Payrollin'

WRKdefined Podcast Network
  • 4.9 (17)
  • Entrepreneurship
  • Updated Bimonthly

The nationals are coming for your clients. Consolidation is crushing margins. And if you're not keeping up with the latest in the payroll and HR industry, you're going to get left behind. Welcome to Payrollin'. The no-BS podcast for independent payroll bureau owners and leaders who are done getting squeezed by ADP, Paychex, and the private equity machines swallowing up the industry. Hosted by Matt Vaadi, founder of guHRoo (a PEO) and Outsourced Scale (offshore staffing for payroll providers), this show delivers the strategies you need to survive — and thrive — while the middle collapses around you. Every week, you'll get: → Industry intel on the billion-dollar deals reshaping payroll  → Proven tactics to scale past the 7-figure barrier  → Real talk on margins, pricing, and profitability  → Strategies to compete without killing your bottom line  → Guests who've sold, scaled, or disrupted the status quo Whether you're fighting margin compression, exploring industry partnerships, or figuring out how to scale without sacrificing service, this podcast cuts through the corporate speak and gives you actionable pathways forward. Because if you're not specializing in a niche or adding serious value beyond commoditized payroll, you're racing to the bottom. Subscribe to Payrollin' and join 1,000+ payroll industry professionals who get the Wednesday newsletter breaking down what's happening in the industry — and what it means for your business.

  1. How to Grow Payroll Revenue Without Finding a Single New Client

    1d ago

    How to Grow Payroll Revenue Without Finding a Single New Client

    Join the show live every Thursday for a conversation you can’t find anywhere else: https://grow.payrollinpodcast.com/ Are you spending too much time chasing new payroll clients while ignoring the revenue already sitting in your client base? Most payroll providers focus heavily on new sales, but the data tells a different story. ADP expects roughly 50% of its new revenue to come from existing customers, and when they expand a payroll client into HR, ASO, or PEO services, the lifetime value can increase dramatically. In this episode of The Payroll Growth Show, Matt Vaadi breaks down how payroll companies can generate more revenue, improve retention, and create deeper client relationships without increasing their marketing budget. You'll learn: • Why existing clients may be your biggest growth opportunity • How to identify "white space" opportunities in your client base • A simple framework for payroll, HR, benefits, workers' comp, and time-tracking upsells • How quarterly business reviews (QBRs) can drive revenue growth • Ways to use AI to uncover buying signals and retention risks • Common mistakes payroll firms make when expanding services • Practical strategies you can implement immediately Whether you're an independent payroll bureau, PEO, CPA firm, HR provider, or payroll sales leader, this episode offers actionable ideas for increasing client lifetime value and growing revenue from the customers you already serve. ⏰ *TIMESTAMPS:* 0:00 Why ADP Gets 50% of Revenue from Existing Clients 2:02 The Growth Grid Explained 4:31 Finding Hidden Revenue in Your Client Base 6:06 The Simple Upsell Conversation Framework 6:57 The ADP Playbook: $450K from 180 Accounts 9:48 Using AI to Find Buying Signals 12:26 Quarterly Business Reviews That Drive Growth 14:40 Predicting Client Churn with AI 15:39 One-to-Many Upsell Strategies 18:02 The 50/50 Growth Model for Payroll Companies 📧 *GET THE INSIDER NEWSLETTER* Weekly strategies for scaling your payroll bureau (1,000+ leaders subscribed) → https://www.payrollinpodcast.com/ 🎯 *THIS WEEK'S RESOURCE:* 💼Three Keys to Expand Your Payroll Business. Learn the top tactics to scale and grow your payroll company https://youtu.be/6aW8RmVj8OE 💡 *SCALE YOUR BUREAU WITH OUR HELP:* 1️⃣ *Add PEO Services* - New revenue stream without new clients → Learn more: https://www.guhroo.co/partners/ 2️⃣ *Hire Virtual Assistants* - Scale operations at 70% less cost → https://www.outsourcedscale.com/ 3️⃣ *Marketing That Works* - Get the system we use → https://underdogdigital.co/ 🔔 *SUBSCRIBE for weekly payroll growth strategies:* → Hit the bell to never miss an episode 💬 *CONNECT WITH MATT:* LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattvaadi Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/payrollinnovation #payroll #payrollservices #bureauowner

    19 min
  2. BambooHR, Paylocity, and Asure Just Launched Managed Payroll. Now What?

