Entrepreneurs continue to make a go of it despite current economic uncertainty, with business applications increasing 3.7% in May. Host Gene Marks says with access to new markets and inexpensive technology, there’s never been a better time to own a business. The news isn’t all rosy, as rising healthcare costs point to a potential trickle down to employees in 2027, but Gene shares a few strategies to offset. In AI news, a partnership with Perplexity is creating opportunities for some SBA loan recipients to get credit to afford resources to help with AI training. 

Topics:

00:00 – Introduction

01:03 – Rise in Business Applications

03:36 – Shifting Healthcare Costs

06:20 – AI Credits Through SBA partnership

08:21 – Episode Wrap-up

Additional Resources

Register for AI webinar: https://bit.ly/ai-webinar-series

Meet Paychex: https://bit.ly/3VtM6bs

DISCLAIMER:

Businesses that got in on the front end of requesting refunds for illegal tariffs are better off than those applying now. Why? As host Gene Marks explains, the federal government filed an appeal that could make it more difficult. Additionally, certain contractors, including women- and veteran-owned ones, are finding opportunities to land government contracts reduced, according to a report that shows a reduction of $47 billion in investment. In AI news, a survey indicates that despite a savings in time created by using AI at work, employers need to audit the ROI. Listen to the podcast to learn more.   

Topics:

00:00 – Introduction

01:05 – Tariff Refund Decision Appealed

04:00 – Funding Cuts Hurt Some Contractors

06:33 – Consider Auditing the ROI of Your AI

09:24 – Episode Wrap-up

Additional Resources

Register for AI webinar: https://bit.ly/ai-webinar-series

Meet Paychex: https://bit.ly/3VtM6bs

DISCLAIMER:

Every town has its big moment. A global tournament, a hometown festival, a parade that fills the streets. The question is whether your business is ready to grab it. Meg Kane, the host city executive behind Philadelphia's World Cup effort, joins Gene Marks with a practical playbook any business can run, anywhere. She shares how to lean into the energy, connect with the crowd, and land on vendor lists that organizers call again and again. The spotlight is coming to your town eventually. Here's how to make the most of it when it does.

Take the conversation further with The 39-Day World Cup Playbook. Your guide to staffing smart, managing overtime, and protecting your margins from kickoff to the final whistle: https://bit.ly/48Dpah4

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:

#BusinessPodcast #Entrepreneurship #SmallBusiness #iHeartRadio #ApplePodcastTips

DISCLAIMER:

How’s the labor market? Depends on who you ask. Host Gene Marks highlights that in this week’s episode, pointing to the steady increase in job growth the past three months reported by the Paychex Small Business Employment Watch and the massive job gains released by the U.S. Department of Labor. Same? Gene says Paychex uses real-time data and the government’s report will be revised because it is based on surveys. The episode also looks at the divide concerning jobs, according to the JOLTS report, and why some experts are suggesting businesses pay attention to state AI laws while the federal government tries to find its way on the subject. Listen to the podcast.

Topics:

00:00 – Introduction

01:14 – Jobs and Wage Data From Paychex

02:55 – JOLTS Report Shows Hiring Divide

05:55 – Focus on State AI Laws

09:11 – Episode Wrap-up

Additional Resources

Employment Watch: https://bit.ly/paychex-sbew

Register for AI webinar: https://bit.ly/ai-webinar-series

Meet Paychex: https://bit.ly/3VtM6bs

The construction sector takes the least of a hit on the National Federation of Independent Businesses’ Optimism Index, while retail suffers worst decline. Add that to a Glassdoor survey reporting that employee confidence is at record lows and burnout is on the rise, and it’s no wonder that owners rate the financial health of their small businesses at good to excellent. Wait, what? Host Gene Marks explains why this might be happening. There also are new AI laws in a handful of states creating additional compliance complexities, especially around AI-driven employment decisions and discrimination risks. Listen to the podcast.  

