THRIVE, a Paychex Business Podcast

Consumers are less pessimistic about inflation, down from its four-decade high last month. Experts say consumers have settled in after shock of tariffs. In more good news, housing market inventory rises 31.5%, giving other industries and small businesses that rely on vibrant neighborhoods some hope that there is a positive path forward. Gene Marks also shares news about the injuries to first-year...

What does it take to build a global real estate empire while staying true to your values? Mauricio Umansky, TV personality and CEO of The Agency, joins us with 29 years of industry expertise and some serious insights into the world of ultra-luxury real estate. From starting out in fashion to leading a global team of 3,000 agents, Mauricio discusses what makes a great salesperson, how to nurture ta...

A handful of reports on small businesses shows an optimism toward expansion and AI tools, but that sentiment is guarded by flat job growth, declining hourly wage growth, and 82% of those surveyed planning on securing a line of credit. One positive from the tax and spending bill is proposed changes to HSAs that expand coverage, which could help participation and recruitment. And it’s DOGE 1, SCORE...

The U.S. Senate might have a battle to get all president’s requests in tax and spending cut bill as opposition forms in the GOP over the massive deficit it will create. Gene Marks agrees that there will be a price to pay. There’s also a movement to eliminate requiring some degrees for jobs, with 84% who have done so acknowledging positive results. The SBA launches portal to connect manufacturers a...

Searching for fresh ways to grow your accounting practice or wondering how your CPA could better support your business? Don’t miss Gene’s conversation with one of his accounting idols, Joe Woodard. They explore how Client Advisory Services (CAS) can help accountants level up, boost their profits, and serve their clients in more meaningful ways. You’ll get practical tips for pricing your services,...

The U.S. House of Representatives passed the tax and spending bill by one vote, but small businesses could gain a few positives if some of the provisions survive the Senate debate and reconciliation should it pass that chamber of Congress. Gene Marks highlights the proposed changes to bonus depreciation, the pass-through tax deduction, and revisions to research and development costs as potential w...

This episode was recorded prior to the House passing the Big Beautiful Tax Bill on May 22, 2025. Gene Marks shares insights on the Big Beautiful Tax Bill and on the importance of keeping the tax credits for small businesses. That might lift their spirits but, according to the Small Business Optimism Index, not much else is rosy. Sales volumes are down, plans for capital outlay are down, and that h...

The U.S. and China begin the tariff walk-back dance that will last for 90 days, giving businesses time to make alternative plans. Gene Marks says those doing business with China will have to make plans because he doesn’t expect the volatility being created to clear up soon. Additional relief is coming for businesses who use independent contractors, as Gene explains that the USDOL will stop enforci...

What do Barstool Sports and Food52 have in common? Visionary leadership, incredible growth, and today’s podcast guest, Erika Ayers Badan. After nearly a decade as the CEO of Barstool Sports, turning it into a cultural juggernaut, Erika has taken the reins at Food52, where she’s bringing her passion for design, food, and empowering women to the forefront. Tune in as Erika talks managing young teams...

As the president begins to walk back on some of the tariffs with China, Gene Marks says what will remain after negotiations are still significantly high percentage rates on goods coming in from China, which will still impact many U.S. businesses. He also shares insights from economists looking at interest rates and how a risk of recession and lost jobs caused by tariffs might push the Federal Rese...

Tariffs are a major concern for some major industries and confidence is waning, with 40% of contractors worried about slowdowns to profit margins and auto dealers seeing rapid sales declines. Gene Marks says negotiations between nations could resolve much of this, but China remains an issue. He also shares insights to work on culture and employee check-ins as more than half the nation showed up in...

Immigration compliance is a hot topic that businesses simply can’t afford to ignore. With increasing scrutiny from government agencies and hefty fines on the line, staying on top of your I-9s has never been more critical. This week on THRIVE, Gene sits down with John Fay, immigration attorney and director of Product Strategy at Equifax Workforce Solutions, to cut through the noise and break down e...