    Jun 11

    BambooHR, Paylocity, and Asure Just Launched Managed Payroll. Now What?

    Three major payroll vendors launched managed payroll solutions within weeks of each other. Coincidence? Probably not. In this episode of Payrollin’, Matt Vaadi shares what’s really happening behind the recent managed payroll announcements from BambooHR, Paylocity, and Asure. Is this just another industry buzzword, or is managed payroll becoming the next major growth opportunity for payroll providers, bureaus, and PEOs? Matt explores: • Why payroll software companies are suddenly moving into managed services • The difference between payroll software support and true managed payroll • How AI and automation may be changing the economics of payroll operations • The pricing models being introduced and what they mean for margins • Why some providers could be leaving significant revenue on the table • The role brokers are playing in the growth of managed payroll offerings • Whether managed payroll is a threat, an opportunity, or both One earnings call revealed that managed payroll could generate 2 to 3 times the revenue of a traditional payroll-only client. That number alone is worth paying attention to. ⏰ TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 Managed Payroll's Big Moment 02:00 What It Actually Is 04:00 The ADP Lesson 07:05 Why Everyone Is Launching It 11:13 BambooHR, Paylocity & Asure 15:31 AI Changes the Math 16:45 The 3X Revenue Opportunity 21:00 Managed Payroll vs PEO 24:17 The Broker Opportunity 26:28 The Execution Gap 29:00 Should You Offer It? 30:00 Final Thoughts #PEO #PayrollBusiness #BusinessAcquisition #SmallBusiness #HRTech 📧 GET THE INSIDER NEWSLETTER Weekly strategies for scaling your payroll bureau (1,000+ leaders subscribed) → https://www.payrollinpodcast.com/ 🎯 THIS WEEK'S RESOURCE: 📊 Save Time and Money with a PEO Partner We streamline HR, payroll, and compliance so you can do what you do best: run your business. https://www.guhroo.co/peo-services-concierge-hr/ 💡 SCALE YOUR BUREAU WITH OUR HELP: 1️⃣ Add PEO Services - New revenue stream without new clients → Learn more: https://www.guhroo.co/partners/ 2️⃣ Hire Virtual Assistants - Scale operations at 70% less cost → https://www.outsourcedscale.com/ 3️⃣ Marketing That Works - Get the system we use → https://underdogdigital.co/ 🔔 SUBSCRIBE for weekly payroll growth strategies: → Hit the bell to never miss an episode 💬 CONNECT WITH MATT: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattvaadi Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/payrollinnovation #payroll #payrollservices How is managed payroll different from payroll software? Can managed payroll replace an internal payroll administrator? How much should payroll companies charge for managed payroll? Is managed payroll more profitable than payroll-only services? Can managed payroll generate 2x or 3x more revenue? What role does AI play in managed payroll? Is managed payroll a threat to PEOs? What is the difference between managed payroll and a PEO? BambooHR, Paylocity, and Asure Just Launched Managed Payroll. Now What?

    28 min
  3. What’s the Current Average for Employee Benefits? $753 Premium, 78% Employer Paid

    Apr 28

    What’s the Current Average for Employee Benefits? $753 Premium, 78% Employer Paid

