At Zoho’s SMZ 2025 event, I sat down with Ashok Ramamoorthy to discuss Zoho’s newly launched Notebook AI. The service, unveiled at the conference, is designed to help small businesses simplify note-taking, improve productivity, and make collaboration easier through artificial intelligence.

For small business owners juggling countless meetings, calls, and customer interactions, staying organized often means wrestling with scattered notes across apps and devices. Notebook AI aims to change that by automating transcription, summarization, and even visualization of meeting content—all within Zoho’s ecosystem.

Why Notebook AI Matters for Small Businesses

As Ramamoorthy explained, Zoho built Notebook AI to directly address productivity challenges that small businesses face every day.

“The first set of problems in general small businesses faces they need a solution which can amplify their productivity as well as reduce their workload. They are kind of looking for one solution where it will probably help them to reduce or increase their productivity. So Notebook AI is designed in such a way to make use of the AI and LLMS to probably reduce the time. Where small businesses can use the time to focus on productivity.”

For entrepreneurs and lean teams, saving minutes on administrative work often translates into hours that can be redirected toward sales, customer service, or innovation. Notebook AI’s launch brings two standout features right away: AI Meeting Notes and AI Mind Maps.

AI Meeting Notes: Turning Conversations Into Action

Anyone who has scribbled half-legible notes during a client call knows the pain of missing details. Notebook AI automates this entire process.

“What AI meeting notes is going to do, it will automatically listen to the meeting. It gets a recording of the meeting and it gets the transcription out of the meeting and it neatly summarizes that particular meeting into a minutes of meeting note.”

These AI-powered notes go beyond basic transcripts. Notebook AI identifies the agenda, speakers, discussion points, and action items. Instead of scrolling through raw transcripts, small business owners can access a polished summary that makes follow-up clear and immediate.

This feature alone could save countless hours for owners who double as project managers, client liaisons, and team leads. More importantly, it reduces the risk of forgetting commitments or misinterpreting client requests.

AI Mind Maps: Visualizing Meetings at a Glance

Not everyone processes information well through text-heavy notes. That’s where Notebook AI’s second launch feature—AI Mind Maps—comes in.

“Some people may not be very good and viewing very long notes, right, so they’ll probably want to view the minutes of the meeting as a how they see it in their mind, so they provide a mind map view. So you tap on the mind map, view the minutes of meeting is neatly categorized into small topics, and if you just tap on the topics, it will automatically alert you to the next topic and the relative topics are linked together.”

For small business teams that thrive on brainstorming or need quick overviews of conversations, mind maps turn abstract discussions into visual connections. This can be particularly powerful for service businesses, creative agencies, or consultants who often rely on free-flowing discussions with clients.

Tackling Accuracy and Noise Reduction

One common concern with AI transcription is accuracy—especially in noisy environments or during overlapping conversations. I raised this directly, asking about transcript reliability and on-device processing.

Ramamoorthy acknowledged this is a priority:

“Right now we don’t do any on device processing for confidentiality, but we’ll definitely take that as one of the input and we’ll add it towards. And second thing is we do noise deduction at the back end and we’ll remove the noise so that the audio quality is much better when it’s given to the transcription service and we get the transcription and a good quality.”

For small businesses, this means clearer records of conversations without investing in high-end recording gear or transcription services.

CRM Integration: Notes That Live Where You Work

A major selling point of Notebook AI is how it fits into Zoho’s broader suite of apps, particularly Zoho CRM and Zoho Bigin. For businesses that already use these tools to manage leads and customers, Notebook AI adds another layer of efficiency.

“So what Notebook does is it gets the recording once the call is done, it gets the recording of that particular meeting and it automatically creates the minutes of meeting mind map and everything for you. And it attaches through that record inside the CRM itself.”

In practice, this means a small sales team doesn’t need to manually upload notes or recordings after each call. The CRM contact record will already hold the call audio, the AI-generated meeting notes, and even the mind map.

I pointed out another potential benefit—dispute resolution. With calls automatically logged and summarized, businesses can avoid “he said, she said” scenarios with clients. Everything is documented and tied directly to customer records.

Smart Tags and Templates: Faster Searches, Less Admin

Searching for old notes can be a major time drain. Notebook AI’s smart tags and AI-powered categorization help here.

“The smart tags and the smart mind map helps the users to reduce the search because these are generated based on the content which is there in the note… the AI will contextually get the tags from the content and add it to your note. And when you search for that particular term, it automatically pops up so thereby it reduces the search term a lot.”

Admins can also create standardized templates, making it easier for teams to keep records consistent. This is especially useful for growing small businesses that want to maintain professionalism as they scale.

Collaboration Through Notes and Whiteboards

Notebook AI isn’t just about capturing conversations—it also supports collaborative brainstorming.

“If you take that whiteboard, it is not just taking notes, you’re brainstorming the idea with your peers… The whiteboard also has an option to have a video call so you can place a video call and inside a whiteboard and you can start brainstorming.”

For small businesses that lack expensive collaboration platforms, having whiteboards, notes, and even video calls integrated into one tool reduces context switching and costs.

