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If you took small business owners’ feelings about cash flow and their confidence about growth in 2027 and compared it to their feelings and confidence in the current economy, the polar opposites would be shocking. However, what they decide is more important will determine the Midterms. Host Gene Marks offers insights, as well as tips on succession planning, especially if you’re like the 57% surveyed who said they were leaning heavily into their business to fund retirement. In AI news, manufacturers continue to adopt AI but aren’t seeing measurable outcomes. Gene talks about why. Listen to the podcast. Topics: 00:00 – Introduction 01:18 – SMB Sentiment and Election Influence 03:35 – Succession Planning Lags 07:05 – AI in Manufacturing is Mixed Review 10:26 – Episode Wrap-up  Additional Resources Prepare for year-end: https://bit.ly/ye-checklist DISCLAIMER: The information presented in this podcast, and that is further provided by the presenter, should not be considered legal or accounting advice, and should not substitute for legal, accounting, or other professional advice in which the facts and circumstances may warrant. We encourage you to consult legal counsel as it pertains to your own unique situation(s) and/or with any specific legal questions you may have.

How do you protect your business when scams no longer look like... well, scams? Cybersecurity expert Iskander Sanchez-Rola of Gen breaks down the threats small businesses should watch heading into 2027. You’ll learn why AI has put every small business on scammers’ radar, how deepfakes can be built from a single photo, and why your security plan shouldn’t depend on employees catching every fake. Plus, Iskander shares quick takes on VPNs, password managers, multi-factor authentication, and keeping remote workers secure. Is your business covered if a cyber attack hits? Watch our on-demand webinar to find out: go.paychex.com/cyber Simplify your business operations. Learn how Paychex can handle your HR and payroll so you can focus on what counts: https://bit.ly/3VtM6bs Have a topic idea? Share it at https://payx.me/thrivetopics Topics include: 00:00 – Episode preview and guest introduction 01:07 – Meet Iskander Sanchez-Rola 03:06 – How modern scams target businesses 05:57 – Detecting AI-driven scam communications 07:10 – How scammers imitate voices and videos 11:46 – Ransomware trends 14:24 – Multichannel attacks: email, calls, and texts 19:36 – Managed service providers security limits 21:33 – VPNs, MFA, and password managers 27:39 – Keeping remote workers secure 29:03 – Wrap up and thank you #BusinessPodcast #Entrepreneurship #SmallBusiness #iHeartRadio #ApplePodcastTips #SpotifyPodcasts DISCLAIMER: The information presented in this podcast, and that is further provided by the presenter, should not be considered legal or accounting advice, and should not substitute for legal, accounting, or other professional advice in which the facts and circumstances may warrant. We encourage you to consult legal counsel as it pertains to your own unique situation(s) and/or with any specific legal questions you may have.

It’s Cybersecurity Month, and the data around fraud and scams resulting from a lack of proper protection is mind-numbing: $20.8 billion in losses, including $3 billion in losses to business email compromise in 2025. Host Gene Marks says AI is making it harder with voice deepfakes on the phone. He encourages constant training of staff and multiple internal checkpoints. Also, the Fed meets twice more and has hinted at an interest rate hike, while a survey reveals that more than three-quarters of managers use AI to prepare an employee performance review, but only 16% of employees said they were aware the tech was used, leaving employers with a transparency issue. Listen to the podcast. Topics: 00:00 – Introduction 01:03 – Cybersecurity Stats and Tips 04:35 – The Fed and Interest Rates 07:34 – AI Use in Performance Reviews 10:25 – Episode Wrap-up Additional Resources Cybersecurity webinar: https://bit.ly/cyber-insurance-web Prepare for year-end: https://bit.ly/ye-checklist DISCLAIMER: The information presented in this podcast, and that is further provided by the presenter, should not be considered legal or accounting advice, and should not substitute for legal, accounting, or other professional advice in which the facts and circumstances may warrant. We encourage you to consult legal counsel as it pertains to your own unique situation(s) and/or with any specific legal questions you may have.