    📧 Get weekly payroll bureau growth strategies (1,000+ leaders subscribed): → https://www.payrollinpodcast.com/ Are your employee benefits actually competitive… or just “good enough”? In this video, Matt Vaadi sits down with Matt Wilson from Scott Insurance to break down Milliman's benchmarking data across 20,000+ companies and show exactly how the guHRoo PEO plan designs stack up against national, regional, and small group benchmarks. What You’ll Learn • How your health insurance costs compare (PPO vs High Deductible plans) • Benchmarks for deductibles, co-insurance, and out-of-pocket maximums • What other employers are contributing (and what employees actually pay) • Key trends in dental, vision, and additional benefits • How to use benchmarking data to improve your benefits strategy • The real drivers behind rising healthcare costs If you are offering benefits just to stay compliant, you may be missing an opportunity. This webinar gives you the data to validate your approach and make confident decisions going into open enrollment. ⏰ TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 — Why benchmarking data matters before your next renewal 01:41 — How to read the benchmark data (national vs. regional vs. small group) 05:16 — PPO plan design benchmarks: deductible, coinsurance, out-of-pocket max 10:31 — Copay benchmarks: primary care, specialist, and pharmacy 17:07 — What employers are actually paying (and the family coverage strategy) 19:51 — High-deductible plan benchmarks + the case for HSAs over 401(k)s 28:45 — Dental and vision: what's standard, what's competitive 35:30 — Life, disability, and other benefits prevalence data 42:28 — The real cost of catastrophic claims (cancer, NICU, specialty drugs) 49:31 — Using this data to validate your benefits strategy 📧 GET THE INSIDER NEWSLETTER Weekly strategies for scaling your payroll bureau (1,000+ leaders subscribed) → https://www.payrollinpodcast.com/ 🎯 THIS WEEK'S RESOURCE: 📄 Take your payroll company to the next level. Get expert strategies for rapid growth! https://go.guhroo.co/payroll-company-growth 💡 SCALE YOUR BUREAU WITH OUR HELP: 1️⃣ Add PEO Services - New revenue stream without new clients → Learn more: https://www.guhroo.co/partners/ 2️⃣ Hire Virtual Assistants - Scale operations at 70% less cost → https://www.outsourcedscale.com/ 3️⃣ Marketing That Works - Get the system we use → https://underdogdigital.co/ 🔔 SUBSCRIBE for weekly payroll growth strategies: → Hit the bell to never miss an episode 💬 CONNECT WITH MATT: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattvaadi Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/payrollinnovation 👉 TODAY'S GUEST: → Matt Wilson, Vice President, Benefits Consultant at Scott Insurance https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattwilson6/ #payroll #payrollservices #bureauowner how to benchmark employee benefits how to compare employee benefits packages what are competitive employee benefits average health insurance cost for small business how much should employers pay for benefits employee benefits for companies under 50 employees how to choose between PPO and HDHP benefits strategy for small business owners open enrollment planning for employers how to reduce employee benefits costs

    44 min
  4. I Drove 3 Hours to See Inside a $3B PEO Acquirer (Here's What I Found)

    Apr 17

    I Drove 3 Hours to See Inside a $3B PEO Acquirer (Here's What I Found)

    I drove three hours. No agenda, no idea what I was walking into to spend half a day inside Vensure Employer Services headquarters. What I saw was nothing like what I expected. 105 acquisitions. 8 deals in legal. 50 in the pipeline. $750M in revenue and still raising capital. This episode is the closest thing to a behind-the- scenes tour of the most aggressive PEO acquirer in the country and I'm sharing everything: how they structure deals, what they actually pay, why they don't force platform migrations, their AI client churn prediction tool that's 80% accurate, and what this means if you own a payroll bureau or PEO and are even remotely thinking about what comes next. This is not a sponsored episode. I told Alex Campos I wouldn't be a shill. This is my unbiased take after a 250-slide deck and a full facility tour. Subscribe for weekly intel on running and growing a payroll business: https://www.youtube.com/@payrollinpod Join the newsletter: https://www.payrollinpodcast.com/ ⏰ TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 — Why I drove 3 hours on a 15-minute phone call 02:57 — What I thought they wanted (I was wrong) 05:21 — The current Vensure scoreboard: 105 deals and counting 07:37 — How the deal structure actually works (80/20 split explained) 13:36 — Inside the 1,200-task acquisition system 18:03 — The AI tool predicting client churn with 80% accuracy 24:36 — Should you sell? The only thing I'll say about that. #PEO #PayrollBusiness #BusinessAcquisition #SmallBusiness #HRTech 📧 GET THE INSIDER NEWSLETTER Weekly strategies for scaling your payroll bureau (1,000+ leaders subscribed) → https://www.payrollinpodcast.com/ 🎯 THIS WEEK'S RESOURCE: 💼Three Keys to Expand Your Payroll Business. Learn the top tactics to scale and grow your payroll company https://youtu.be/6aW8RmVj8OE 💡 SCALE YOUR BUREAU WITH OUR HELP: 1️⃣ Add PEO Services - New revenue stream without new clients → Learn more: https://www.guhroo.co/partners/ 2️⃣ Hire Virtual Assistants - Scale operations at 70% less cost → https://www.outsourcedscale.com/ 3️⃣ Marketing That Works - Get the system we use → https://underdogdigital.co/ 🔔 SUBSCRIBE for weekly payroll growth strategies: → Hit the bell to never miss an episode 💬 CONNECT WITH MATT: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattvaadi Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/payrollinnovation #payroll #payrollservices #bureauowner How do payroll company acquisitions work? What is the 80/20 deal structure in payroll acquisitions? How do PEO acquisitions work? What happens when you sell your payroll business? How much are payroll companies worth when selling? How long does it take to sell a payroll company? What do buyers look for in a payroll business? Should I sell my payroll company or keep it? How are PEO companies growing through acquisitions? Why is the payroll industry consolidating?

