Your cold call script
Cold call script for a head of finance
B2B SaaS. Goal: book a meeting. Tone: direct.
Fill these in before you dial
- [Name]
- [Your Name]
- [Company]
- [your result]
- [Phone]
- [a real trigger, e.g. you're hiring for your finance team]
Opener
Ask, then stop talking. If now is bad, ask when is better instead of pushing on.
Hi [Name], it's [Your Name] from [Company]. This is a cold call, so I'll be quick. Can I tell you why I'm calling, and you decide if it's worth a minute?
Reason for the call
One problem, in their words. Resist adding a second.
I'm calling about one thing: month-end close taking too long. That's what we help with, and as a head of finance, I'd guess it's on your list.
Discovery questions
Ask one at a time, then let them talk.
- How are you handling month-end close taking too long today?
- If you could change one thing about how that works, what would it be?
Value line
Replace [your result] with an outcome you can name and back up. If you can't, cut the sentence.
In short: we provide expense management software to help with month-end close taking too long. For one customer, that meant [your result].
Next step
Offer two specific times. A vague 'sometime next week?' is easy to dodge.
Would it be worth a short call next week to see if this fits? I could do Tuesday morning or Thursday afternoon.
Likely objections
Three you're likely to hear on a B2B SaaS call. Acknowledge it, then ask a question.
- "Just send me an email."
- Happy to. So I don't send something generic, what would make it worth reading: how it works, what it costs, or how teams like yours use it? And if it looks relevant, can we pencil in 15 minutes to talk it through?
- More in the B2B SaaS scripts
- "We're happy with our current vendor."
- Good, that's the best place to be. I'm not asking you to switch. When does that contract usually come up for review? I'd like to send something useful before then, so you have a comparison when you need one.
- More in the B2B SaaS scripts
- "Now's not a good time."
- Of course. Is it a bad moment right now, or more that it's a busy stretch in general?
- More responses to this objection
Voicemail
Say your name and number twice, slowly.
Hi [Name], it's [Your Name] from [Company]. I'm calling about month-end close taking too long. We provide expense management software, and I'd like to see if a short conversation would be useful. For one customer, it meant [your result]. I'll send a short email so you can reply if it's useful. My number is [Phone]. Again, [Your Name], [Phone].
Follow-up email
Send it the same day, while the voicemail is fresh.
Subject: Quick question about month-end close taking too long
Hi [Name], I tried you by phone earlier about month-end close taking too long. We provide expense management software. For one customer, it meant [your result]. Worth a short call next week? If so, reply with a time that suits you. [Your Name] [Company], [Phone]
Two other ways to open
Try one of these when the standard opener isn't landing.
Trigger-based opener
Use when: You have a real, recent reason to call this person.
Hi [Name], it's [Your Name] from [Company]. I noticed [a real trigger, e.g. you're hiring for your finance team], and I wondered whether you're thinking about month-end close taking too long yet. Do you have a minute, or is now a bad time?
Question-led opener
Use when: You'd rather start a conversation than introduce yourself at length.
Hi [Name], it's [Your Name] with [Company]. Quick question, and then you can tell me to go away: how are you handling month-end close taking too long at the moment?
Before you dial
Business calls can still be covered by do-not-call rules, especially calls to mobile numbers or sole proprietors. Check the registers that apply where you're calling (for example, the US National Do Not Call Registry, the UK's TPS and CTPS, or Australia's Do Not Call Register) and your own suppression list.
General information, not legal advice. Check the rules where you and your prospects are. More in the B2B SaaS cold calling scripts.