Small Biz Spotlight

YouTube Description In this episode, we break down the latest small business news, tech updates, funding opportunities, and real-world challenges business owners are facing right now. We look at Lyft’s clarification of its surge pricing model and what fluctuating ride costs could mean for small business travel budgets. We also cover a new IBM study showing that 91% of executives lack clarity on th...

In this interview, Leland McFarland of Small Business Trends speaks with Ross Buhrdorf, CEO and co-founder of ZenBusiness, about ZenBusiness Velo®, an agentic AI advisor designed to help entrepreneurs start, run, and grow a business. Buhrdorf explains how Velo goes beyond a traditional chatbot by using ZenBusiness’ experience from more than one million business formations and millions of customer...

Small business owners are facing a mixed economic picture: optimism is slipping, job openings have hit a six-year low, and inflation continues to pressure cash flow. But there are also major opportunities on the horizon, from IBM’s $10 billion quantum computing push to rural entrepreneurs using eCommerce to reach global customers. In this episode, we break down the latest small business headlines...

Small business owners are facing a mixed economic picture: optimism is slipping, job openings have hit a six-year low, and inflation continues to pressure cash flow. But there are also major opportunities on the horizon, from IBM’s $10 billion quantum computing push to rural entrepreneurs using eCommerce to reach global customers. In this episode, we break down the latest small business headlines...

Leland McFarland of Small Business Trends sits down with Hari Hara Prabu, Head of Product for Zoho POS , to discuss the launch of Zoho POS and what it means for independent and growing retailers. In this interview, Hari explains how Zoho built Zoho POS to help small retailers move away from disconnected systems and manage sales, inventory, purchasing, customer data, reporting, and payments from on...

This week on Small Biz Spotlight , we look at the biggest issues facing small business owners, from housing affordability and AI spending to digital advertising changes and rising fraud threats. We break down a congressional hearing on how small home builders could help address America’s housing crisis, including the role of modular housing, 3-D printing, and local regulatory reform. We also discu...

In this episode of Small Biz Breakdown , we look at the latest headlines shaping small business growth, technology, marketing, and risk management. The SBA is doubling the combined 7(a) and 504 loan limit to $10 million, giving eligible small businesses more room to finance expansion, equipment, hiring, and production. We also cover YouTube’s new Demand Gen tools designed to help businesses create...

In this episode, we cover the latest small business news, trends, deals, and real-world business questions. The SBA has launched a $1 million Patriot Pitch Competition to showcase innovative small businesses, while PayPal and Anthropic are rolling out free AI training to help entrepreneurs close the AI skills gap. We also discuss how LEO satellite broadband could drive massive global growth and cr...

Small businesses are facing a fast-changing mix of challenges and opportunities — from password security risks and AI adoption gaps to new HR tools, workforce changes, manufacturing grants, and productivity upgrades. In this episode of Small Biz Spotlight , we break down a new Zoho-commissioned survey warning that many companies understand the danger of weak passwords and stolen credentials but st...

Cybersecurity risks are growing for small businesses, and weak password habits remain one of the biggest vulnerabilities. In this interview, Leland McFarland of Small Business Trends speaks with Mouli Dorai, Chief Evangelist of Cyber Solutions at Zoho, about Zoho’s recent World Password Day survey and what the findings mean for business owners. The conversation covers why many organizations feel c...

AI is changing how small businesses work, market, and manage risk—and this episode breaks down what that means in practical terms. In this episode, we cover Oracle and Google Cloud’s new AI database agent and how it could help small business owners get faster insights from their data without needing advanced technical skills. We also look at a major PPP fraud case involving a lobbying firm fined m...

In this episode, we break down some of the biggest trends shaping the small business landscape right now. From falling small business optimism and rising costs to a surge in entrepreneurship as traditional jobs decline, there is a lot changing at once. We also look at what small business owners can learn from a new Workday study on outdated financial systems, why Gen Z is rethinking career paths a...