Privacy and Security: Keeping Data Inside Zoho

I raised an important question: how does Zoho handle transcript retention and privacy? For many small businesses, client confidentiality is non-negotiable.

Ramamoorthy was clear:

“The transcription service is built by Zoho, so we don’t give the audio data to any third party to do the transcription. It is done by the Zoho transcription service in itself.”

“Even the mind maps or the smart meeting notes everything is generated using Zoho’s LLM so once again the data is not given to any third party which means that the data is always within Zoho and within your container only you can access your data. Even Zoho cannot access your data.”

Notebook AI also gives businesses the option to delete transcriptions if they don’t want them stored, ensuring owners remain in control of their data.

Beyond Notes: Generative AI in Notebook

While meeting notes and mind maps were the focus of the launch, Ramamoorthy hinted at a broader roadmap.

“Notebook AI is not just about these two things. We have a lot of things in Notebook AI, like for example the generative AI part, which is kind of very important for note taking aspect because note taking is viewed in two concepts, one is creating content, the other is viewing content.”

Generative AI inside Notebook can help small businesses rewrite content, adjust tone, correct grammar, and even translate text. For owners who don’t have time to polish communications, these features could make day-to-day writing more professional and efficient.

A Day in the Life: Practical Scenarios

What does this look like in practice? Consider a small sales team of two. A rep calls a prospect directly from Zoho CRM. Once the call ends, Notebook AI automatically creates:

• A transcription of the conversation

• A summarized “minutes of meeting” note

• A visual mind map of key discussion points

• Smart tags for easier searching later

All of this is instantly attached to the customer’s record in CRM. When the rep follows up next week, they don’t need to re-listen to the call or shuffle through notes. The context is right there.

Multiply this across dozens of deals or service requests, and the time savings become clear.

Where to Learn More

For small businesses looking to try Notebook AI, Zoho offers more information at zoho.com/notebook and zoho.com/notebook/ai.

As Ramamoorthy emphasized:

“There is a huge amount of things are packed into the Notebook AI, so you can always visit zoho.com/notebookai or zoho.com/notebook to know more.”

Final Takeaway for Small Business Owners

Notebook AI is more than just another note-taking app. By automating meeting documentation, reducing search times, integrating directly into CRM, and ensuring data privacy, Zoho has built a tool that speaks directly to the needs of small businesses.

For owners managing sales, client relationships, and internal collaboration, Notebook AI could mean fewer missed details, faster follow-up, and more time spent on growth rather than admin.

This article, "Interview with Zoho’s Ashok Ramamoorthy: Inside Notebook AI at SMZ 2025" was first published on Small Business Trends

At Zoho’s SMZ 2025 event, Zoho announced significant updates to its Zoho Commerce platform. I sat down with Prashant Ganti, Zoho’s Head of Product Management for Finance and Operations Suite, to discuss what these new features mean for small business owners.

From loyalty points and cart recovery to omnichannel selling and digital downloads, the updates aim to help small businesses sell more efficiently while reducing operational burdens. For entrepreneurs balancing tight resources and steep competition, these changes could prove transformative.

Why Ecommerce Innovation Matters for Small Businesses

I began by asking Ganti to walk through the new features and their practical benefits. Ganti framed Zoho Commerce within the broader landscape of online buying and selling.

“So thank you for having me here. So Zoho Commerce is the latest offering from the Zoho Finance Suite, Finance and Operations suite. So commerce right, if you take we all buy something online today. It’s par for the course. A lot of people purchase things online. So we want to make that experience. As seamless as possible. So that’s a continuous innovation investment that we make here. So this is the latest avatar of our commerce product.”

For small businesses, seamlessness is more than just convenience. Every added click, confusing checkout screen, or delay in shipping can mean lost revenue. That’s why Zoho Commerce now includes features like loyalty points, request-for-quote tools, and cart abandonment recovery—all designed to build stronger customer relationships while minimizing sales friction.

Reducing Checkout Abandonment and Building Loyalty

Ganti explained one of the main pain points Zoho sought to address: cart abandonment.

“We want businesses to have a more beautiful store. We want to reduce the chances of customers abandoning at checkout. So that maximize the chances of more sales. They want to build more, stickier relationship with customers. We have introduced features related to loyalty points and all those things.”

For small businesses, customer loyalty programs are often seen as tools only larger retailers can afford. By embedding this capability into Zoho Commerce, small business owners can now incentivize repeat sales without hiring a marketing team or purchasing an additional tool.

The platform also makes it easy to support customers who prefer a consultative sales process. “And then for customers who want to bit little bit more inquiry, we have request for court kind of a feature,” Ganti added.

The Complexity Behind a Simple Order

One of the biggest advantages Zoho Commerce offers is abstracting the complexity of ecommerce operations.

“If you take something like executing a simple online order, right, I mean I purchase something shoes online now. It’s very easy from a user point of view, but under the hood, we have abstracted a lot of complexities. There are 20-25 different subsystems that need to work in tandem to ensure that the single online order is executed successfully.”

He described how an order touches multiple subsystems: warehouse availability, invoicing, payment, tax calculation, and returns management. Most small businesses rely on multiple apps that don’t always talk to each other. That can lead to errors, delays, or customer dissatisfaction.

