Budget Your Business

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]

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

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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/

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

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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/ 

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

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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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E#37: In this episode, Eric Ellington shares how discipline in financial management, strategic planning, and team training shape his company’s success. He emphasizes the importance of cash flow over vanity revenue, setting clear EOS-driven targets, and investing in marketing, branding, and customer experience to fuel long-term growth. Eric also highlights the value of trusting your gut, recognizing red flags, and making decisions that align with the company’s mission—even when turning down lucrative projects. At the core, his message is clear: profitability, transparency, and consistency will position a business for sustainable success.

Book Recommendation: Traction by Gino Wickman and Who, Not How by Dan Sullivan

Find out more about Eric Ellington at: 

[email protected] get a reply within 48 hours

https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-ellington-4658b63b/ 

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E#36: In this episode, Scott Geller talks with John McGann about how small businesses can smartly scale their internal software—from early no-code tools to fully custom systems. They break down the warning signs that it's time to upgrade, what it really costs, how to prepare, and why investing in the right tech at the right time can unlock growth rather than stall it. Whether you're buried in spreadsheets or starting to outgrow your off-the-shelf tools, this one’s for you.

Book Recommendation: Influence: The Psychology of Persuasion by Robert Cialdini

Find out more about John McGann: 

www.linkedin.com/in/johnomcgann 

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