Employers are holding on to their workforce and working them longer hours, according to the Paychex Small Business Employment Watch data from September, all while inflation continues to outpace wages. Host Gene Marks poses a few questions for employers on what to do amid an economy that keeps sending mixed messages: increased growth, persistent inflation, and businesses expressing lower confidence than a year ago while 62% express optimism about revenue growth in 2027. In AI news, a partnership with OpenAI and the Small Business Development Council extends training on practical uses for AI while expanding resources and networking, including playbooks and access. Listen to the podcast. Topics: 00:00 – Introduction 00:31 – Paychex Year-End Payroll Checklist Promo 01:09 – Small Business Employment Snapshot (Paychex Report) 02:31 – Commentary: Wages vs. Inflation & Affordability 03:41 – Consumer Spending Implications 04:08 – Wall Street Journal / Commerce Dept. Data: Growth & Inflation 06:34 – Hiring Plans & Employee Benefits Snapshot 08:00 – AI News: SBDC–OpenAI Partnership Overview 10:05 – Episode Wrap-up  Additional Resources Paychex Small Business Employment Watch: https://bit.ly/paychex-sbew Prepare for year-end: https://bit.ly/ye-checklist DISCLAIMER: The information presented in this podcast, and that is further provided by the presenter, should not be considered legal or accounting advice, and should not substitute for legal, accounting, or other professional advice in which the facts and circumstances may warrant. We encourage you to consult legal counsel as it pertains to your own unique situation(s) and/or with any specific legal questions you may have.

Buying or selling a business takes more than finding the right match. It takes good timing, realistic expectations, and a clear read on the market. Host Gene Marks talks with Bob House, president of BizBuySell.com, about where things stand today. You'll hear which businesses buyers want most, how private equity and search funds are reshaping the buyer pool, and why the seller financing gap can make or break a sale. Bob also shares what catches owners off guard at sale time and why preparation is the best move on either side of the deal. Simplify your business operations. Learn how Paychex can handle your HR and payroll so you can focus on what counts: https://bit.ly/3VtM6bs Have a topic idea? Share it at https://payx.me/thrivetopics Topics include: 00:00 – Episode preview and guest introduction 01:26 – How BizBuySell works 05:18 – The latest market report and the slow-rolling silver tsunami 08:20 – Higher interest rates and the seller financing gap 09:40 – Private equity, search funds, and who’s buying 11:13 – Small business sentiment and rising costs 15:11 – Hot sectors 17:04 – Buying a business vs. starting from scratch 19:24 – Where ESOPs fit in 20:14 – What surprises owners when it’s time to sell 22:31 – How businesses are valued 26:05 – Bob’s top advice for buyers and sellers 28:29 – Wrap up and thank you #BusinessPodcast #Entrepreneurship #SmallBusiness #iHeartRadio #ApplePodcastTips #SpotifyPodcasts DISCLAIMER: The information presented in this podcast, and that is further provided by the presenter, should not be considered legal or accounting advice, and should not substitute for legal, accounting, or other professional advice in which the facts and circumstances may warrant. We encourage you to consult legal counsel as it pertains to your own unique situation(s) and/or with any specific legal questions you may have.

With mortgage rates surpassing 7%, it’s created a ripple effect within the housing market for buyers, sellers, and even the industries that are directly tied to housing such as bankers, builders, and insurance professionals. Host Gene Marks says it’s not time to panic but it’s time to plan and budget and be strategic. Switching to retirement, there should be a little panic, especially after a report came out that shows 76.2 million U.S. workers lack access to an employer-sponsored workplace retirement plan. Learn what Gene has to say about the benefits for owners and workers if a 401(k) plan is in place. In AI news, the tech struggled with a finance test as only 43% got answers right. Listen to the podcast. Topics: 00:00 – Introduction 01:00 – Mortgage Rates Reshape Housing Market 05:03 – Retirement Gap Starts with Plan Access 08:45 – AI Failing on Financial Advice 11:30 – Episode Wrap-up Additional Resources HR Metrics Cheat Sheet: https://bit.ly/hr-metrics-formulas Does your state mandate workplace retirement plans? https://bit.ly/retirement-plan-access Learn about Paychex Retirement Services: https://bit.ly/payx-retirement DISCLAIMER: The information presented in this podcast, and that is further provided by the presenter, should not be considered legal or accounting advice, and should not substitute for legal, accounting, or other professional advice in which the facts and circumstances may warrant. We encourage you to consult legal counsel as it pertains to your own unique situation(s) and/or with any specific legal questions you may have.