Zoho’s advantage is its unified stack. “We arguably among the very few companies globally that have built the entire stack. Including the payments part to ensure this gets successful executed, yeah,” Ganti said.

Fast ROI for Small Business Owners

I pressed further: what kind of “lift” can a small business expect from features like digital downloads, loyalty points, and cart recovery—especially without a marketing team?

Ganti was clear: “So one is this primarily a self-service model. So I think I mean as a small business, right, you don’t have too many resources to get all these done right. So we want to reduce the entry barrier for businesses to get started, sell online, widen your reach. So that’s the goal.”

To support that goal, Zoho Commerce includes built-in SEO tools, helping merchants show up on search engines without expensive consultants.

“So I think those are the heavy investments that we have made. So that of course costs are low, we monitize that over a lot of customers. So that’s how that’s been our business model from a business, small business point of view. The upfront investment is. Absolutely. It’s very, very less. There’s nothing much to get started. It’s very, very easy. And you can see the results and ROI very quickly.”

The promise is clear: rapid setup, quick wins, and scalability as the business grows.

Cart Abandonment Recovery: Insights and Nudges

One of the most compelling updates is cart abandonment recovery. I asked if this feature required extra spend or messaging limits.

Ganti responded, “That’s more of it’s. It doesn’t require any investment, anything more you need to do. It’s kind of. Weaved into the product itself, it’s what we found, what was. How do you make the experience better so that we minimize the chances of customer abandoning the cart? So we want to provide more insights about that, so that if there is something that you could improve. We can nudge the businesses to do something better there.”

The feature works on two levels. At the customer-facing level, it nudges buyers to stay engaged. At the business-facing level, it delivers insights on why customers abandon carts.

Ganti explained: “It’s both actually, because at the point of decision making point I I decide to leave the cart I want decide to move away. Then there’s a way to we tried to nudge the user to figure out. To stick on more, to spend more time and then. Even despite our best efforts, the customer leaves the cart right then we try to provide more insights and over which the business owner can take better decisions to improve.”

Omnichannel Selling: From WhatsApp to the Warehouse

I shifted to omnichannel sales, asking how small businesses could synchronize inventory and pricing across WhatsApp, online stores, and in-person sales.

Ganti explained that Zoho’s integrated database enables this:

“So what you’re asking is Omni channel selling. So commerce is once it’s kind of one store I can sell in person. I can still through commerce. So I think the IT comes back to. The the the thing that I mentioned very early in the conversation about commerce is built on the same platform that serves other finance products like inventory, everything. So if you’re selling on Amazon, if you’re selling on, if you have some Shopify, this thing you’re selling on Amazon, you’re selling on Etsy and then you also have your commerce store, right? … everything synchronizes back to one platform and that gets reflected.”

That means a small business can confidently sell across multiple channels—social media, marketplaces, physical locations—without worrying about overselling or inventory mismatches.

Streamlined B2B Sales: Quotes, Credit, and Accounting

For B2B sellers, Zoho Commerce now supports quote requests, negotiations, and credit limits. I asked how these features tie into accounting systems like Zoho Books or QuickBooks.

Ganti replied: “So. I think the very first thing that I mentioned is the 25 different subsystems, right? I didn’t mention the accounting subsystem because that’s a key part of this. Ultimately, everything is ties up to that. Zoho books are accounting product powers, the accounting here. So it’s real time updates into that.”

Because Zoho Commerce shares a unified database with Zoho Books, transactions automatically flow into financial statements—no double data entry required.

“Now if you’re using any other accounting product, we can hook into that as well, yeah,” Ganti added.

Education and Support

Finally, I asked where business owners could go to learn more.

Ganti shared, “Yeah, we have a lot of educational materials. We have a team that can we continuously run educational sessions on the product. So zoho.com/commerce is the website and you can find enough resources there.”

Why These Updates Matter for Small Businesses

For small business owners, every hour saved and every customer retained matters. Zoho Commerce’s updates are designed around those realities:

• Lower entry barriers: Built-in SEO, loyalty points, and cart recovery remove the need for expensive add-ons.

• Scalable operations: A unified platform ensures businesses won’t outgrow their ecommerce solution.

• Customer-centric tools: From WhatsApp sales to B2B quotes, features are designed for modern buyers.

• Accounting integration: Real-time sync with Zoho Books eliminates duplicate work.

In short, Zoho is aiming to put enterprise-level ecommerce capabilities into the hands of small businesses—without the enterprise-level cost or complexity.

As Ganti summed it up: “It’s easier to set up, easier to realize the benefits and it scales as you grow because we have built a very scalable platform.”

This article, "Zoho Commerce Rolls Out New Features to Power Small Business Growth" was first published on Small Business Trends

At Zoho’s SMZ 2025 event, I sat down with Arjun Kesavan Balasubramanian from the Zoho Contracts team. Their conversation focused on how the platform’s newest features—including AI assistance and deeper CRM integration—are designed to save small businesses time, reduce risk, and improve transparency when handling contracts.