Topics:

00:00 – Introduction

00:19 – Optimism Declines Again

02:00 – Employee Confidence and Burnout

04:57 – State Step Up with AI Laws  

06:43 – Episode Wrap-up

Additional Resources

Meet Paychex: https://bit.ly/3VtM6bs

Register for AI webinar: https://bit.ly/ai-webinar-series

DISCLAIMER:

Jesse Cole built the Savannah Bananas into a 35-million-follower brand without spending a single dollar on marketing. His secret? Stop marketing. Start creating experiences people can't stop talking about. In this episode, the founder of Fans First Entertainment joins host Gene Marks to share the business philosophy behind one of the most unconventional success stories in sports. From how he hires to how he thinks about growth, Jesse's approach to business is as unorthodox as his team’s on-field antics.

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:

#BusinessPodcast #Entrepreneurship #SmallBusiness #iHeartRadio #ApplePodcastTips

DISCLAIMER:

Small businesses always have challenges, but these days none is more damaging than the costs of doing business jacked up by inflation. Gene Marks, a small business owner himself, shares a few tips on how to manage the situation against the year-over-year profitability plunge of 1.3%. Financial pressures are hitting many, and a report found that 90% of employees would leave and seek out a company offering financial wellness resources as part of a benefits package. On a good note, some startups are using AI to solve practical business problems in the B2B space and drive growth. 

Topics:

00:00 – Introduction

00:19 – Profitability Issues

03:34 – Financial Wellness Benefits

06:26 – Startups, AI, and Growth

08:25 – Episode Wrap-up

Additional Resources

Meet Paychex: https://bit.ly/3VtM6bs

Small business and AI: https://bit.ly/ai-and-small-biz

Register for AI webinar: https://bit.ly/ai-webinar-series

DISCLAIMER:

A sharp spike up to 6% for the Producer Price Index has podcast host Gene Marks expressing concern over the pending price hikes for goods for the remainder of 2026. He offers some suggestions to help employers and their employees. As the World Cup soccer tournament nears its start in North America, one U.S. host city’s restaurant group is proposing a mandatory tip percentage so staff don’t get stiffed by visitors from non-tipping cultures. And Anthropic launches Claude for Small Business, which Gene notes is a great way to help implement AI. Listen to the podcast.  

Topics:

00:00 – Introduction

00:51 – Producer Price Index Spikes

03:50 – Tipping Proposal for World Cup Events

06:48 – AI Training by Claude for Small Business

09:24 – Episode Wrap-up

Additional Resources

Meet Paychex: https://bit.ly/3VtM6bs

DISCLAIMER:

Big events bring big opportunities, but the businesses that win are the ones who prepare. Host Gene Marks sits down with Connie Kinnard of the Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau to talk World Cup prep, small business strategy, and what it takes to turn a surge in visitors into lasting revenue. From optimizing your online presence to building the right relationships, the tips she shares here apply to any major event, anywhere.

Take the conversation further with The 39-Day World Cup Playbook. It's your guide to staffing smart, managing overtime, and protecting your margins from kickoff to the final whistle: https://bit.ly/48Dpah4

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:

#BusinessPodcast #Entrepreneurship #SmallBusiness #iHeartRadio #ApplePodcastTips

DISCLAIMER:

Businesses that paid illegal tariffs under the Emergency Economic Powers Act could get a windfall if they follow the process to request a refund. Host Gene Marks shares some tips to facilitate getting your money back. He also says the latest Paychex Small Business Employment Watch reveals that employers are being cautious about hiring but aren’t cutting back on the practice amid economic uncertainty. Optimism abounds in the agentic AI commerce arena, where experts forecast that it could drive more than one trillion dollars in U.S. retail in the next four years. 

Topics:

00:00 – Introduction

Additional Resources

Meet Paychex: https://bit.ly/3VtM6bs

Paychex Small Business Employment Watch: https://bit.ly/paychex-sbew

DISCLAIMER: