Digital accessibility means building a website that works for everyone—people with disabilities, seniors, and increasingly, AI. When a site is well-structured, easy to navigate, and free of technical barriers, it builds trust and removes friction that prevents people from buying. Accessibility isn’t just a compliance or “nice-to-have” issue; it directly impacts revenue because customers can’t convert if they can’t use your site. As AI becomes a primary way people find experts, accessible, clearly organized websites are the ones AI understands, trusts, and recommends—making accessibility a business advantage, not a technical detail. 

Podcast Recommendation: Practical Accessibility Insights with Sandi Gauder

Find out more about Richard Gauder: 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/richardgauder/ 

https://cmswebsolutions.com/ 

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E#46: Find Your Bank Series: CDFIs - Scott sits down with Leah Fremouw to unpack a part of the financial ecosystem most small business owners have never heard of: CDFIs, or Community Development Financial Institutions. Leah explains how CDFIs differ from traditional banks, why they exist, and how they’re designed to say “yes” in situations where banks often can’t. From small-dollar loans to layered financing structures, CDFIs focus on access to capital, especially for underserved and under-resourced businesses.

The conversation digs into how CDFIs actually manage risk, why their charge-off rates are often lower than traditional lenders, and how their hands-on approach helps business owners navigate challenges before things go sideways. Leah shares real examples of how CDFIs partner with banks, fill financing gaps, restructure high-interest debt, and improve cash flow in ways that materially change a business’s trajectory.

Scott and Leah also explore what makes a business a good fit for a CDFI relationship, why knowing your financial story matters more than a 40-page business plan, and how capital should support growth—not create stress. They discuss the importance of treating banking as a relationship, not a transaction, and why business owners should be more critical consumers of financial services.

The episode wraps with practical guidance on how to find a CDFI, when to bring one into the conversation, and why trusted financial partners matter long before you actually need the money. For business owners who feel like they’re “just a number” at their bank, this episode opens the door to a different way of thinking about capital, risk, and support.

Podcast Recommendation: Renegade Capital Podcast

Find out more about Leah Fremouw: $LINKTOPERSON

www.bridgingvirginia.org 

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E#45: In this episode, Scott sits down with Greg from ConnectivTech to talk about something every small business owner wrestles with—vendor selection, vendor management, and why choosing the wrong one can quietly drain your cashflow or derail your growth.

Business owners think about their tech stack, software renewals, marketing partners, and operational vendors annually. But Scott and Greg dig deeper into why vendor planning shouldn’t be a once-a-year event.

Greg shares practical advise for finding, selecting, and succeeding with vendors. 

Book Recommendation: What Would the Rockefellers Do? by Garrett B Gunderson

Find out more about Greg Klein-Hertzel: 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregory-klein-hertzel/ 

[email protected]

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E#44: Find Your Bank Series: Regional Banks - Joe Ford from WinTrust represents what regional banks actually do for growing businesses and why the right bank (and banker) matters. Joe explains where WinTrust sits as a regional player with big-bank capabilities. We walk through who benefits most from a regional bank and who’s better off elsewhere. Joe shares how to find and vet a banker plus the concrete things you should ask about (cash cycles, reporting, team contact points, and deal structure). He closes with real success stories from staffing and transportation clients that moved from expensive funding or factoring into bank facilities and scaled dramatically.

Book Recommendation: Reality Check by Guy Kawasaki

Podcast Recommendation: Staffing Buzz Network  

Find out more about Joe Ford: 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/joe-ford-6519b5107/

Find more episodes on Apple podcast, Spotify, Amazon Music and here: https://budgetyourbusinesspodcast.buzzsprout.com

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E#43: In this episode, I sit down solo to break down the world of payment processing with a behind-the-scenes look at PJ’s business. We dive into why 80–85% of small and medium-sized business revenue now comes through credit and debit cards, and what that really costs owners — roughly 3% per transaction. From interchange fees to integration with QuickBooks, NetSuite, and other systems, we cover the tech, the process, and the real-world considerations every business owner should know.