    27 min
  5. The PEO Industry Lost 40% of Its Players. What's Next?

    Mar 26

    The PEO Industry Lost 40% of Its Players. What's Next?

    📧 Get weekly payroll bureau growth strategies (1,000+ leaders subscribed): → https://www.payrollinpodcast.com/Matt recently joined Pete A. Tiliakos and Julie Fernandez on the HR & Payroll 2.0 Podcast for a thoughtful conversation on the future of HR, payroll, and PEO services.In this episode, they discuss:• Matt’s journey into the payroll and HR space• The current state of PEO consolidation and market pressure• Why the SMB market is changing and what buyers want today• The growing divide between tech-first solutions and service-first providers• How niche specialization can create a major competitive advantage• The rise of embedded payroll and what it could mean for the industry• How AI is influencing HR and payroll tools, pricing, and buyer expectations• Why companies should focus on solving real pain points instead of chasing shiny featuresFrom go-to-market strategy to the realities of serving small businesses, this episode is full of practical insights for payroll providers, HR leaders, and anyone watching the future of workforce technology.⏰ *TIMESTAMPS:*0:00 Intro01:04 Matt’s background and how he got into the industry03:20 Why people stay in payroll and HR longer than expected06:43 What’s exciting (and concerning) in today’s SMB market08:38 The rise of the DIY buyer and changing buying behavior11:32 The reality of competition and “everything looking the same”14:40 Why niche payroll providers are winning (and scaling faster)16:53 Private equity’s role in reshaping the PEO industry18:52 The big stat: PEOs down ~40% due to consolidation21:13 Will consolidation continue into the future?22:43 Enterprise players entering the space (Workday, Insperity)26:31 Overcrowding, trust, and how buyers actually choose providers30:22 Centers of influence: CPAs, brokers, and referral ecosystems32:35 The overlooked opportunity with consultants and fractional leaders39:27 Embedded payroll: hype vs reality44:34 AI in payroll: what’s real today and what’s coming next📧 *GET THE INSIDER NEWSLETTER*Weekly strategies for scaling your payroll bureau (1,000+ leaders subscribed)→ https://www.payrollinpodcast.com/🎯 *THIS WEEK'S RESOURCE:*📄 Take your payroll company to the next level. Get expert strategies for rapid growth!https://go.guhroo.co/payroll-company-growth💡 *SCALE YOUR BUREAU WITH OUR HELP:*1️⃣ *Add PEO Services* - New revenue stream without new clients→ Learn more: https://www.guhroo.co/partners/2️⃣ *Hire Virtual Assistants* - Scale operations at 70% less cost→ https://www.outsourcedscale.com/3️⃣ *Marketing That Works* - Get the system we use→ https://underdogdigital.co/🔔 *SUBSCRIBE for weekly payroll growth strategies:*→ Hit the bell to never miss an episode💬 *CONNECT WITH MATT:*LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattvaadiFacebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/payrollinnovation👉 *TODAY'S GUEST:*→ Pete Tiliakos, HR Tech Analyst & Strategic Advisorhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/petetiliakos/→ Julie Fernandez, Global HR Advisory Leadhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/petetiliakos/#payroll #payrollservices #bureauowner What is a PEO and how does it workHow do small businesses manage payrollWhat is the best payroll service for small businessHow to choose HR softwareWhat is HCM softwareHow to grow a small businessHow to manage employees effectivelyWhat do small businesses struggle with mostHow to scale a businessIs AI replacing HR jobsHow is AI changing payrollWhat to look for in a payroll provider

