THRIVE, a Paychex Business Podcast

Despite disparity in the reporting of e-commerce sale figures, one thing is apparent: people are spending and the holiday shopping season is off to a good start. However, Gene Marks still has reservations on sustainability in 2024 because the GDP currently is being propped up by U.S. consumers. In other news, extensions are afloat, from a bill seeking to change the beneficial ownership information...

Rising to the C-Suite takes more than just an MBA. Host Gene Marks has a conversation with recently retired Paychex CFO and current senior advisor to the CEO, Efrain Rivera, about his interesting career path and the crucial aspects he sees as being essential in business. This episode of Paychex THRIVE, a Business Podcast, also shares insights on financial literacy, strategic decision-making, hirin...

Unemployment has dropped, jobs are being added, but job openings are decreasing by millions. Gene Marks says this gives him reservation but also shares that small businesses have opportunities to add some quality talent. Also available for your business is a chance to lower taxes by using write-offs, paying bonuses, cleaning up the balance sheet. And have you heard of food digging? Gene shares ins...

In an effort to combat illicit activities such as money laundering and terrorist funding, the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), under the authority of the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA), will require businesses to report beneficial ownership information (BOI) starting in 2024. On this episode of Paychex THRIVE, a Business Podcast, host Gene Marks speaks with Stephen Dombroski, a Sen...

The University of Michigan’s monthly consumer sentiment survey shows a fourth straight decline, which has Gene Marks worried that, despite signs to the contrary, Americans might be slowing on their purchase of goods. Some businesses might be disproportionately disadvantaged if a proposed rule for banks creates a credit access issue. And the time might be right for smaller businesses to win the bat...

In this episode of the Paychex THRIVE, a Business Podcast, host Gene Marks talks with Thea Ducrow, CEO of Creative AI Leadership Consulting, about the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in human resources (HR) for small businesses. Learn about the advancement of AI applications, such as ChatGPT and how it can benefit business owners by providing smarter and more professional assistance. Gene and...

No news is good news, according to Gene Marks, who shares details about the IRS delaying the Form 1099-K threshold change in 2023. So, if you’re using a third-party platform such as PayPal or Venmo to receive payment for services, you have a reprieve this tax season. Gene also talks about the State Small Business Credit Initiative that is pumping millions into states to share with disadvantaged an...

In our latest episode of Paychex THRIVE, a Business Podcast, Managing Director of Government Affairs at Goldman Sachs, Joe Wall and host Gene Marks are giving their expert views on the capital and credit hurdles facing small businesses. Hear as they talk about the disparities in capital access, the potential solutions and strategies for businesses, how businesses can navigate this rapidly changing...

The National Labor Relations Board released a final Joint Employer rule that was met with a lawsuit and other opposition from industry groups such as franchises. Gene Marks, who says it could impact his small business, as well, is not in favor. Gene also talks about the states where minimum wage increases are going into effect in 2024, and tips for small businesses to get in on opportunities for g...

After months and even years of discussions, several federal agencies have begun releasing or nearing release of new regulations that will impact businesses on everything from wage and hour issues such as overtime, as well as worker classification. On this episode of Paychex THRIVE, a Business Podcast, Director Compliance Mike Trabold speaks with host Gene Marks, setting the stage on what to expect...

With a spike of 1.3% and 3% in the third quarter for household debt and credit card delinquencies, respectively, Gene Marks shares his concern that strong consumer spending is masking the red flags for a potential slowdown in 2024. He also says that small businesses should lean into their banks for advice, especially with changes lenders have made to improve their services. And, if you’re eating a...

For over 10 years, Mastercard has been using artificial intelligence to protect its customers. Today, Deputy Chief Security Officer, Alissa “Dr. Jay” Abdullah says we can’t forget the basics in protecting ourselves from cyber-attacks. Take a listen to hear as Dr. Jay talks with Gene Marks, host of Paychex THRIVE, a Business Podcast, about the importance of using basic foundations and training alon...

As the Federal Reserve continues to wrangle inflation, small businesses are left dealing with interest rates floating above 9.5%, which Gene Marks says is holding back small businesses from getting needed capital. Gene also shares insights on why some grants and funding for minority- and women-owned businesses might be getting tougher to secure, and why the upcoming mandatory reporting associated...