But it’s not all numbers. PJ shares how his approach to service sets his business apart from the big, impersonal processors — quick response times, real human support, and building trust with clients. 

We also talk about his ownership approach to financial decision-making, balancing budgets with gut feel, taking risks, and how he navigates growth and staffing in a rapidly changing environment. Finally, we touch on the role of silent partners, what makes a partnership work (or fail), and lessons learned from growing a business from the ground up. 

Book Recommendation: Radical Candor

Podcast Recommendation: All In Podcast

Find out more about PJ Gallagher: 

www.reliablepayments.com 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/patrick-gallagher-eta-cpp-2830ab1/

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E#42: In this solo episode, Scott kicks off a new mini-series focused on one relationship every business owner has — their bank. Drawing on his background as a Federal Reserve Bank Examiner and years as a fractional CFO, Scott breaks down the different types of banks, how they’re regulated, and what business owners should know when evaluating their banking partners. He also previews upcoming episodes featuring bankers from institutions of all sizes to help you find the right fit for your business.

Book Recommendation: Secret Trades Craft of Elite Advisors by David C. Baker

Find out more about Scott Geller: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scott-geller-cfo/ 

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E#41: In this episode of Budget Your Business, Scott dives into the financial and strategic considerations of expanding through franchising with guest Gus Iurillo. They explore how business owners can leverage franchising to scale their operations or add complementary services under separate entities — without jeopardizing profitability or paying unnecessary royalties. Gus breaks down the key factors in choosing the right franchise, aligning role fit and work-life balance, managing cash flow expectations, and structuring the finances between a franchise and an independent business. The conversation also covers the advantages of franchising for predictability, support, and scalability versus starting from scratch.

Book Recommendation: Give and Take by Adam Grant

Find out more about Gus Iurillo: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gusiurillo/ 

Find more episodes on Apple podcast, Spotify, Amazon Music and here: https://budgetyourbusinesspodcast.buzzsprout.com/

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E#40: In this episode, Scott is joined by Theresa Caragol of AchieveUnite to explore what really makes business partnerships work. Teresa shares how a successful partnership works with marketing and internal sales or even reduce the reliance on internal sales. She shares how companies can measure and balance different trust-building styles, why the first 90 days set the tone for partnership success, and why quality beats quantity when it comes to choosing partners. Along the way, she highlights lessons from AchieveUnite’s own growth and offers practical takeaways for business leaders looking to turn partnerships into a true force multiplier. Additional topics include the benefits of her PQI framework, a science-backed way to understand and accelerate trust in teams, and following a North Star. 

Book Recommendation: 
Partnering Success, The Force Multiplier to Achieve Exponential Growth
Go-Giver by Bob Burg

Find out more about Theresa Caragol: 
achieveunite.com 
https://www.linkedin.com/in/theresacaragol/ 
Text: 770.883.7794

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 E#39: In this episode, Scott sits down with Kathy Hardy to explore how resiliency and clarity of purpose drive stronger business results. They discuss the importance of defining core objectives in plain language, aligning teams through shared commitments, and keeping goals relevant with regular forecasting. Kathy shares practical ways to build organizational resilience—from debriefing failures to encouraging a solver mindset—while Scott ties it back to financial planning and keeping teams motivated toward achievable outcomes.

Book Recommendation: High Road Leadership by John Maxwell

Podcast Recommendation: No Bullsh!t Leadership by Martin G Moore

Find out more about Kathy Hardy: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kathyconsulting/ 

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E#38: In this solo episode, Scott breaks down how a CFO goes beyond “the numbers.” Far from just budget spreadsheets, a CFO can be a confidant, connector, and strategic advisor—helping owners navigate tough decisions, break down silos, and focus on priorities. Scott also shares how fractional CFOs make that expertise accessible to growing small businesses without the $300K+ price tag of a full-time hire. 

Book Recommendation: Venture Deals by Feld Mendelson

Find out more about Scott Geller: 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/scott-geller-cfo/ 

www.PathPredict.net for staffing firms

www.CapitisAdvisors.com 

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