For small business owners, contracts are a constant part of operations. Every vendor agreement, client deal, or partnership relies on legal language that can be confusing and time-consuming. Traditionally, managing contracts requires a patchwork of tools, lawyers, and endless email threads. Zoho Contracts is aiming to change that by providing one unified platform for the entire contract lifecycle.

One Tool for the Entire Contract Lifecycle

Balasubramanian began by outlining what Zoho Contracts offers today:

“So Zoho Contracts is Zoho’s contract lifecycle management software. So, if you want to transform your entire contract lifecycle, if you want to have one tool to manage the contract requests, the collaboration, the approval negotiation signature and all of the post execution stages like amendments, renewals, extensions, termination and the contract analytics part. All of this is covered in one tool, which is Zoho Contracts.”

For small businesses, this means avoiding the chaos of juggling Word documents, email attachments, and multiple online tools. Instead, owners can initiate a contract request, collaborate internally, send it for approval, negotiate terms, and sign—all without leaving the platform. Post-execution tasks like renewals and amendments are tracked automatically.

AI Assistance for Contract Insights

One of the headline features from the 2025 update is the integration of large language models (LLMs) such as ChatGPT into the platform.

“The recent features that we launched with this update is basically our integration with LLMs like ChatGPT. So what that adds to the CLM system is it adds an additional layer of intelligence. So if you are working on a contract document, let’s say 50 pages long, it would be amazing to have an assistant that will tell you what are the key insights from this contract, right? Like it can summarize your contract. It can give you an update on what are the potential risks I have in this contract and it can extract what are the obligations you have in this particular contract so that AI assistant is a powerful feature.”

For small business owners who don’t have an in-house legal team, this is a big step forward. Instead of combing through dozens of pages, AI can highlight deadlines, risks, or unusual clauses in seconds.

Zoho also plans to introduce its own AI engine, Zia, to handle these tasks in a privacy-first way.

Where AI Fits—and Where Humans Still Matter

I asked the question many small business owners are thinking: Can AI really handle contract work without risk?

“That’s a good one. So if you think about it, you have an AI assistant that can summarize that can tell you what is the risk and what is not, but you still need a human judgment to validate whatever the AI is saying, because legal is this one sector where the nuances are a lot, right.”

Balasubramanian explained that while AI can suggest missing clauses, flag obligations, or summarize terms, humans remain essential for judgment. Industry regulations, company policies, and regional laws require context AI cannot fully capture.

In practice, AI reduces the time it takes for a business owner—or their lawyer—to make informed decisions. It speeds up drafting and reviewing but doesn’t eliminate the need for oversight.

Data Privacy and BYOK Integration

When it comes to AI, data privacy is always top of mind for small businesses. I pressed on this point, asking what data is shared with OpenAI when using the ChatGPT integration.

“Definitely. So this particular ChatGPT integration is covered as bring your own key integration. So if you already are using ChatGPT at your organization, you’re bringing that key and you’re enabling this integration with Zoho Contracts, right? So you’re already OK with ChatGPT processing that data to help you improve efficiency or make your contract management easier.”

This Bring Your Own Key (BYOK) approach means businesses maintain control. If they don’t want to use ChatGPT, they can opt out while still leveraging other features. Soon, Zoho’s own LLM will give businesses a private option that doesn’t use contract data for external training.

Balasubramanian emphasized:

“Exactly. Yeah. So what Zoho has achieved is trust, and that trust was built over 3 decades… when Zoho LLM is implemented into our system, the decision becomes very, very easy for our customers.”

CRM Integration for Sales and Legal Transparency

For many small businesses, contracts and customer relationships are tightly linked. Closing a deal often requires quick contract generation and approval. Zoho has deepened its integration with Zoho CRM to make this process seamless.

“So if you are a CRM user. And when you see that a deal is imminent, you can just create a record right from your deal, record in CRM and all of that information in CRM will be fetched. It will be automatically mapped into Zoho’s Contracts. A contract document will be generated and that document is also available as an attachment in Zoho CRM.”

This ensures sales teams don’t have to switch tools or chase down legal staff for paperwork. Contracts are automatically generated from CRM data, cutting down errors and improving speed.

Pre-Approved Templates and Clause Libraries

Another feature aimed at small businesses is the inclusion of templates and a clause library.

“We have 14 predefined templates and these templates are some of the commonly used contracts that any business would need, but actually we would still recommend the small businesses to actually do a check of whether these clauses are relevant for the industry that they are operating in.”

The benefit for small businesses is clear: rather than starting from scratch, they can use ready-made templates and adapt them for their industry. Balasubramanian noted that lawyers are still important but that Zoho Contracts can reduce legal dependencies by providing fallback clauses and pre-approved language.

I summarized it well:

“So more of a way to give a lawyer something that’s you know, 90% of the way there instead of starting from scratch.”

And Balasubramanian confirmed:

“Exactly. Exactly. It’s about reducing the dependency. It’s not about replacing lawyers.”

This approach cuts costs while ensuring negotiations move quickly. For example, if a customer requests a discount, fallback options are already documented. Sales staff don’t need to escalate every negotiation to managers or legal counsel.

Regional and Multi-Organization Support

Zoho Contracts has also expanded features to support businesses operating in multiple regions or managing different subsidiaries.

