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 mass layoffs at the IRS could impede timeliness of processing tax returns. Listen to the podcast. 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.…

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 now with a deadline in mid-March. And Crunchbase, a longtime resource for which startups were looking for money, has switched gears to use AI and its data to predict business outcomes. Listen to the podcast. 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.…

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 also offers fresh takes on performance reviews, the value of college degrees, and using AI to empower teams (not replace them). Listen now to discover new strategies and ideas for navigating the future of work. Topics include: 00:00 – Episode preview and welcome 01:22 – Macro trends driving workplace change 02:26 – Changing workforce psychology 03:55 – Steve Cadigan’s background 05:10 – Developing culture within a multi-generational workforce 07:59 – Strategies for motivating employees 11:36 – Reevaluating performance reviews 13:43 – The value of college degrees 17:22 – Remote work perspectives 19:49 – Advice for organizations on remote work 23:29 – The impact of AI in the workplace 25:28 – Wrap up and thank you 11 hiring, recruiting, and talent acquisition trends on the rise: https://bit.ly/4gVH2Fo The most pressing HR technology trends that are likely to shape the future of HR in 2025 and beyond: https://bit.ly/4igMG65 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.…

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 inflation. He also says that with all the changing regulations around DEI at the federal and state level, businesses should review their social and governance policies to ensure they are up to date. Listen to the podcast. 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.…

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 also points to OpenAI’s Deep Research that academics are enjoying but says warning signs are there for some professions. Listen to the podcast. 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.…

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 how these key provisions can make a lasting difference for your employees — and your bottom line. Topics include: 00:00 – Episode preview and welcome 01:12 – What is SECURE Act 2.0? 02:45 – SECURE 2.0 incentives for employers 03:12 – Tax credits for new retirement plans 05:22 – Matching contribution incentive structure 06:42 – New auto-enrollment rules 07:58 – Automatic escalation explained 09:31 – Rothification of catch-up contributions 11:51 – State mandated retirement plans 14:21 – SECURE 2.0 key takeaways 15:14 – Wrap up and thank you 12 retirement trends you need to know for 2025: https://bit.ly/3WVT3DD More regulatory changes every business should prepare for this year: https://bit.ly/4gfFWE6 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.…

Tariffs were imposed and then suspended for 30 days on Canada and Mexico after the U.S. and our leading trading partners came to an agreement on border security. Tariffs remain in place on China and Gene Marks says this will have some impact on costs of goods and supply chains. He also talks about how the launch of DeepSeek, an AI platform that currently operates more quickly and efficiently than others, could spur U.S. companies to meet the challenge. Amid all this change, the SBA might get a new leader who has her focus on efficiency and changes to some of the loan programs. Listen to the podcast. 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.…

The legal ping-pong match on where things will land on Beneficial Ownership Information (BOI) reporting for small businesses saw a few more swings by the courts. Even a ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court in favor of the Treasury netted no change. Gene Marks explains on this week’s episode. He also shares tips on the how to offset the deluge of resumes created by AI that businesses receive and the lawsuit from Manhattan businesses over the impact congestion pricing is having on their financial well-being. 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.…

Taxes are changing — what does that mean for your business? On this week’s episode of Paychex THRIVE, Gene Marks chats with Stephen Dombroski, Senior Compliance Manager at Paychex, to break down the critical tax changes coming as the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act approaches its expiration. From bonus depreciation to the Section 199A deduction (and everything in between), Stephen shares what these changes might mean for your business, your employees, and even your personal finances. Whether you're planning capital investments, thinking about R&D credits, or just trying to stay ahead of tax changes, this episode is packed with expert advice to help you prepare. Topics include: 00:00 – Episode preview and welcome 01:03 – Discussion on Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) 02:20 – Provisions of TCJA 04:42 – Impact of fluctuating TCJA depreciation policies 06:35 – Potential bipartisan tax deal and its outcomes 08:29 – Individual income tax changes 10:36 – Future tax changes and employer considerations 12:37 – Employee Retention Credit discussion 14:18 – Implications of possible changes to estates taxes and the Work Opportunity Tax Credit 15:34 – Advice on preparing for tax changes 17:39 – Wrap up and thank you 14 ways to save on small business taxes in 2025: https://bit.ly/3CoMNgy Regulatory changes every business should know and prepare for this year: https://bit.ly/4gfFWE6 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.…

