Good question. The market for these roles been thin the last 12 months or so, thus no one has really good data.
The only data you gave me was $10mm in revenue today, hoping to be $20mm in one year. The difference between $10 and 20 mm in revenue is not significant…what is is hitting goals and targets. Thus starting at $10 and reaching 20 mm is more significant than coming in at $20mm.
In the past we would be looking at several factors in addition to income such as:
- amount of money raised
- Risk of business plan
- Strength of financial backers
- velocity of earned income
- number of employees
- compensation of the CEO
- if they were requiring public company CFO experience
- size of staff under CFO.
- availability of cash!
My last CFO placement, with a private equity firm ownership, was at $185k base, 20-30% bonus, and 1% equity equivalent. This package was the result of much discussion between the candidate, CEO, Board, and financial backers, as you might expect.
Other sources:
- The Radcliff Survey was a good source for Silicon Valley/Tech companies
- Call VCs and ask them
- Speak with other CFOs
- Salary.com (maybe…online services sometimes generalize too much, but a good assist).
Call me if you have any other questions. 415-721-7001. Hope this helps!
Paul Herrerias, Managing Director-San Francisco