Unemployment claims have dropped to their lowest level since mid-July, which is a good indicator that layoffs aren’t imminent. Host Gene Marks talks about employers holding on to their employees in a strong labor market. Plus, the House of Representatives passes nine bills with bipartisan support aimed at strengthening programs in the Small Business Administration, including ones dealing with funding access and disaster assistance. In AI news, Bank of America puts millions toward AI implementation and the training is leading to an increase in productivity and less layoffs. Listen to the podcast. Topics: 00:00 – Introduction 01:05 – Unemployment Data 04:39 – Bipartisan Support for Small Businesses 07:37 – AI and Jobs Impact 10:10 – Episode Wrap-up  Additional Resources HR Metrics Cheat Sheet: https://bit.ly/hr-metrics-formulas Thrive podcast with NEC’s Kevin Hassett:  https://bit.ly/thrive-kevin-hassett Meet Paychex: https://bit.ly/3VtM6bs DISCLAIMER: The information presented in this podcast, and that is further provided by the presenter, should not be considered legal or accounting advice, and should not substitute for legal, accounting, or other professional advice in which the facts and circumstances may warrant. We encourage you to consult legal counsel as it pertains to your own unique situation(s) and/or with any specific legal questions you may have.

Gene Marks talks with Angie O’Dowd, Global VP of Partner Ecosystem at HubSpot, about how HubSpot has evolved into a full CRM and “agentic customer platform,” how its partner ecosystem works, and how AI and agents are changing CRM setup, adoption, data quality, and reporting. They cover when you should work with a partner vs self‑implement, what makes a strong partner, how AI assistants like Breeze and external tools like Claude or ChatGPT plug into HubSpot, the difference between workflows and agents, how AI can help clean up your messy CRM data, common privacy concerns, and why human habits are now the main bottleneck to AI‑driven CRM.   Topics include: 00:00 – Episode preview and guest introduction 02:29 – What HubSpot Is Today: From Marketing Tool to Customer Platform 07:03 – Do You Really Need a Vertical CRM? 08:10 – Choosing the Right Tier of HubSpot & Partner: SMB vs. Mid‑Market/Enterprise 09:28 – The Adoption Problem: Getting People to Actually Use the CRM 11:10 – The State of Ecosystems Report: Where Partners Make Money with HubSpot 12:22 – How HubSpot Thinks About AI Interfaces and LLM Choice 15:20 – Reliability, Custom Agents, and the Role of Partners 18:01 – Agents vs. Workflows: What’s the Difference? 25:04 – When Is the Tipping Point for Serious AI Adoption in CRM? 30:32 – Vibe Coding, Claude Code, and Why You Don’t DIY Your Core CRM 31:35 – Wrap up and thank you Simplify your business operations: Visit paychex.com/Meet-Paychex to learn how Paychex can handle your HR and payroll so you can focus on what counts. Have a topic idea? Share it at https://payx.me/thrivetopics DISCLAIMER: The information presented in this podcast, and that is further provided by the presenter, should not be considered legal or accounting advice, and should not substitute for legal, accounting, or other professional advice in which the facts and circumstances may warrant. We encourage you to consult legal counsel as it pertains to your own unique situation(s) and/or with any specific legal questions you may have.

A Korn Ferry survey found that at least half of employers expect to provide raises at least equal to the rate of inflation (3%). Host Gene Marks advises small businesses to take advantage of the flexibility of offering more PTO as a bonus. Another hurdle is handling the soon-to-be silver tsunami of retirees, potentially leaving businesses short on institutional knowledge. Gene recommends mentoring and phased arrangements that include financial wellness resources to help maintain productivity. In AI news, the gap between having the tools and using them to the max is cavernous. Listen to the episode for tips. Topics: 00:00 – Introduction 01:26 – Compensation and Raises 05:02 – Maintaining Productivity Amid Retirement Surge 08:12 – Train Employees to Use AI Tools to Fullest 11:22 – Episode Wrap-up  Additional Resources Mid-Year Check-In: https://bit.ly/midyear-compliance-checklist Meet Paychex: https://bit.ly/3VtM6bs DISCLAIMER: The information presented in this podcast, and that is further provided by the presenter, should not be considered legal or accounting advice, and should not substitute for legal, accounting, or other professional advice in which the facts and circumstances may warrant. We encourage you to consult legal counsel as it pertains to your own unique situation(s) and/or with any specific legal questions you may have.