Based on surveys from major companies, organizations, and even chambers of commerce, small businesses are giddy for the upcoming four years under a new administration in the White House. The positive outlooks include 70% expecting revenue increases, 76% planning on hiring more, and 91% expressing confidence in growth. In this episode, Gene Marks tempers the enthusiasm by pointing out the potential hurdles, including a labor market that might lose thousands to deportation, proposed tariffs that could up costs for goods, tax incentives that might expire, and inflation still too high. Listen to the episode for more details. 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.…

Amid the devastation of the wildfires in California comes the positive that employers can help employees victimized by the natural disaster by covering certain out-of-pocket expenses and earning a tax break or encouraging leave banks for colleagues to donate unused paid leave to help those during recovery. Gene Marks also shares news about the continued leveling off of hourly earnings and other details from the Paychex Small Business Employment Watch. Plus, businesses in the 14 states should understand their pay transparency requirements and Gene makes a suggestion for those in states without a law. 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.…

What’s the secret to making AI work for your business? According to Beaumont Vance, Senior Vice President of Data, Analytics, & AI at Paychex, it all starts with one crucial element: high-quality data. On this week’s episode, Beaumont joins Gene to explore the incredible potential of AI for small and medium-sized businesses. From understanding the critical role of clean data to the innovative ways businesses can use AI to transform recruiting and decision making, Beaumont breaks it all down. Topics include: 00:00 – Episode preview and welcome 01:07 – Introduction of guest Beaumont Vance and explanation of role 02:27 – The critical role of quality data for AI success 05:04 – What’s next for AI at Paychex? 06:51 – AI transformer models explained 09:12 – How small businesses can compete using AI tools 13:07 – Reinventing recruiting with AI 17:48 – Practical advice for leveraging AI tools 20:17 – The challenges of bad data 23:57 – The rising importance of voice-to-text technology 26:33 – Where should businesses start with AI? 27:42 – Balancing automation with human touch in customer service 33:35 – Privacy concerns with AI data 36:45 – Key questions to assess the quality of AI providers 39:28 – Wrap up and thank you 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.…

For a fifth straight quarter, productivity in the United States has risen 2% or more. In this episode, Gene Marks provides insights on why this might be and what this could mean to businesses and employees. As the new year starts and businesses put their budgets in play, they might want to know where to get additional funding. Gene points out various grants and a resource to find more. And what will businesses that use TikTok do if the social media platform gets banned? Gene says to start planning on how else to advertise and sell product. Join us for our webinar- 2025 Top Regulatory Issues: What Your Business Needs to Know at: go.paychex.com/2025regs 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.…

This week, Gene Marks explores the trends set to shape your business in 2025 and beyond. He breaks down ZipRecruiter’s latest report that reveals growing optimism in the labor market and why hybrid work is here to stay. Next, Gene touches on the rise of financial wellness benefits, driven by an influx of Gen Z workers — are you keeping up with their unique needs? Plus, he looks at the game-changing Amazon-QuickBooks integration that promises to simplify life for countless third-party sellers. Listen to the podcast. Learn more about employee financial wellness programs and how they can benefit your business: https://bit.ly/3BNeKhz 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.…

The monthly Paychex Small Business Employment Watch for November shows that job growth remains steady – and has been for 11 months with modest growth – but in areas impacted by hurricanes Helene and Milton the job growth has shown significant recovery. A report by the Wall Street Journal has shown that employers are using performance improvement plans (PIPs) more regularly and often as a way to terminate than as a way to help the employee get better. And small businesses continue to be popular as 1 in 5 Americans own one and 72% say they would open another. Learn more on the podcast. 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.…