    1h 1m
  6. The Advice That's Killing Your Business (Focus vs. Everything)

    Mar 13

    The Advice That's Killing Your Business (Focus vs. Everything)

    📧 Get weekly payroll bureau growth strategies (1,000+ leaders subscribed): → https://www.payrollinpodcast.com/ "Focus on one thing" is the most repeated business advice on the internet right now. It's also the wrong first step for most entrepreneurs. Matt Vaadi and Chris Clark make the case that unfocused experimentation isn't a detour,  it's the path. From worm farms and deodorant blogs to a $5.3M company built from a Google spreadsheet, they walk through the shots on goal you have to take before you earn the right to focus. Inside this episode: Why the quantity group always beats the quality group (the ceramics study)  The 3 signals that tell you it's time to stop experimenting and lock in  How Underdog Digital went from a marketing side project to doubling year over year  Peter Levels: 12 startups in 12 months—one became $5.3M/year with 2 people  The ELF framework for identifying your best niche (Easy, Lucrative, Fun)  What product-market fit actually feels like when you finally hit it If you've been told to "just focus" before you've even found what's working, this episode is for you. ⏰ TIMESTAMPS:  0:00 Payrollin’ intro 1:32 Focus vs. shots on goal 2:31 Chris Clark’s first online projects 5:20 Favorite wrestler and early internet memories 6:30 What Chris does today 8:42 Matt’s entrepreneurial journey begins 9:14 Selling worms for 25 cents 10:32 Yankees ticket flipping, landscaping, and early hustles 11:49 From ERG Payroll to multiple businesses 12:15 Killing a business line when product market fit fades 12:58 How Underdog found its winning model 14:53 Unlimited marketing for $2,995/month 16:45 Underdog doubled and why delivery matters 17:25 Why failed projects still matter 18:17 Justin Welsh and quitting successful things 19:35 The deodorant blog story 21:25 Outsource Scale ad 22:37 Peter Levels and 12 startups in 12 months 24:09 A $5.3M business with 2 people 25:43 Why abandoned projects still teach you something 27:12 When to pull back vs. stick with it 29:19 How Matt recognized real product market fit 30:43 Why niching down still matters 31:49 Why broad messaging doesn’t work 33:03 Cold email: broad pitch vs. niche pitch 34:05 The power of one strong integration 35:01 Why small niches can still be huge 35:28 Why industry expertise commands a premium 36:37 When to stop experimenting and focus 37:32 Why Underdog Sports exists 39:52 The “slow” lesson from Matt’s daughter 40:46 The ceramics story: quantity beats perfection 42:29 Is there an entrepreneurial gene? 43:21 Intuition vs. data in business 44:18 Why failure in public doesn’t matter 44:56 Final thoughts and subscribe 📧 *GET THE INSIDER NEWSLETTER* Weekly strategies for scaling your payroll bureau (1,000+ leaders subscribed) → https://www.payrollinpodcast.com/ 🎯 *THIS WEEK'S RESOURCE:* 📄 Payroll Sales Playbook → https://www.payrollinpodcast.com 💡 *SCALE YOUR BUREAU WITH OUR HELP:* 1️⃣ *Add PEO Services* - New revenue stream without new clients → Learn more: https://www.guhroo.co/partners/ 2️⃣ *Hire Virtual Assistants* - Scale operations at 70% less cost → https://www.outsourcedscale.com/ 3️⃣ *Marketing That Works* - Get the system we use → https://underdogdigital.co/ 🔔 *SUBSCRIBE for weekly payroll growth strategies:* → Hit the bell to never miss an episode 💬 *CONNECT WITH MATT:* LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattvaadi Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/payrollinnovation 👉 *TODAY'S GUEST:* → Chris Clark, Marketing Coach at Underdog Sports → Chris Clark is the Marketing Coach of Underdog Digital, helping sports brands and growing businesses scale through content and AI-driven systems. With 15+ years in sports media and marketing, Chris now focuses on building practical AI workflows that drive real revenue. #payroll #payrollservices #bureauowner Should you niche down when starting a business? How do you choose a niche for your business? How do you find product market fit?