Believe it or not, artificial intelligence has been around for a while. But it is in the past few years that AI has exploded, and hit the mainstream. On this episode of Paychex THRIVE, a Business Podcast, host Gene Marks is talking with Francois Candelon of BCG Henderson Institute, about the current state of AI – the risks and the benefits. Tune into hear what he had to say about misinformation, r...

Following in the footsteps of the SECURE Act of 2019 and the SECURE Act 2.0 of 2022, the Retirement Investment in Small Employers (RISE) Act, is looking to set micro-sized businesses up for retirement success. Take a listen as host of Paychex THRIVE, a Business Podcast, talks with New York State Congresswoman Claudia Tenney about this proposed bipartisan bill. Tune in to hear they talk about what...

If people are impacted by inflation, they aren’t showing it because retails sales were up in September, bettering expectations. Gene Marks says financial institutions are changing their forecasts and the holiday season might be a good one for businesses. Despite the rosy numbers there, layoffs continue in tech and the financial fields, but Gene sees this as a plus for the talent pool for smaller b...

Now more than ever, having the right CRM platform is essential for your business, especially for those in the home services industry. On this episode of Paychex THRIVE, a Business Podcast, host Gene Marks is talking with the CEO and Co-Founder of Jobber, Sam Pillar. Take a listen to hear what Sam had to say about why and how he started Jobber, why it has become such an important product for the ho...

Reports are that inflation might settle in at 3%, which is lower than expected. The question now is what will the Federal Reserve do with interest rates? Gene Marks shares some insights on that, as well as a few thoughts on the short-term benefits of using credit cards to finance your business and why franchisees should be asking if franchisors can deliver on investing in automation to help with t...

Laka Sriram, VP of Product at GoDaddy is talking with host Gene Marks of the Paychex THRIVE, a Business Podcast about generative AI and how GoDaddy is implementing these features for their customers, the state of image generation, the current state of SEO-optimized tools, and much more. Topics Include: 00:00 – Episode preview 00:38 – Welcome, Laka Sriram 00:56 – An introduction to GoDaddy 02:13 –...

For employers who have worked a lifetime building their business and financial estate, 2025 could bring a heft of new taxes and tax rates, meaning less money you get to keep, if the tax cuts from 2017 are allowed to expire. Another perk – the New Market Tax Credit – might also go away in 2025, and Gene Marks shares that so will the projects it funds and jobs it creates in rural and urban areas. Ge...

Congressman Lloyd Smucker of the State of Pennsylvania is talking with Gene Marks about his sponsored bill, the Main Street Tax Certainty Act. Tune in to this episode of Paychex THRIVE, a Business Podcast, to hear what he had to say about where this bill stems from, what types of businesses this act will support, more about tax rates and previous acts, and much, much more.   Topics Include: 00:00...

ChatGPT is adding personas and will be able to do multiple voices or even read you a bedtime story. Gene Marks shares some tips on why generative AI should be on your radar and how your business should approach the AI wave. Net neutrality has been proposed again and Gene has insights into the pros and cons for your business. Meanwhile, despite inflation and interest rates remaining high, small bus...

As we continue with Cybersecurity Awareness Month, we’ve got Dan Lohrmann, Field Chief Information Officer at Presidio on this week’s episode of Paychex THRIVE, a Business Podcast. Tune in to hear him chat with host Gene Marks about the services Presidio offers, as well as why businesses of all sizes need to be prepared for cyber-attacks, what they can do, the added risk brought on by remote worke...

The IRS is hiring thousands and thousands of more specialized personnel, primarily to increase audits on the wealthy and corporations. Gene Marks says that small businesses should be prepared to get caught in that net. In California, some franchise fast-food employers should prepare to pay a higher minimum wage, while Walmart goes the other way by paying different wages for the same job. Listen to...

October is Cyber Security Month, and we’re kicking it off early with Jonah Wisch, Program Director of the National Cybersecurity Center (NCC). Listen in a Jonah talks with Gene Marks, host of Paychex THRIVE, a Business Podcast, about what the NCC does, cyber insurance, the importance of cyber awareness training, and more. Topics Include: 00:00 – Episode Preview 00:48 – Welcome, Jonah Wisch 03:18 –...