As the founder of a fractional CFO practice, I’ve worked with dozens of companies—from early-stage SaaS startups to mature service businesses. And there’s one pattern I see over and over again:
Most companies wait far too long to assess their financial health.
They don’t review their financial foundations until there’s a cash crunch, a fundraising push, an upcoming board meeting, or a sudden drop in revenue. By that point, the problem isn’t just the finances—it's the lack of visibility that caused the surprise in the first place.
A financial health check isn’t about catching you doing something wrong.
It’s about revealing what you don’t know you don’t know.
Why Companies Avoid It (and Why That’s Dangerous)
Let’s be honest: finance isn’t most founders’ favourite topic. Sales? Fun. Product? Exciting. Finance? That’s the part people put off.
But here’s the uncomfortable truth:
Avoiding a financial check-up doesn’t prevent problems—it delays their discovery.
I’ve seen businesses grow revenue yet lose margin because they weren’t tracking unit economics. I’ve seen companies celebrate “cash in the bank” without realising they were two bad months away from a liquidity crisis. I’ve seen promising startups approach investors with incomplete data and wonder why the discussions stalled.
A financial health check brings these issues to the surface—while there’s still time to act.
What a Financial Health Check Actually Reveals
A proper financial health assessment goes far deeper than reviewing your P&L. It uncovers:
Cash flow reality
Is your business generating, consuming, or merely recycling cash?
Profitability drivers and destroyers
Which customers, products, or services actually make you money—and which quietly drain resources?
Financial system gaps
Is your reporting reliable, timely, and decision-ready?
Runway and resilience
How many months of real operating runway you have under multiple scenarios.
Operational blind spots
Where decisions are being made without data—or with the wrong data.
These insights aren’t academic. They directly impact hiring, pricing, product strategy, and growth planning.
Why It Matters Now More Than Ever
Markets are shifting. Capital is harder to raise. Customers take longer to decide. Costs keep increasing. In this environment:
The companies with financial clarity win.
Not because they’re smarter, but because they’re prepared.
A financial health check ensures you’re not steering a fast-growing business with outdated assumptions or wishful thinking.
The Payoff: Confidence, Control, Direction
My clients almost always tell me the same thing after their first financial health check:
"I finally feel like I know what’s going on."
They make decisions faster. They invest with conviction. They sleep better at night.
Because financial clarity isn’t just about numbers—it’s about peace of mind.
Your Action Step
Before you start your next growth sprint, fundraising round, or major hiring plan, do this:
Book a financial health check.
Whether with your internal finance team or a fractional CFO, get an honest assessment of where you stand.
Clarity is the foundation of every good decision.
Stop guessing. Start knowing.
About the Author
Soren Gade is the founder and CEO of Gade Growth CFO Solutions, a fractional CFO service specializing in tech startups, B2B SaaS, deep tech, and service industries. Based in Weisslingen, Switzerland, Gade Growth CFO Solutions helps businesses between CHF 500K-20M in revenue unlock their financial potential through strategic financial leadership, cash flow optimisation, and data-driven decision making.
Want to connect? Reach out to discuss how we can support each other's success: soren.gade@growthcfo.solutions