    48 min
  7. What is Vibe Coding? How to Generate Leads In One Hour for Your Business (with Chris Clark)

    Mar 4

    What is Vibe Coding? How to Generate Leads In One Hour for Your Business (with Chris Clark)

    📧 Get weekly payroll bureau growth strategies (1,000+ leaders subscribed): → https://www.payrollinpodcast.com/ In this episode, Chris walks through how he builds custom AI-powered sales systems without hiring developers or waiting months for software builds. Using tools like Claude and Lovable, he created a functional virtual SDR and lead engine in under an hour. Inside this episode, you’ll see: How to build custom business software without being a developer How to scrape and qualify leads using AI How to connect tools into automated sales workflows How Underdog Digital builds CRM tools tailored to client need Why founders should learn vibe coding now The balance between AI automation and human oversight If you’re a founder, marketer, or sales leader who’s tired of duct-taping software together, this episode will show you how to start building exactly what your business needs. ⏰ **TIMESTAMPS:** 0:00 Intro 2:13 Why Claude is our AI stack 4:14 AI built a Facebook ad that booked a customer 6:46 Why AI still needs human oversight 10:35 Using AI to find information faster 13:13 Analyzing support tickets with Claude 17:25 Mining 90,000 tickets for insights 21:15 Using AI to analyze YouTube performance 24:44 How to prompt AI properly 29:55 Turning PDFs into instant answers 35:52 Building a virtual SDR with Lovable 38:20 Scraping and enriching leads automatically 42:41 Build what you need nothing more 48:19 Why founders should be learning this 50:38 Final thoughts 📧 *GET THE INSIDER NEWSLETTER* Weekly strategies for scaling your payroll bureau (1,000+ leaders subscribed) → https://www.payrollinpodcast.com/ 🎯 *THIS WEEK'S RESOURCE:* 📄 Take your payroll company to the next level. Get expert strategies for rapid growth! https://go.guhroo.co/payroll-company-growth 💡 *SCALE YOUR BUREAU WITH OUR HELP:* 1️⃣ *Add PEO Services* - New revenue stream without new clients → Learn more: https://www.guhroo.co/partners/ 2️⃣ *Hire Virtual Assistants* - Scale operations at 70% less cost → https://www.outsourcedscale.com/ 3️⃣ *Marketing That Works* - Get the system we use → https://underdogdigital.co/ 🔔 *SUBSCRIBE for weekly payroll growth strategies:* → Hit the bell to never miss an episode 💬 *CONNECT WITH MATT:* LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattvaadi Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/payrollinnovation 👉 *TODAY'S GUEST:* → Chris Clark, Marketing Coach at Underdog Sports → Chris Clark is the Marketing Coach of Underdog Digital, helping sports brands and growing businesses scale through content and AI-driven systems. With 15+ years in sports media and marketing, Chris now focuses on building practical AI workflows that drive real revenue. how to build an AI app how to build your own CRM how to build custom software how to build a sales automation system how to build a lead generation system how to automate sales with AI how to create business software without coding how to build software without developers how to use AI for business how to build AI tools for business what is vibe coding

    54 min
  8. How Paragon Won Big in Cannabis Payroll (Lessons from a Niche Market)

    Jan 22

    How Paragon Won Big in Cannabis Payroll (Lessons from a Niche Market)