In this episode, we break down some of the biggest stories shaping the small business landscape right now. Intuit has gained FedNow certification, opening the door to faster payments and improved cash flow for businesses using QuickBooks and other Intuit tools. We also look at Visa’s new AI-driven commerce solution and what it could mean for the future of payments, retail, and customer transaction...

In this episode, Leland McFarland of Small Business Trends sits down with Bharath Kumar, Head of Marketing and Customer Experience for Zoho Bookings, to unpack new U.S. data on appointment scheduling trends among small and medium-sized businesses. The conversation explores why so many SMBs still rely on email and phone calls to schedule meetings, even though the process often creates delays, misse...

In this episode, we break down several major developments that could shape the future of small business growth. We start with the SBA’s expanded loan programs aimed at helping U.S. manufacturers and food supply chain businesses access more flexible funding with stronger federal guarantees. These changes could open new opportunities for growth, equipment upgrades, and supply chain improvements, but...

What does built-in AI actually look like for a small business? In this interview, Eddie Cliff, VP & GM of SMB & Growth Products at Salesforce, explains how Agentforce for Small Business is being added into Salesforce Suites to help owners and lean teams save time, stay organized, and work more efficiently. He discusses practical use cases like instant record summaries, AI-generated emails,...

In this solo episode, we break down some of the latest tools, trends, and challenges shaping the small business world right now. We start with Facebook Marketplace’s new Meta AI features and what they could mean for entrepreneurs looking to sell faster, create listings more easily, and simplify communication with buyers. These new tools could help small business owners save time and reduce frictio...

In this episode of Small Biz Spotlight , Leland McFarland breaks down some of the biggest stories and practical challenges facing small business owners right now. From how rural communities are benefiting from digital infrastructure investments to the ongoing conversation around women in the workforce and leadership, this episode covers the trends shaping the small business landscape. Leland also...

Small business confidence is climbing—but not everywhere. In this episode, we break down the latest NFIB survey showing optimism rising across most industries while construction slips and retailers remain the least upbeat. We’ll talk about what’s driving the mood shift (and what’s still holding owners back), including labor quality concerns and ongoing supply chain headaches. Then we dig into a ne...

In this episode, we break down four stories small business owners should have on their radar—plus a few timely deals and real-world lessons from Reddit. First, Microsoft’s “Project Silica” points to a future where businesses could store critical records on glass for up to 10,000 years —a potential game-changer for long-term archiving in industries like healthcare, legal services, and the creative...

At SuiteConnect 2026 in New York, I sat down with Craig Dubitsky, Founder & CEO of happy® , to talk about what it really takes to scale a fast-growing consumer brand—and why the right back-end systems matter when things move too fast. Craig shares a true “we broke the old system” story from his previous company (Hello), where explosive retail growth forced a full ERP migration over a single we...

In this special episode, Evan Goldberg (Founder & EVP of Oracle NetSuite) breaks down how AI is reshaping day-to-day operations for fast-moving businesses—especially when you need cleaner books, clearer reporting, and smarter pricing decisions without adding headcount. You’ll hear how real-time data changes decision-making, why AI-driven anomaly detection and reconciliation can tighten financi...

In this episode of the Small Business Spotlight Podcast, Leland McFarland discusses the latest innovations from Oracle NetSuite, particularly focusing on AI tools designed to enhance business efficiency. He highlights the optimism among small business owners despite economic challenges, shares safety tips regarding scams, and presents exclusive deals for small businesses. The episode also features...

In this episode of Small Business Spotlight, Leland McFarland discusses various topics relevant to small business owners, including the impact of AI on costs and revenue, the importance of building trust in customer engagement, and innovative tools for employee onboarding. He also shares insights on translating military skills for civilian jobs, highlights special deals for small businesses, and a...

AI is helping small businesses move faster—but it’s also creating a new kind of fatigue: tool overload, nonstop “optimization,” and pressure to keep up. In this episode, we break down AI burnout (what it looks like, why it’s happening, and how owners can set healthier boundaries) and shift to the other big 2026 reality: more business owners considering a sale —plus what that means for valuation, t...