Empowering small business owners means more than just offering tools — it means removing friction, saving time and building real emotional trust.

On this episode, Ross Buhrdorf, CEO and Co-Founder of ZenBusiness, discusses how his team is reshaping the entrepreneurship journey with AI-driven services, embedded fintech, and a powerful customer support model that puts people first.

Key Takeaways:

(05:12) Deep access to user data enables tailored business insights and recommendations.

(07:40) A unified data infrastructure ensures seamless collaboration across teams and customer interfaces.

(09:47) AI-powered features simplify complex business actions into one-click solutions.

(14:16) Formation and compliance services provide the foundation for small business growth.

(17:35) Partnerships are built on trust, shared values, and strong technical compatibility.

(21:16) AI monitors user activity to recommend relevant tools and services at the right time.

(25:04) Customer support is prioritized internally to deliver exceptional service externally.

(31:48) Internal fear is often the greatest obstacle to launching a successful business.

Resources Mentioned:

Ross Buhrdorf

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

ZenBusiness | LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/company/zenbusiness-pbc/

ZenBusiness | Website

https://www.zenbusiness.com/

1-800Accountant

https://1800accountant.com/

Next Insurance

https://www.nextinsurance.com/

Intuit QuickBooks

https://quickbooks.intuit.com/

Any specific guest you’d like to hear on the show? Leave your suggestions at https://www.smbtechinnovators.com/

Thanks for listening to “SMB Tech Innovators,” powered by Gusto | Embedded Finance, Vertical SaaS, Payroll API. If you enjoyed this episode, hit the subscribe button and never miss another insightful conversation. And be sure to leave a review to help get the word out about the show.

#SMB #Fintech #Innovation #Saas #HR #Payroll #SmallBusiness

The SaaS landscape is in constant and rapid flux, with verticalization becoming a key strategy for success. But what does it take to build a scalable, industry-specific platform that truly meets the needs of SMBs?

Eric Remer, CEO of EverCommerce, shares his entrepreneurial journey and reveals how he built a multi-billion-dollar company by focusing on tailored software solutions for service-based small businesses.

Key Takeaways:

(03:46) Businesses that focus on micro-verticals can provide more tailored solutions and drive greater customer engagement.

(06:39) Integrating core functionalities such as invoicing, payments and scheduling improves efficiency for small businesses.

(09:51) Industry-specific SaaS products enhance customer retention by aligning with a business’s day-to-day workflows.

(13:07) Strategic acquisitions can expand product offerings, fill technology gaps and accelerate growth in new verticals.

(15:31) Choosing between venture capital and private equity depends on long-term business objectives and risk tolerance.

(18:26) Overvaluing a company in early funding rounds can limit future fundraising options and hinder long-term scalability.

(22:04) Product-led growth enables businesses to scale efficiently by allowing users to onboard with minimal friction.

(28:10) Advanced software tools can make small businesses appear as operationally strong as larger competitors.

(28:47) Entrepreneurs can find inspiration in real-world stories of business owners who have overcome challenges and scaled successfully.

Resources Mentioned:

Eric Remer

https://www.linkedin.com/in/eric-remer/

EverCommerce | LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/company/evercommerce/

EverCommerce | Website

https://evercommerce.com/

Business Underdog Podcast

https://www.businessunderdog.com/

Any specific guest you’d like to hear on the show? Leave your suggestions at https://www.smbtechinnovators.com/

Thanks for listening to “SMB Tech Innovators,” powered by Gusto | Embedded Finance, Vertical SaaS, Payroll API. If you enjoyed this episode, hit the subscribe button and never miss another insightful conversation. And be sure to leave a review to help get the word out about the show.

#SMB #Fintech #Innovation #Saas #HR #Payroll #SmallBusiness

The landscape of global work is evolving, and businesses are adapting to new challenges in workforce management, productivity, and compliance.

On this episode, Cody Rogers, Chief Product Officer of Hubstaff, discusses the intersection of time tracking, workforce analytics and management, along with the trends shaping remote work and global hiring.

Key Takeaways:

(03:52) The importance of combining time tracking, workforce analytics and management.

(06:53) How global hiring is changing business operations and talent acquisition.

(11:13) Compliance challenges businesses face when managing a distributed workforce.

(13:45) Balancing flexibility and simplicity helps users get control without overwhelming complexity.

(16:24) Building features in-house vs. integrating with existing tools.

(19:28) How product integrations improve customer retention and user experience.

(21:59) Key factors in making product development and partnership decisions.

(23:58) Lessons from launching a SaaS tool focused on reducing customer churn.

(25:13) Essential skills for product managers, including communication and ownership.

Resources Mentioned:

Cody Rogers -

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

Hubstaff LinkedIn -

https://www.linkedin.com/company/hubstaff/

Hubstaff Website -

https://hubstaff.com/

Gusto -

https://gusto.com/

Deel -

https://www.deel.com/

Wise -

https://wise.com/

Any specific guest you’d like to hear on the show? Leave your suggestions at https://www.smbtechinnovators.com/.

Thanks for listening to “SMB Tech Innovators,” powered by Gusto | Embedded Finance, Vertical SaaS, Payroll API. If you enjoyed this episode, hit the subscribe button and never miss another insightful conversation. And be sure to leave a review to help get the word out about the show.



#SMB #Fintech #Innovation #Saas #HR #Payroll #SmallBusiness