“We support multi organization. We have some regional settings covered now you can add files and URLs and attachments to your contract documents.”

For small businesses growing across borders—or simply managing multiple LLCs—this flexibility helps keep operations compliant without increasing complexity.

Practical Benefits for Small Businesses

Throughout the discussion, I pointed out how these updates can save business owners “a whole lot of time and effort.” That’s the central promise of Zoho Contracts: reduce headaches, speed up workflows, and improve legal preparedness without overwhelming owners or requiring full-time legal staff.

The combination of AI insights, CRM integration, and pre-approved templates provides a practical toolkit for:

• Freelancers negotiating service contracts

• Small retailers managing vendor agreements

• Agencies drafting client proposals

• Growing businesses dealing with renewals and amendments

By centralizing the contract process, Zoho Contracts helps ensure nothing slips through the cracks.

Trust as a Competitive Advantage

One theme that came up repeatedly was trust. Zoho has long emphasized privacy, and that principle is guiding its AI development. With many small businesses wary of where their data goes, Zoho’s commitment to in-house AI and transparent integrations is a differentiator.

Balasubramanian summed it up:

“Even though we have chat integration, people would still ask when is Zoho LLM coming? Because they would really want to switch. And yeah, that trust I think. Will definitely help the adoption of LLM as well.”

For small businesses, trust isn’t abstract—it directly impacts whether they feel safe using a platform for sensitive contracts.

Where to Learn More

As the interview wrapped up, Balasubramanian directed small businesses to explore the platform further:

“Yeah, people can learn more about Zoho Contracts at zoho.com/contracts.”

Final Takeaway for Small Business Owners

Zoho Contracts is positioning itself as more than just software—it’s a way for small businesses to work smarter with contracts. By combining AI, templates, CRM integration, and a privacy-focused approach, the platform provides a strong alternative to traditional, fragmented contract management.

Small business owners should see this as an opportunity to:

• Cut down on manual legal tasks

• Speed up deal closings

• Reduce dependency on external counsel for routine negotiations

• Improve compliance and risk awareness

• Build a scalable foundation for growth

In the end, Zoho Contracts doesn’t remove the need for lawyers, but it does ensure that small businesses come to the table prepared—with better insights, faster processes, and fewer headaches.

This article, "Zoho Contracts Brings AI and CRM Integration to Simplify Small Business Legal Workflows" was first published on Small Business Trends

At Zoho’s SMZ 2025 event, I sat down with Guru Raja Subbaiah Pillai Jawahar of Zoho Bigin to discuss the platform’s latest announcements. The conversation revealed how Bigin is doubling down on helping small businesses cut costs, save time, and improve customer relationships by integrating booking tools, accounting platforms, and privacy-friendly AI.

Built-In Appointment Management with Booking Pages

Guru explained one of the headline features: Booking Pages, an appointment scheduling tool that’s now baked directly into Bigin.

“Almost every small business would need an appointment management tool like calendar booking tool,” Guru said. “So right now, so far if someone is using Bigin for appointment booking needs, they need to go for some some other third party tool or any other a separate tool they have to buy a separate tool for managing their calendar, calendar booking. So right now the booking page is with the booking pages announcement. That actually eliminates that, so you don’t have to buy a separate software for booking management.”

For small business owners, this change removes the hassle of syncing two different systems and paying for separate tools. Now, appointment scheduling lives inside the CRM where customer data already resides.

Accounting and Payments: Closing the Gap with QuickBooks and Shopify

Zoho also announced deeper integrations with QuickBooks Online, Shopify, and payment gateways. These features address one of the most persistent headaches for small business owners: time-to-cash and reconciliation.

“If you don’t have this integration, you have to actually work with two siloed applications,” Guru explained. “Bigin will have all the information about your customers and QuickBooks will have all the information about your accounts like invoices, estimates or reconciliations. So with this integration, it actually bridges the gap.”

Now, opening a customer record in Bigin shows invoice and payment details from QuickBooks without the need to toggle between platforms. Small teams benefit from faster payments and fewer accounting errors.

Privacy-Friendly AI: On-Device Models

Another standout announcement is Bigin’s adoption of on-device AI for mobile users. For small businesses concerned with privacy, this approach minimizes the risks of sending sensitive customer data to the cloud.

“So since these are, you know on device like for instance Gemini. We take almost every data will be on device, there is no, there is no need for the data to go to a cloud service. So that’s the main concept behind this. On device AI assistant features,” Guru explained.

While these smaller AI models are still in early stages and may occasionally produce “hallucinations,” they come with clear benefits: offline functionality and enhanced privacy. “If users are concerned about privacy then on device AI features would help that,” Guru noted.

This makes the tool especially valuable for business owners in rural areas or locations with unreliable internet connections.

Prebuilt AI Agents: Guardrails for Real-World Use

Zoho also rolled out three prebuilt AI agents inside Bigin:

• Reply Assistant

• Cross Sell Genie

• Churn Analyzer

These agents promise to help small businesses respond faster, identify upsell opportunities, and prevent customer churn. But AI is only helpful if it avoids costly mistakes.