As the on-again, off-again, and then partial pause on tariffs dominate the news, Gene Marks level sets which ones are in effect and what businesses need to know moving forward. Also, as corporate bankruptcies hit their highest number since 2010, Gene points to a specific industry – trucking and logistics – and the ensuing layoffs that could tell us more about the economy than other data. And the S...

U.S. Labor Department data shows job starts exceeding expectation in March, while the Paychex Small Business Employment Watch indicates job levels are consistent with previous months. Does this indicate a better outlook? Gene Marks talks about it in this episode, but also says the economy might be influenced by the 14% of employers who are decreasing salary offers and another 20% are scaling back...

Is complexity holding your team back? On this episode of THRIVE, Gene Marks chats with Lisa Bodell, keynote speaker, author of Why Simple Wins, and CEO of FutureThink, to explore how simplifying business processes can spark innovation and boost engagement. Lisa shares actionable strategies to make your workplace simpler and more productive — from cutting down on unnecessary emails to rethinking me...

On this week's episode of the Paychex THRIVE Week in Review, host Gene Marks talks about key news items affecting small businesses. Recent surveys from MetLife, the US Chamber of Commerce, Viking Cloud, and the US Census Bureau, focus on three main topics: a slight decline in the small business index due to softening in business health and cash flow; cybersecurity concerns, notably a report that 4...

Despite being at historic high levels, small businesses optimism dropped last month and recorded its second-lowest reading for uncertainty in the history of the National Federation of Independent Businesses. Gene Marks says we need to keep an eye on this. He also shares details of how boycotts don’t always impact those being boycotted. Plus, learn how a comedy club is helping comedians get a laugh...

The chair of the Federal Reserve said that Americans should expect economic fluctuation and inflation while adjusting to the implementation of new policies, but the target of 2% is on track. Gene Marks comments on that while noting that the Paychex Small Business Employment Watch continues to show moderate job growth but stagnant hourly earnings growth. In a surprising turn, the new administration...

Do you know which generation is most frustrated with Gen Z? Or why millennials seem to get such a bad reputation? Join Gene Marks as he chats with Jason Dorsey, president of the Center for Generational Kinetics and author of Zconomy, to explore the dynamics between the five generations in today’s workforce. From bridging the divide between Gen Z and millennials to understanding what motivates each...

Another week, another set of tariffs against normal trading partners – and these steeper than the previous ones. However, host Gene Marks says businesses might be able to defer paying the extra cost by using bonded warehouses and several other avenues. He also shares that the SBA Director Kelly Loeffler plans, among her top 3 items, an extensive audit of the agency and its practices, while the mas...

The housing experts around the nation are not happy with the latest numbers – inventory up 28% but nothing is selling, while builders and architects report their sentiment indexes hit recent lows. Gene Marks says this is the news that worries small businesses that rely on that housing industry. Our host also shares the Beneficial Ownership Information reporting is back after a court ruling, and no...

The workplace is evolving faster than ever — are you keeping up or getting left behind? This week on THRIVE, Gene Marks chats with Steve Cadigan, author of Workquake and LinkedIn’s first Chief HR Officer, to break down the new rules of work. From career pivots to building a culture that spans four generations, Steve dives into the seismic shifts redefining the employer/employee relationship. He al...

The prices of goods and energy keep increasing, hitting 3% in January – the highest in seven months – and everyone is wondering when will the cost of eggs go down. Gene Marks points to some factors impacting inflation and expresses some concern that the monthly hourly wage growth, as reported in the Paychex Small Business Employment Watch, is at 2.87%, meaning wages aren’t keeping up with inflatio...

There are more than 7.5 million Americans whose jobs are directly connected to the federal government, so some private-sector and nonprofit businesses began shedding workers when the federal funding freeze was announced. Gene Marks talks about some of the short-term fallout. He also shares details on why acquiring businesses rose in 2024 and the impact of lending criteria on future sales. Gene als...

Is your business capitalizing on SECURE 2.0? On this episode of THRIVE, Gene sits down with Zachary Keep, Manager of Risk Compliance at Paychex, to unpack the game-changing potential of SECURE 2.0. From tax credits that make setting up a 401(k) basically free to the introduction of auto-enrollment, this legislation is transforming how small businesses attract and retain employees. Zach breaks down...