269 episodes

The Small Biz Ahead podcast is dedicated to helping small business owners succeed. Each episode focuses on specific topics that can help you bring your small business to the next level. Gene Marks, an author and business owner, offers insights on how to make your business more efficient with tips, interviews and conversations with business owners and thought leaders.

Small Biz Ahead The Hartford

    • Business
    • 4.7 • 43 Ratings

The Small Biz Ahead podcast is dedicated to helping small business owners succeed. Each episode focuses on specific topics that can help you bring your small business to the next level. Gene Marks, an author and business owner, offers insights on how to make your business more efficient with tips, interviews and conversations with business owners and thought leaders.

    Is the Supply Chain Returning to Normal?

    Is the Supply Chain Returning to Normal?

    Episode Notes
    Hey everybody, it's Gene Marks and welcome to the Hartford's Small Biz Ahead podcast. Thank you so much for joining me today. This week, let's talk about the supply chain, right? Are we looking at more or less supply chain problems in the near term or not? So I just wanna share a little bit of data with you if you are running a business that is impacted by supply chain and just some takeaways here. First of all, the bottom line is this, supply chains are getting back to normal because the freight industry has actually slowed. And let me give you some data behind this. For starters, there is a metric called the Baltic Dry Index. The Baltic Dry Index is a measure of freight costs through the Baltic Sea.

    Find out more at https://small-biz-ahead.pinecast.co

    • 8 min
    Startup Stories and Venture Capital Experience

    Startup Stories and Venture Capital Experience

    Episode Notes
    They say that all it takes to build a successful startup is just one brilliant idea. However, while it's great to have a clear vision for your company, it's important not to be so tied down to your original plan that you ignore the valuable feedback that your client base and potential collaborators are providing you. In this episode, Gene Marks and Tom Bachant, the founder and CEO of Unthread, discuss how Tom used the needs of his target audience to help guide the development of his early startups and how aspiring entrepreneurs can use this strategy to achieve similar long-term success.

    • 30 min
    Which Cash Flow Reports Should You Review as a Small Business Owner?

    Which Cash Flow Reports Should You Review as a Small Business Owner?

    Episode Notes
    Hey everybody, it's Gene Marks and welcome to another episode of the Hartford Small Biz Ahead podcast. Thank you so much for joining me. As an accountant and as a business owner, as a journalist who covers small and mid-size businesses, for years I've been sort of obsessed about different metrics and financial reporting and what we need to be tracking to make sure that we're running our business the right way. And I've got something a little bit revelatory that I wanted to share with you today, which has to do with reports. I know that when you run your business and you're watching your cash flow, you got a lot of different advice about the different types of things that you should be, keeping track of, which is fine. I mean, yeah, you should be getting a monthly financial statement.

    Find out more at https://small-biz-ahead.pinecast.co

    • 6 min
    How a Team Mindset Helped Valerie Grow Her Marketing Business

    How a Team Mindset Helped Valerie Grow Her Marketing Business

    Episode Notes
    Hiring a marketing agency can be one of the smartest decisions that a small business owner can make, both in terms of boosting their brand visibility and growing their client base. Unfortunately, there are many business owners that sabotage their success by entering the collaboration process with a negative mindset or unrealistic expectations. So, what can you do to get the most out of this professional relationship? In this episode, Gene Marks and Valerie Tyson, CEO of the Unrivaled Group, discuss how small business owners can set themselves up for success when working with a marketing agency.

    • 29 min
    Roth IRAs and Backdoor Roth Accounts: Which Is Right for You?

    Roth IRAs and Backdoor Roth Accounts: Which Is Right for You?

    Episode Notes
    Hey everybody, this is Gene Marks and thanks for joining me this week on the Hartford's Small Biz Ahead podcast. This week I wanna talk to you a little bit about Roth IRAs and backdoor Roths as well. A Roth IRA is something that everyone should have if possible. You are now allowed if you're a business owner to set up a Roth 401(k) account. That's also like your regular 401(k) account. And as individuals we can also buy Roth IRAs, all with the same limitations, that come with regular IRAs. Now, first of all, let, let's talk a little bit about what a Roth IRA is. When you put money away into your retirement account, like a regular 401(k) or an or an IRA, you do realize that you're just deferring taxes, right? You are not paying taxes on that income and until you take it out and you're forced to take it out sometime after the age of 70, those age ranges are going up, but it's approximately after the age of 70.

    Find out more at https://small-biz-ahead.pinecast.co

    • 6 min
    FinCEN’s New Reporting Requirement: What Does It Mean for You?

    FinCEN’s New Reporting Requirement: What Does It Mean for You?

    Episode Notes
    Hey everybody, it's Gene Marks. Welcome to another episode of the Hartford Small Biz Ahead podcast. Thank you so much for joining me. This week, I wanna talk to you about a new federal mandate, which you probably don't know about and you really need to know it. Apparently, this mandate is not getting the kind of attention that it should be getting and it's a bit concerning to me in some of my clients. So, let me make sure that you're aware of this. There's a mandate where you have to report to the federal government this year, the beneficial owners of your business. Yeah, that's right. It's a new reporting requirement. It began on January 1st of this year, and you have to do the reporting by the end of the year, December 31st. And it comes from the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, or FinCEN, which is part of the Treasury Department.

    Find out more at https://small-biz-ahead.pinecast.co

    • 6 min

Customer Reviews

4.7 out of 5
43 Ratings

43 Ratings

A. Coburn ,

Great Information!

This podcast has invaluable resources for small business owners! Highly recommend for anyone looking for tips and advice to help grow their business.

oliviabaker13 ,

Invaluable small business advice!

If you’re looking for great conversation, inspiration, and ideas of how to level up your small business - hit the subscribe button! Small Biz Ahead has so many interesting guests and these episodes feature actionable business tips and deep insights into what makes a small business succeed.

Jon and Gene are excellent hosts that engage their guests in truly thoughtful and interesting conversations, pulling from their own wealth of personal experience. Definitely recommend listening and subscribing to this podcast!

CJThomas6 ,

Informative show

Great small biz show. Very informative topics and guests.

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