Guru reassured users: “If you are not, you know completely confident about an AI bot sending cross selling e-mail to your customer, what you can do is you can actually make it just create a draft inside your Bigin account instead of sending it to the customer.”

This gives admins oversight, ensuring no irrelevant offers go out automatically. Business owners can choose whether AI produces suggestions as drafts, notes, or ready-to-send emails.

Admin Controls and Future Flexibility

When asked about customization, Guru noted that Bigin’s AI agents are rule-based for now. Businesses can upload knowledge documents that shape how the agents behave. While advanced parameters aren’t yet user-facing, Guru suggested more options could be added via Zoho’s Zia Agent Studio in the future.

For small teams, this staged rollout offers a safe way to adopt AI while maintaining control over customer-facing communication.

Connecting External AI with Zoho MCP

Perhaps the most forward-looking announcement was integration with Zoho MCP (Marketplace Connector Platform), which lets small businesses link Bigin with external large language models (LLMs) like ChatGPT or Anthropic’s Claude.

“If you would let your customers to, you know, connect their Bigin account with ChatGPT or LLMs like Claud, what they can do is they can get more insights around the CRM data,” Guru said.

For example, businesses could use these integrations to forecast which deals are most likely to close, spot at-risk customers, or analyze which sales team members are outperforming.

This opens the door for small businesses to gain enterprise-level insights without enterprise-level budgets.

Why These Updates Matter for Small Business Owners

Zoho Bigin’s new features reflect a clear theme: removing friction. Small business owners juggle endless tasks—sales, marketing, accounting, scheduling—and often pay for multiple apps that don’t talk to each other. By consolidating functions into one CRM, Bigin reduces cost, time, and complexity.

• Cost savings: One subscription replaces several third-party tools.

• Efficiency: Integrations with QuickBooks and Shopify eliminate double-entry.

• Control: On-device AI protects sensitive customer data.

• Scalability: AI agents and LLM integrations allow businesses to grow without hiring additional staff.

Guru summarized the value simply: “If you open a customer record in Bigin, it will have all the information … it bridges a gap.”

How to Get Started

Small business owners curious about these updates can explore Bigin directly at bigin.com. As Guru concluded: “Just go to bigin.com and every everything will be there.”

With these updates, Zoho Bigin positions itself as more than just an entry-level CRM. It’s becoming a hub where sales, finance, scheduling, and AI come together—tailored to the needs and budgets of small businesses.

This article, "Zoho Bigin’s Big 2025 Update: Booking Pages, QuickBooks, and AI for SMBs" was first published on Small Business Trends

At Zoho’s 2025 SMZ event, Small Business Trends’ Leland McFarland sat down with Tamilselvan Sadhasivam from the Zoho Solo team to discuss how the platform is designed to support freelancers, consultants, and self-employed professionals. Their conversation highlighted the practical realities solopreneurs face and how Zoho Solo aims to simplify daily operations while providing room for long-term growth.

A Tool Built for Solopreneurs

Zoho Solo is tailored to individuals running businesses on their own. As Sadhasivam explained, “Zoho Solo is the product for solopreneur or self-employed person. It simplifies the business operations from client management to work management to finance management. It compains all everything in a single application.”

The goal is to remove the need for juggling multiple apps and tools. Whether you’re a consultant, painter, personal trainer, or freelance developer, Zoho Solo centralizes essential functions into one mobile-first platform.

Getting Started: From Signup to First Invoice

McFarland asked what the initial journey looks like for a solopreneur. Sadhasivam broke it down step by step:

“Once you sign up Zoho Solo, there is a very minimum information that needed for Solo like your organization name and which country you’re operates in. So once that is done, you have to set up a payment gateway like if you are using any payment gateway. PayPal. So you’ll set up the payment PayPal in the system. So that’s it.”

The process eliminates friction. After work is completed, invoices can be generated directly within the platform and shared with clients, with payments collected instantly via integrated links. For someone new to business software, this simplicity makes it possible to get paid quickly without hours of setup.

Simplicity With Enterprise Power

McFarland pointed out the advantage of receiving enterprise-level functionality without the complexity. Sadhasivam emphasized this as Zoho Solo’s core philosophy: “We have a technology already in the back end and we are providing simple solution to the customers using the enterprise technologies in the back end.” He summed it up with a phrase he uses often: “Complexity in the back end, simplicity in the front end.”

Mobile-First Design for Modern Workflows

Most solopreneurs run their businesses from their phones. Trainers, consultants, and service providers don’t always have laptops with them. That reality is why Zoho Solo was developed as a mobile-first application.

“Mobile is not just a device, it’s a business device,” Sadhasivam explained. He noted that trainers, for example, can issue invoices and collect payments on the spot. The app supports these workflows seamlessly.

For larger reporting needs, Zoho Solo supports tablets like the iPad. “Sometimes they need to see the reports. So how much they have earned from the customer. So for reports and all the small device doesn’t it will not give overview. But bigger screen will give you the bigger insights.” A web application is also planned to expand access further.

Data remains consistent across devices thanks to real-time syncing. “Whatever data you create from one device that will be available in the second device in seconds,” Sadhasivam confirmed.

