Small Biz Spotlight

Running a small business is often a rollercoaster ride—half the time you’re the CEO, and the other half you’re the janitor. Small Biz Spotlight is here to make the ride a little smoother (and a lot more profitable). We cut through the noise to bring you the essential news, high-value deals, and the raw, unfiltered truth of entrepreneurship found in the corners of the internet. What’s on the Menu? The Latest News: We track the trends, policy shifts, and economic updates that actually impact your bottom line. No corporate fluff—just the facts you need to stay competitive. Deals & Steals: From software discounts to equipment markdowns, we hunt for the offers that help you scale without draining your capital. The Reddit Deep Dive: This is where it gets real. We scour subreddits like r/smallbusiness , r/entrepreneur , and r/startup to discuss the burning questions, "Am I the Je

Small Biz Spotlight is a business podcast hosted by Leland McFarland, with 28 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Leland McFarland hosts Small Biz Spotlight, a business show with 28 episodes published.

Our AI reads these to draft pitches. Use them as grounding for a pitch that cites a real guest and a specific topic.

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  Episode #27

  SBA Millions, AI Data Centers, and Why Business Buyers Are Pulling Back

  Aug 12, 202635 minS1

  This week on the Small Biz Spotlight Podcast , we’re covering a packed lineup of news, funding opportunities, business trends, deals, and real-world challenges that matter to small business owners. We start with major developments from the U.S. Small Business Administration, including a new $50 million grant initiative designed to expand training and skills development for small manufacturers. Technical schools and community colleges across the country will use the funding to provide hands-on training in areas such as welding, machining, robotics, automation, and other in-demand manufacturing skills. The SBA is also launching a $20 million Critical Suppliers Prize Competition aimed at strengthening domestic supply chains and expanding U.S. manufacturing capacity. Small businesses working in advanced metals, advanced materials, energy systems, additive manufacturing, battery storage, and related industries could have a chance to compete for substantial funding. We also look at the SBA’s Office of Investment and Innovation, which recently reported a record $53 billion in private capital through the Small Business Investment Company program. For entrepreneurs looking to grow, manufacture products, or strengthen supply chains, that could mean more opportunities to access investment capital. Outside of the SBA, Oracle is expanding its data center investments in Texas while emphasizing water conservation, ratepayer protections, local jobs, and community investment as AI infrastructure continues to grow. We also examine the latest small business acquisition market. BizBuySell reports that completed transactions dropped about 10% in the second quarter of 2026 , even as buyers remain active. The difference is that buyers are becoming more selective, placing greater emphasis on strong cash flow, clean financial records, and businesses that can operate without being completely dependent on the owner. DEALS ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ https://computers.woot.com/plus/prime-pc-clearout-deals-1 https://www.dellrefurbished.com/laptops https://www.hp.com/us-en/shop/slp/back-to-school-sale https://www.officedepot.com/b/widget/summ-showrm-sale-wk31/widgetId=r92ked79 Chapters 00:00 Introduction and episode overview 01:35 SBA's Empower to Grow program details 02:34 Local industry focus in SBA grants 03:25 Challenges and benefits of manufacturing support programs 05:21 Oracle's responsible data center development in Texas 09:09 SBA's Critical Suppliers Prize Competition 11:55 SBA's investment in innovation and supply chains 12:22 Government support for small business growth 15:15 Small business deal trends and buyer behavior 17:07 Preparing your business for sale 18:00 Current deals and discounts on tech equipment 22:10 Dealing with difficult clients and unpaid bills 23:56 Pricing strategies and client negotiations 28:24 The advantage of having existing capital in business 30:58 Managing difficult clients and staff relationships 33:26 Handling slow seasons and off-peak months 36:47 Closing remarks and episode wrap-up

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  Episode #26

  Small Business Spotlight: Grants, Growth and Rising Costs

  Jul 29, 202632 minS1

  Women entrepreneurs, workplace regulations, pandemic loan fraud, hiring challenges, and rising consumer costs take center stage in this episode of Small Business Crossroads . We begin with the SBA’s new $6 million grant competition designed to modernize the Women’s Business Center program and expand support for women-owned businesses in underserved and fast-growing regions. We also examine a proposed bill that would block new federal workplace heat regulations, including the debate over protecting employees without creating costly compliance burdens for small businesses. Next, we look at the SBA’s decision to suspend 7,800 Wisconsin borrowers connected to $375 million in suspected PPP and EIDL fraud. The enforcement action is part of a much broader effort to recover pandemic relief funds and prevent suspected borrowers from accessing future SBA financing. There are also some encouraging economic signals. Small business optimism increased in June, hiring plans improved, and more owners reported intentions to invest in equipment. However, inflation, high interest rates, and difficulty filling open positions continue to create uncertainty. We also discuss a new survey showing that 64% of Americans feel financially squeezed. As shoppers focus more heavily on necessities and value, small businesses may need to reconsider their pricing, promotions, inventory, and marketing strategies. Later in the episode, we explore several real-world questions from small business owners, including how to handle an employee quitting, whether consulting project management is a viable business, how to diagnose problems inside a company, how to recover from a serious business mistake, and whether driving two hours is worth saving $80. Featured Deals Dell Latitude 7340 Touchscreen Refurbished Laptop: https://www.dellrefurbished.com/item/dell-latitude-7340-touch-689b5a73/dell-latitude-7340-touch/1.html?child=dell-latitude-7340-touch-000004&p=1 GARVEE Big and Tall Office Chair with Footrest: https://www.garvee.com/products/garvee-big-and-tall-office-chair-with-footrest-brown-pho-160d0nty Use coupon code: AFFHF25 Microsoft Authorized Refurbished Laptops on Woot: https://computers.woot.com/plus/microsoft-authorized-refurbished-laptops-64 Featured Amazon Deal: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B41YH9B6 Chapters 00:00 Introduction and Personal Update 01:54 SBA's $6 Million Grant for Women Entrepreneurs 04:29 Legislation to Block OSHA Heat Standards 08:37 SBA Suspends 7800 Borrowers for Fraud 11:17 Small Business Optimism Index Rises 14:45 Consumer Spending and Business Adaptation 19:45 Employee Quitting and Business Compensation 23:12 Building a Small Business with Partnerships 25:50 Diagnosing Business Problems on a Budget 27:26 Dealing with Business Lease Mistakes 31:05 Delivery vs. Shipping Cost Analysis 32:58 Closing Remarks and Engagement

