world operations, and avoid credibility-killing misallocations. Wendy shares how the 2008 recession unexpectedly led her into fractional CFO work, why niching down to nonprofits was a defining move, and what she’s learned from guiding organizations through system complexity – from overbuilt ERPs to intentionally “resetting” in QuickBooks and rebuilding structure over time.

Listen Now »