THRIVE, a Paychex Business Podcast

By Paychex, Inc.Business Entrepreneurship Management

THRIVE, a Paychex Business Podcast episodes

October 08 Inflation, Jobs, and Confidence Create Mixed Economic Message, AI Training Expands
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.
12 min
October 06 Laundromats, Private Equity, and Seller Financing: Inside Today’s Business Sales Market
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 BuyBizSell 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.
31 min
October 01 Rates Reshape Housing Market, the Retirement Gap, AI Botches Financial Tests
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.
13 min
September 24 Unemployment Is Down, Proposed Bills to Help SMBs, AI Not Leading to Mass Layoffs
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.
12 min
September 22 How Data, Adoption, and Agentic Tools Deliver Business Value — with HubSpot’s Angie O’Dowd
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.
34 min
September 17 Managing Annual Compensation, Your Retiring Employees, and Underuse of AI Tools
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.
13 min
September 10 Labor Market Tightens, Gen Z Avoids Managing, Open AI Launches Astra
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.
12 min
September 08 Can Small Businesses Win at Search in 2026? Moz's Tom Capper Explains How
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.
28 min
September 03 SBA Redefining ‘Small’, U.S.-Canada Trade Dispute Widens, AI Sticker Shock
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.
12 min
August 27 Impact of $40T in U.S. Debt, Tips to Avoid Scammers, Get AI Workplace Training
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.
13 min

About THRIVE, a Paychex Business Podcast

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Designed for those who crave the inside scoop on everything from people to policy to profits, each THRIVE episode transforms complex business and HR topics into clear, actionable advice. Whether…