Data from the Paychex Small Business Employment Watch and the federal government show weekly hours worked increasing and job openings maintaining. Host Gene Marks offers insights on what employers can do in a tight labor market. He also points to internal issues leaders are having with elevating Gen Z employees, as a survey shows that 60% don’t want managerial jobs. What’s holding them back? Some of the reasons might surprise you. In AI news, the launch of Astra by OpenAI promises advances in browser automation and cybersecurity, but not without controversy. Listen to the podcast. Topics: 00:00 – Introduction 00:17 – Jobs Data and What It Means 03:55 – Managerial Pipeline Issues 07:19 – Open AI Launches Astra Platform 09:54 – Episode Wrap-up Additional Resources Paychex Small Business Employment Watch: https://bit.ly/paychex-sbew Mid-Year Check-In: https://bit.ly/midyear-compliance-checklist Meet Paychex: https://bit.ly/3VtM6bs DISCLAIMER: The information presented in this podcast, and that is further provided by the presenter, should not be considered legal or accounting advice, and should not substitute for legal, accounting, or other professional advice in which the facts and circumstances may warrant. We encourage you to consult legal counsel as it pertains to your own unique situation(s) and/or with any specific legal questions you may have.

Search engine optimization, or SEO, has changed more in the last two years than the previous ten, and small businesses are feeling it. Gene Marks sits down with Tom Capper of Moz to explain what actually works now, and what's no longer worth your time when it comes to organic search. Tom breaks down why your competitors' websites, local reviews, and even Wikipedia are suddenly part of your search strategy, how to show up when customers ask ChatGPT instead of Google, and what it takes to build a brand strong enough to rank in 2026. Simplify your business operations. Learn how Paychex can handle your HR and payroll so you can focus on what counts: https://bit.ly/3VtM6bs Have a topic idea? Share it at https://payx.me/thrivetopics Topics include: 00:00 – Episode preview and guest introduction 02:16 – What changed in search since 2018 05:53 – Defining “surface area” in search 07:32 – Shrinking organic search real estate 10:03 – Is organic search less important now? 13:32 – Domain authority vs. brand authority 16:06 – Why having a brand matters more now 18:19 – Ads inside AI platforms 22:03 – Agents and the future “bot visitor” to your site 26:25 – Wrap up and thank you #BusinessPodcast #Entrepreneurship #SmallBusiness #iHeartRadio #ApplePodcastTips #SpotifyPodcasts DISCLAIMER: The information presented in this podcast, and that is further provided by the presenter, should not be considered legal or accounting advice, and should not substitute for legal, accounting, or other professional advice in which the facts and circumstances may warrant. We encourage you to consult legal counsel as it pertains to your own unique situation(s) and/or with any specific legal questions you may have.

As if small businesses didn’t have enough daily challenges, now the federal agency that’s supposed to have their back is redefining what it is to be small. The SBA proposes granting large conglomerates eligibility to compete for the same small business funding pot and resources. Host Gene Marks says such a move will create additional barriers. From barriers to borders, the Canada-U.S. trade standoff has the two lobbing massive percentage spikes on top of imported goods, so Gene offers a few workarounds. In AI news, Google sees prices for tech becoming cost-prohibitive so it proposed a pay-as-you-go plan, which Gene says could work but owners should do a cost analysis. Listen to the podcast. Topics: 00:00 – Introduction 00:57 – SBA Plans to Redefine Small Business 03:56 – U.S.-Canada Trade Dispute 07:32 – Google Proposes Pay-As-You-Go AI Plan 10:29– Episode Wrap-up Additional Resources Meet Paychex: https://bit.ly/3VtM6bs Mid-Year Check-In: https://bit.ly/midyear-compliance-checklist DISCLAIMER: The information presented in this podcast, and that is further provided by the presenter, should not be considered legal or accounting advice, and should not substitute for legal, accounting, or other professional advice in which the facts and circumstances may warrant. We encourage you to consult legal counsel as it pertains to your own unique situation(s) and/or with any specific legal questions you may have.

The amount of U.S. debt has reached the unfathomable, and at $40-trillion-plus, federal government is left with little choice but to print money. Host Gene Marks says this isn’t unusual, but the inflationary pressures will affect businesses trying to get loans. He offers some suggestions in this episode, as well as tips on how owners can combat intricate and technically adept phone scams. In AI news, Claude has become more intertwined in our workplace communications, so Gene says training all the workers at is worth it in the long run. Listen to the podcast. Topics: 00:00 – Introduction 01:02 – Impact of U.S. Debt 05:26 – Combatting Phone Scammers 07:36 – Workplace AI Training 10:47– Episode Wrap-up  Additional Resources Meet Paychex: https://bit.ly/3VtM6bs Summer Planning Guide: https://bit.ly/summer-planning-guide DISCLAIMER: The information presented in this podcast, and that is further provided by the presenter, should not be considered legal or accounting advice, and should not substitute for legal, accounting, or other professional advice in which the facts and circumstances may warrant. We encourage you to consult legal counsel as it pertains to your own unique situation(s) and/or with any specific legal questions you may have.

AI has moved beyond chatbots. The next wave is agents, and they're already reshaping how small businesses operate. In this episode, Gene Marks talks with Google's Mike Clark, Director of Product Management, Agent Platform at Google Cloud, about what AI agents actually are and how to put them to work. They cover the shift from generative AI to agents, why your website needs to be ready for the agentic web, real use cases from deep research to inventory reordering, and how to build trust with AI as you scale. Want to start experimenting like Mike suggests? Grab our free AI & Automation Toolkit to find your biggest automation opportunity: https://bit.ly/4yaSarA Simplify your business operations. Learn how Paychex can handle your HR and payroll so you can focus on what counts: https://bit.ly/3VtM6bs Have a topic idea? Share it at https://payx.me/thrivetopics Topics include: 00:00 – Episode preview and guest introduction 01:12 – Meet Mike Clark 04:02 – What is an AI agent? 07:32 – The agentic web and why websites must change 14:10 – Overview of the Google Cloud agent platform 18:32 – Small business agent use cases 23:15 – Can you trust agents with critical decisions? 26:35 – Privacy concerns and choosing your AI platform & ecosystem 31:00 – Final advice to small businesses 32:13 – Wrap up and thank you #BusinessPodcast #Entrepreneurship #SmallBusiness #iHeartRadio #ApplePodcastTips #SpotifyPodcasts DISCLAIMER: The information presented in this podcast, and that is further provided by the presenter, should not be considered legal or accounting advice, and should not substitute for legal, accounting, or other professional advice in which the facts and circumstances may warrant. We encourage you to consult legal counsel as it pertains to your own unique situation(s) and/or with any specific legal questions you may have.

The National Federation of Independent Businesses’ monthly survey results show good news on the optimism front: the index reached its highest level in more than a year, the percentage of those expecting to create jobs is the highest since 2022, and worries about inflation are down seven points. Host Gene Marks also talks about the unique age-limit approach a restaurant has taken while noting that discrimination could become an issue, while in AI news, employers keep saying less work is coming for employers while a survey shows the latter’s workweek hours increasing. Listen to the podcast. Topics: 00:00 – Introduction 01:07 – Small Business Optimism 03:43 – Restaurant Age Limit 06:40 – AI and Workload 09:47– Episode Wrap-up Additional Resources Meet Paychex: https://bit.ly/3VtM6bs Summer Planning Guide: https://bit.ly/summer-planning-guide DISCLAIMER: The information presented in this podcast, and that is further provided by the presenter, should not be considered legal or accounting advice, and should not substitute for legal, accounting, or other professional advice in which the facts and circumstances may warrant. We encourage you to consult legal counsel as it pertains to your own unique situation(s) and/or with any specific legal questions you may have.