Tackling Taxes and Compliance

Taxes are one of the most intimidating aspects of running a solo business. McFarland raised this concern, and Sadhasivam clarified how Zoho Solo assists:

“Zoho Solo supports taxation in US and Canada and taxation like you can configure the taxation while creating the invoice. At the end of the year you can generate a report and you know how much you have earned and how much expenses you have done. So you can consolidate the revenue part and you can file the tax.”

On compliance, Zoho relies on its company-wide emphasis on privacy and standards. “Zoho is already a privacy focused company and we already encrypt every data and in the back end so we the products focus and compliance are in already In Sync.”

Looking ahead, the roadmap includes multi-currency support, allowing solopreneurs working internationally to bill clients in their own currencies. “That will be very helpful for the customers who are doing the international businesses,” Sadhasivam said.

Preparing for Growth

One of the biggest questions small business owners face is whether the software they start with will grow alongside them. McFarland asked directly about moving from Zoho Solo to more robust tools like Bigin, Books, or Commerce.

Sadhasivam assured that Zoho has a clear path: “When solopreneur grows, you know. He needs a better solution. He need a deeper integration with CRM or follow-ups. Or he needed deeper workflows… he can easily migrate to Zoho One in a single click. So Zoho Solo to Zoho One, it’s a long plane plan. Long term plan for the solopreneur to grow their businesses.”

That seamless migration means business owners won’t lose historical data when expanding their teams. “I bet you that no other company does this from the solopreneur to the small business. The data migration will be very smoother and no other company does this.”

Why Zoho Solo Matters for Small Business Owners

For freelancers and solopreneurs, time is the most valuable resource. Every hour spent switching between apps or troubleshooting tech is an hour not spent serving clients. Zoho Solo’s design recognizes this by bundling core needs—client management, invoicing, payments, reporting—into a single streamlined app.

The mobile-first focus matches the reality of how modern solopreneurs work. Real-time syncing ensures flexibility across devices. Tax-ready reporting reduces stress at year-end. And a clear migration path prevents the risk of outgrowing the platform.

For those who want enterprise reliability without enterprise-level overhead, Zoho Solo offers an affordable, practical option.

Where to Learn More

For solopreneurs interested in exploring the app, Zoho Solo is available in both the App Store and Google Play. More information can be found at zoho.com/solo.

As McFarland wrapped up the conversation, it was clear Zoho Solo represents more than another software release. It’s a commitment to empowering the growing community of freelancers and self-employed professionals with tools that make running a one-person business not only manageable, but scalable.

This article, "From Invoicing to Taxes: How Zoho Solo Helps Solopreneurs" was first published on Small Business Trends

At Zoho’s SMZ 2025 event, I had the opportunity to sit down with Tony Thomas, CEO of Zoho U.S., to talk about the company’s rapid growth and what that means for small business owners today. With 40% year-over-year growth in SMB customers in just the first half of 2025, Zoho’s expansion shows that entrepreneurs and small teams are increasingly looking for alternatives to high-cost, fragmented software solutions.

The conversation revealed a consistent theme: affordability, flexibility, and trust in technology are driving adoption. For small businesses trying to navigate tighter budgets, new AI tools, and an overwhelming array of software, Zoho’s strategy offers both lessons and opportunities.

Cost Control as the Primary Driver

The interview opened with Zoho’s impressive SMB customer growth, and Thomas quickly tied that success to one central factor.

“So, we think that the—it’s hard for us to know exactly. We do think that the, you know, economics of our offerings is the biggest driver. Companies today are dealing with increased costs, you know, and needing to manage their business more tightly, and they look at Zoho as a integrated offering that gives you great value. And keeping costs down, of course, is a key priority for businesses.”

That focus on affordability resonates strongly in today’s small business environment. Many business owners have learned the hard way that adopting separate best-of-breed solutions—CRM, email, project management, accounting—often leaves them juggling multiple subscriptions. The costs can quickly balloon to $300 or $400 a month, as I noted in our conversation. By contrast, Zoho’s pitch is simple: one low price for a broad suite of integrated tools.

Broad-Based Growth, with a Push from E-Commerce

When asked which industries or company sizes led Zoho’s growth, Thomas emphasized the across-the-board demand for better technology.

“So, it’s pretty broad based, as you might imagine. Every company needs to deploy more technology, needs to use AI and other, you know, advances in their tools, and their companies are seeing a lot of benefits from technology. And this is across the board. Certainly there is a, you know, a little more emphasis on e-commerce and other, in terms of just sheer numbers, but the interest from companies is quite broad based.”

For small business owners, this broad adoption suggests that the barriers to entry are lowering. Whether you run a service-based business, a retail store, or an e-commerce shop, the expectation today is that technology is no longer optional—it’s essential.

Pain Points: Technology Overload and Rapid Change

I asked Thomas what pain points he hears most often from American small businesses. His answer will sound familiar to any entrepreneur who has felt overwhelmed by the pace of change.

“So, certainly one of the challenges that small businesses face is the rapidly changing technology, as well as the, you know, business landscape in general. So, the change in technology requires businesses to adopt new tools quickly, and you, as you can imagine, even with Zoho, we’re offering a lot, and navigating that—trying to find the right tool and the right combination of tools for your specific business—is one of the challenges we’re dealing with. So, our approach to that is to try to create better, you know, tools for customers to find information, as well as equip our partners and our own regional teams better in serving these kinds of needs.”