    📧 Get weekly payroll bureau growth strategies (1,000+ leaders subscribed): → https://www.payrollinpodcast.com/ Learn how Paragon revolutionized cannabis payroll with a brand-first strategy and overcame key industry challenges. In this episode, Clarke Lyons, VP of Brand Marketing at Paragon Payroll, reveals how to successfully navigate the cannabis payroll industry. Learn how Paragon built a strong brand in a niche market, overcame industry challenges, and scaled with purpose-driven strategies. Whether you’re in payroll or cannabis, discover branding tips and insider lessons that will set your business apart. Key Takeaways: How Paragon revolutionized cannabis payroll with a brand-first approach Why strong branding is essential for cannabis payroll companies The importance of authenticity and relationship-building in the industry Lessons learned from scaling in a niche market and overcoming obstacles Tune in for valuable insights into the cannabis payroll space, and learn from one of the industry’s leading experts. ⏰ **TIMESTAMPS:** 0:00 - Introduction 1:23 - Clarke’s background and transition to cannabis payroll  1:32 - Clarke’s experience in branding and media  5:01 - Discussion about branding vs. marketing  5:23 - Clarke’s take on brand storytelling  7:24 - Discussion of Bar Stool Sports and brand storytelling  8:42 - Building a brand internally, with authenticity  14:49 - Cannabis industry growth and Paragon’s niche  16:02 - Cannabis commitment manifesto explained  16:56 - Challenges in the cannabis industry and ensuring quality service  19:03 - Building relationships in the cannabis space  24:15 - Purpose and intention in branding and marketing 29:59 - Discussion on the value of purpose and transparency in branding   34:10 - Challenges and lessons learned in the cannabis industry  35:20 - Closing thoughts on serving the community with purpose 📧 *GET THE INSIDER NEWSLETTER* Weekly strategies for scaling your payroll bureau (1,000+ leaders subscribed) → https://www.payrollinpodcast.com/ 🎯 *THIS WEEK'S RESOURCE:* 📄 Payroll Sales Playbook → https://www.payrollinpodcast.com 💡 *SCALE YOUR BUREAU WITH OUR HELP:* 1️⃣ *Add PEO Services* - New revenue stream without new clients → Learn more: https://www.guhroo.co/partners/ 2️⃣ *Hire Virtual Assistants* - Scale operations at 70% less cost → https://www.outsourcedscale.com/ 3️⃣ *Marketing That Works* - Get the system we use → https://underdogdigital.co/ 🔔 *SUBSCRIBE for weekly payroll growth strategies:* → Hit the bell to never miss an episode 💬 *CONNECT WITH MATT:* LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattvaadi Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/payrollinnovation 👉 *TODAY'S GUEST:* → Clarke Lyons, Vice President of Brand Marketing at Paragon Payroll → Clarke is an Emmy-nominated filmmaker with over 15 years of experience in branding, digital media, and marketing strategy. Throughout her career, Clarke has worked across a wide range of platforms, including film, TV, social media, and experiential marketing, bringing a wealth of knowledge and creativity to her work. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/clarkelyons/ #payroll #payrollservices #bureauowner How do I improve customer service? What makes a great customer experience? How can I keep customers happy? How can I make my business stand out? How do I build a strong brand? What is the best way to keep customers coming back? How do I attract more customers? How do I tell my business story? Why do customers leave businesses? How can I improve my business reputation?

    48 min
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Ratings & Reviews

4.9
out of 5
17 Ratings

About

The nationals are coming for your clients. Consolidation is crushing margins. And if you're not keeping up with the latest in the payroll and HR industry, you're going to get left behind. Welcome to Payrollin'. The no-BS podcast for independent payroll bureau owners and leaders who are done getting squeezed by ADP, Paychex, and the private equity machines swallowing up the industry. Hosted by Matt Vaadi, founder of guHRoo (a PEO) and Outsourced Scale (offshore staffing for payroll providers), this show delivers the strategies you need to survive — and thrive — while the middle collapses around you. Every week, you'll get: → Industry intel on the billion-dollar deals reshaping payroll  → Proven tactics to scale past the 7-figure barrier  → Real talk on margins, pricing, and profitability  → Strategies to compete without killing your bottom line  → Guests who've sold, scaled, or disrupted the status quo Whether you're fighting margin compression, exploring industry partnerships, or figuring out how to scale without sacrificing service, this podcast cuts through the corporate speak and gives you actionable pathways forward. Because if you're not specializing in a niche or adding serious value beyond commoditized payroll, you're racing to the bottom. Subscribe to Payrollin' and join 1,000+ payroll industry professionals who get the Wednesday newsletter breaking down what's happening in the industry — and what it means for your business.

Information

  • Creator
    WRKdefined Podcast Network
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    84
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © All rights reserved by WRKdefined
  • Show Website
    Payrollin'

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