If you’ve ever run a small business or startup, you already know — managing money isn’t the hard part, understanding it is. In the leading business podcast, we sit down with Santosh Kaware, a seasoned Virtual CFO, to decode how financial clarity can literally change the game for small businesses, startups, and growing enterprises.
This isn’t your typical number-crunching finance talk. It’s a finance podcast made for real founders — the kind juggling clients, chaos, and cash flow all at once. Santosh keeps it brutally simple: most small businesses don’t fail because their idea is bad; they fail because they don’t understand their own numbers.
Why Small Businesses Stay Small
Santosh starts by sharing something most entrepreneurs don’t like to admit — we don’t track money the way we track sales. Big corporates have CFOs, teams, and dashboards. MSMEs? They have gut feelings and Excel sheets.
In this business podcast, Santosh explains that small business owners often focus only on turnover and bank balance. But that’s not real profit. You might feel rich after a few big payments, but if your costs are out of control or clients pay late, your “profit” is just a mirage.
He says something that hits hard — “If you don’t know where your money is going, you’re not running a business. The business is running you.”
That’s exactly where the concept of a Virtual CFO comes in. A virtual CFO isn’t just a consultant — it’s like having a finance brain for your business without paying a full-time salary. They help you track what’s working, fix what’s leaking, and make sure your cash flow actually supports your growth.
Profit ≠ Cash Flow
Here’s the part most founders get wrong. Santosh breaks it down with real examples:
Your P&L might show a ₹2 lakh profit, but your cash flow could be negative because your clients haven’t paid yet, or you’ve bought stock on credit. So while you’re celebrating your “profits,” your cash in hand might be drying up.
In this finance podcast, he explains it beautifully — profit is what’s on paper, cash flow is what keeps your business alive. You can’t pay salaries or rent with “book profits.” You pay with real cash. So, even if your business looks profitable, without cash flow management, it’s like driving with an empty fuel tank. Santosh’s tip for founders: start reviewing monthly P&L and cash flow statements — even if you’re small. Don’t wait till you “grow big.” Clarity should come before growth, not after.
The Smart Way to Borrow
A huge part of this business podcast is dedicated to loans — something every business owner touches at some point. Santosh calls out how most founders take loans emotionally, not strategically. They see a big order or slow season and instantly rush to borrow — without asking: “Do I really need this money? What will I do with it? And when will it come back?” He shares a golden rule: Never borrow without a purpose, plan, and payback timeline.
A Virtual CFO helps you define this clearly — how much you should borrow, how it will be used, and when you’ll see ROI. Without that clarity, debt becomes stress, not support. And his example of a car rental business that went from loss to profit post-COVID after structured financial planning proves it — money itself isn’t the problem; how you manage it is.
Virtual CFOs — The Secret Weapon
Now, this is where things get really interesting. Most small and mid-size companies can’t afford a ₹50 lakh-a-year CFO. But they can hire a Virtual CFO, who brings the same expertise on a flexible model — part-time, project-based, or remote. This isn’t just cost-cutting. It’s smart scaling.
In this finance podcast, Santosh explains that a virtual CFO can set up:
- Budgeting and forecasting
- Costing and pricing models
- Financial dashboards and MIS reports
- Fundraising support
- Internal audits and cash flow planning
Basically, everything that separates a hobby business from a scalable company.
And with today’s tech — from cloud accounting to dashboards — even small firms can access real-time financial visibility without expensive software.
The Mindset Shift Every Entrepreneur Needs
If there’s one takeaway from this business podcast, it’s this: founders need to stop fearing finance. Most business owners treat “finance” like a foreign language — they assume it’s for accountants or MBAs. Santosh breaks that myth. He says, “Financial discipline isn’t about knowing every term. It’s about asking the right questions.”
Do you know your profit margins per product?
Do you track monthly cash inflow vs. outflow?
Do you know which customer is your most profitable one? If not, you’re flying blind.
That’s why hiring a Virtual CFO isn’t a luxury anymore — it’s a necessity for survival in today’s competitive world. It’s like having GPS for your business money.
🎙️ Dive into the latest Business Podcast with uncover insights into business, skills & entrepreneurship.
Final Thoughts
This episode of The Founder’s Dream business podcast featuring Santosh Kaware is a must-listen for anyone who runs a business — whether it’s an early-stage startup, a family enterprise, or an expanding MSME. It’s not about becoming a finance expert — it’s about learning how to see your business clearly. And once you do that, scaling isn’t a dream anymore, it’s a process. If you’ve ever felt stuck between invoices, payments, and uncertainty, this finance podcast will make you pause and rethink. Maybe the problem isn’t your effort — maybe it’s your lack of visibility.
So grab your coffee, open your mind, and listen in. Your next big business breakthrough might just come from a spreadsheet — guided by the right Virtual CFO.
🚀 Join us on The Founders Dream YouTube channel—where entrepreneurs turn visions into reality, and futures get built today.
A Virtual CFO helps businesses manage cash flow, budgeting, pricing, and financial planning without hiring a full-time CFO. They give founders financial clarity and help fix money leakages.
A business should consider a Virtual CFO when it struggles with cash flow, pricing decisions, debts, or financial planning. It’s ideal for startups, MSMEs, and growing companies that need expert guidance at an affordable cost.
Because profit is on paper, but cash flow is real money. Delayed payments, high expenses, or poor planning can make a business cash-negative even when it shows profit.
