Maiko Sakai

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Interview with Zahra Yarahmadi, Founder of BG Financial Consulting and SaaS Pricing Specialist

Today, I am delighted to introduce Zahra Yarahmadi, the founder of BG Financial Consulting Group, specializing in pricing strategies and revenue optimization for B2B SaaS startups.

This is a new series I am creating inside my blog to bring trailblazing founders, entrepreneurs, and service business pros to you so that not only do you get a dose of inspiration but also be exposed to real-life strategies that the guests implemented to grow their businesses.

I met Zahra through a business community and found her niche intriguing. Although she is well versed in all things financial management, she made a decision to strategically position herself to be the go-to for SaaS pricing and revenue optimization.

This led me to reach out to her for her insights on her profitable niche.

My hope for this post is for you to get inspired by her journey and incorporate some of the ideas into your niching strategy.

So, let’s dive in!

Was there an "aha" moment when you realized SaaS pricing strategy was worth experimenting with as your profitable niche? Tell us about how it happened.

Yes, there was definitely an "aha" moment for me. While working as a finance manager, I realized that for sustainable growth, growing revenue matters more than just cutting costs.

This realization led me to focus on revenue management. In the process, I discovered that revenue growth heavily depends on the pricing of contracts we sell and the efficiency of the sales cycle and sales team.

I focused on pricing because it not only drives revenue but also has a direct impact on the bottom line and profitability of the company.

I realized that what matters most for my clients is increasing revenue through pricing while keeping a pulse on the bottom line. That's where I decided to focus, specializing in optimizing SaaS pricing strategies to help businesses enhance their revenue streams and overall profitability effectively.

Basically, through understanding what is the most important factor for my clients, I found my profitable niche.


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We would love to learn about your "before" and "after" story. How was your business growth strategy before you decided to double down on the SaaS pricing strategy niche, and what kind of impact it created on your current business model? 

Before focusing on SaaS pricing strategy, my business was more generalized in offering financial consulting services. We provided a broad range of services, from business model optimization to financial planning.

While this approach did bring in clients, it lacked a clear, distinct value proposition.

After zeroing in on SaaS pricing strategy, our business model became more specialized and targeted. This pivot not only differentiated us in the market but also attracted more clients specifically looking for expertise in SaaS pricing, leading to a higher conversion rate and stronger client relationships.

Our reputation grew, and we became known as the "go-to" experts for SaaS pricing strategy.

Amazing! What was your strategy behind how to get the word out that you are the "go-to" for SaaS pricing strategy?

Our strategy involved a combination of content marketing, networking, and leveraging success stories.

We created insightful blog posts, whitepapers, and case studies that demonstrated our expertise in SaaS pricing strategy. These were shared on our website, social media, specifically LinkedIn, and through industry forums.

Additionally, I attended and spoke at SaaS and tech meetups, podcasts, interviews, workshops, and conferences, interviews with magazine and media outlets, building our network and showcasing our expertise.

We also encouraged satisfied clients to provide testimonials and referrals. This multifaceted approach helped us build credibility and spread the word about our specialization.

Let me ask you this: Was there ever a doubt that this would not be a good idea? If so, how did you handle this thought and still went for it?

Yes, there were moments of doubt.

Niching down always carries the risk of limiting your potential client base. However, I handled these doubts by conducting thorough market research and validating the demand for SaaS pricing expertise.

I also relied on the positive outcomes of our early projects and the feedback from clients, which consistently pointed to a strong need for specialized pricing strategies. This evidence, combined with my passion for the niche, gave me the confidence to move forward.

What are the ways you measured if this could be a viable niche to support your business growth?

We measured the viability of this niche through several key performance indicators (KPIs).

These included the number of new clients specifically seeking pricing strategy help, the success rates and revenue growth of our clients after implementing our strategies, and the overall increase in inquiries and consultations related to SaaS pricing.

Additionally, we tracked our online engagement metrics, such as blog views, social media shares, and downloads of our whitepapers. Positive trends in these KPIs reinforced the viability of focusing on SaaS pricing strategy.


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What would be your advice for those who are currently exploring what their profitable niche can be? What would you suggest they start from?

  

My advice is to start by identifying your core strengths and passions.

Look for areas where your expertise can solve a significant problem or meet a substantial need in the market.

Conduct thorough research to validate the demand for that niche and gather as much data as possible.

Test your niche with a few initial projects to see the results and gather feedback.

Lastly, be prepared to pivot and refine your focus based on what you learn. Success often comes from a combination of passion, expertise, and market demand.

Thank you so much, Zahra for sharing your experience and wisdom!


Key Takeaways

 

✅ Pay close attention to what your clients tell you. What do they truly care about? What makes a knot in their stomach when they go to bed? Actively have conversations with them.

✅  When in doubt, look for data. Zahra talked about conducting market research to validate her idea that SaaS pricing expertise was in demand. Also, she used a set of KPIs to measure her promotion & marketing effort.

✅  Under the last question, Zahra provided a quick step-by-step you can implement immediately to explore what your profitable niche can be.

Are You Inspired by Zahra’s Story?

 

Stop! Don’t go back to the “business as usual” mode! Let’s work on finding your profitable niche using the tips Zahra shared with you today.

As a niche specialist, I help service business owners get “scale-ready” by laser-focusing on their niche, decluttering their operations, and nurturing their business ecosystems to build an A-team.

I’m here to provide a few niche options you can experiment with over a no-agenda, niche exploration call. Take advantage of it HERE.

This will be a call that will clear out the pathway full of doubts and questions. At the end of the call, you will feel free from contradicting thoughts that have been slowing down your progress.

Today’s Guest: Zahra Yarahmadi


Zahra Yarahmadi is the founder of BG Financial Consulting Group, specializing in pricing strategies and revenue optimization for B2B SaaS startups. With a robust background in Business Economics, a Master's in Economics, and an MBA in Finance, Zahra leverages her extensive knowledge to help businesses synergize market trends and operational elements for success. She has advised over 100 businesses in various sectors, focusing on financial strategy, fundraising, and business optimization. Zahra's expertise in pricing has proven critical in driving revenue growth, making her a sought-after consultant for CEOs, founders, CMOs, and investors aiming to navigate competitive markets and achieve sustainable profitability.

https://bgfinancialconsulting.com/