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  Episode #26

  From Surge Pricing to AI Risk: What Small Businesses Should Know

  Jun 25, 202630 minS1

  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 their AI dependencies, raising important questions about vendor risk, outages, compliance, and AI governance. Plus, we discuss ZenBusiness expanding free access to its AI business guide, Velo, for early-stage entrepreneurs, the SBA’s approval of more than $30 million in loans through its Grocery Guarantee program, and Zoho’s launch of its Nathu La server, which could help reduce AI infrastructure costs and improve performance for business software users. We also highlight several small business deals and take a look at real questions from Reddit, including small claims lawsuits, expense tracking, and chargebacks after delivery. Topics covered: Lyft surge pricing and small business travel costs AI vendor risk and business continuity ZenBusiness Velo for new entrepreneurs SBA Grocery Guarantee loans Zoho Nathu La server and AI infrastructure Small business deals and Reddit business questions Whether you are running a small business, launching a side hustle, or trying to stay ahead of changes in AI, funding, and daily operations, this episode gives you practical takeaways you can use. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Small Business Trends 00:29 Understanding Lyft's Pricing Model 03:08 AI Challenges for Small Businesses 06:39 Velo: AI Business Guidance for Entrepreneurs 09:52 SBA's Grocery Guarantee Program 11:54 Zoho's Nathula Server Launch 15:27 Deals and Recommendations for Small Businesses 20:10 Navigating Small Claims and Chargebacks 26:45 Evaluating the Transition from Corporate to Entrepreneurship

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  Episode #25

  Interview with Ross Buhrdorf, CEO and co-founder of ZenBusiness

  Jun 23, 202631 minS1

  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 interactions to provide personalized guidance, recommend next steps, and help complete tasks such as business name changes, compliance reminders, license reports, startup cost estimates, marketing plans, and more. The conversation also covers how Velo supports entrepreneurs before they officially form a business, why small business owners may feel more comfortable asking AI vulnerable or “beginner” questions, and how ZenBusiness balances automation with human support when legal, financial, or compliance-related decisions require added confidence. Topics include: How Velo acts as an AI advisor for small business owners Why ZenBusiness is moving earlier into the startup journey How Velo differs from general AI tools The role of Blueprint in guiding entrepreneurs step by step How AI can help with compliance, licensing, budgeting, and planning How ZenBusiness works to reduce AI hallucinations and build trust When Velo routes users to human support For entrepreneurs who are unsure where to start, worried about making mistakes, or looking for practical guidance as they build a business, this interview offers a closer look at how AI tools may become part of the small business journey. Chapters 00:00 Introduction to Velo and Zen Business 02:06 Addressing Entrepreneurial Pain Points 05:02 Velo's Unique Features Compared to General AI 10:15 Interpreting Open-Ended Questions 12:12 Blueprint: A Step-by-Step Guide for Entrepreneurs 13:36 Patterns in Entrepreneurial Concerns 16:50 Building Trust in AI Guidance 19:09 Mitigating AI Hallucinations 21:21 Human Involvement in Velo's Process 23:43 Navigating Compliance and Spam 24:13 Granularity of Licensing and Permits 25:29 Estimating Startup Costs 27:13 Tools and Resources within Velo 29:20 User Journey and Account Benefits 31:10 Conclusion and Where to Learn More

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  Episode #23

  Interview with Hari Hara Prabu | Head of Product for Zoho POS

  Jun 1, 202634 minS1

  <p>Leland McFarland of Small Business Trends sits down with <b>Hari Hara Prabu, Head of Product for Zoho POS</b>, to discuss the launch of <b>Zoho POS</b> and what it means for independent and growing retailers.</p><p>In this interview, Hari explains how <b>Zoho</b> built Zoho POS to help small retailers move away from disconnected systems and manage sales, inventory, purchasing, customer data, reporting, and payments from one connected platform. The conversation also covers how Zoho POS integrates with other Zoho apps such as Zoho Books, Zoho Commerce, Zoho CRM, Zoho Analytics, and Zoho...

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