This answer highlights a crucial reality: small businesses don’t just need affordable tools. They need clarity on which tools to adopt and guidance on how to put them into practice without wasting time or money.

Pricing and Bundles: Keeping It Simple

The conversation turned to pricing—always a top concern for SMBs. I asked what Zoho would recommend for a company of 5 to 20 people deciding between Zoho’s lightweight products and its full Zoho One suite.

Thomas emphasized flexibility and a “start small” approach.

“No. Certainly we recommend companies look at their needs and start small. I mean, the the the thing you don’t want to do is try to take on too much and then find it difficult to get everything working. So, you probably should prioritize where your needs are and pick the specific tools that are useful to you. That said, we are putting a lot of emphasis on packaging tools that make it easier for small companies. For example, solopreneur is something is is a target, and now there’s an individual trying to do everything. You need tools that are going to make it really easy for you, so solo is a product that we have where we have combined a lot of our tools and hidden a lot of the complexity behind it. When it comes to pricing, the, you know, we start with the products that are are free, that you don’t need to pay for, and to bundles and sweets that, you know, go up in price. But no matter how you slice it, we don’t charge a small business more than $30 per user per month for our entire package of offerings. So, it’s a pretty attractive price when you look at the the number of products we offer in the bundle.”

For small businesses, the $30 per user per month ceiling is significant. It means budgeting for software can be more predictable, even as needs expand. The advice to “start small” also aligns with lean startup principles: adopt what you need today, and grow your toolkit only as your business requires.

Implementation: How Much Help Is Needed?

Technology adoption often stalls because of fears around complexity. I asked what kind of implementation support small businesses could expect.

Thomas acknowledged the variability:

“Yeah, that, that’s a question I have to punt a little, in the sense that it depends on, on, you know, which products you’re talking about, you know, and the type of business you are, how much complexity your specific implementation has. For a lot of products you don’t need any help; you should be able to figure it out. It’s self-guided. For other things, it’s more complicated; you need to think harder about what is your business process and how the tool—it needs to be customized, or you adapt your business process to the tool. So, it can vary a lot, so, you know, and and my knowledge of it is also limited, given the breadth of things that that we have. But for many tools, absolutely, you can get started without any, you know, external help at all.”

This highlights a critical consideration for entrepreneurs: evaluate not just cost, but the time and expertise needed for setup. If a tool aligns closely with your current processes, you may be able to self-implement. But more complex shifts—like migrating your accounting or CRM systems—may require outside help.

Migration: Switching Without Losing Momentum

Switching software is a pain point for every small business. Concerns over downtime, data loss, and hidden costs often prevent entrepreneurs from making needed changes.

I asked what a typical migration from platforms like Shopify or QuickBooks looks like.

Thomas explained:

“So, this is an area that, as you can imagine, it’s a frequent request that we are constantly working to keep up on. So, for things like QuickBooks, we have tools to help with the migration and also work with partners that help you do that. So, we are able to offer a A range of tools, and—but it’s it’s it’s a constant game of keeping up with each product and adding the migration, so your mileage will vary depending on which product and suite you’re talking about. I’m not sure about shop if—I’ll have to, you know, get that information for you, but certainly for quick books, we are helping customers with the migration.”

For SMBs, the key takeaway is that migrations are rarely one-size-fits-all. Zoho offers tools and partner support, but the complexity will depend on what you’re migrating. Planning ahead, budgeting time for testing, and working with knowledgeable partners can ease the transition.

Privacy and AI: Building Trust Amid New Regulations

With AI tools proliferating, small businesses are rightly concerned about data privacy, resilience, and compliance. I asked whether SMBs can keep their data out of AI training models by default, and how Zoho handles retention and deletion.

Thomas reaffirmed Zoho’s privacy-first stance:

“Yeah. So, we we are very privacy focused, as Raju mentioned this morning. We are looking at, you know, minimizing, you know, any information shared outside. I mean, certainly when it comes to using something like the large LLMS Open AI and so on, customers make the choice of whether to, you know, use them, and any information that is shared—certainly we are using the APIs that ensure no customer data is used in Training. So, customers can feel pretty safe with using this low suite when it comes to AI, and with the, with the increasing regulation across geographies, you know, managing compliance with the AI is a priority for us. So, being a privacy focused company, these are items that we, you know, invest a lot in and and pay a lot of close attention to, so our customers don’t have to.”

For small business owners, this is an important reassurance. As new AI regulations come into play, choosing vendors who prioritize compliance and minimize exposure is becoming a necessity.

Key Lessons for Small Business Owners

This conversation with Tony Thomas underscores several lessons that SMB owners should keep in mind in 2025:

1. Affordability is critical. Avoid stacking too many subscriptions that inflate costs. Look for bundled solutions that cap pricing.

2. Start small, grow smart. Don’t try to implement every feature at once. Prioritize the tools that solve your most pressing problems.

3. Implementation matters. Evaluate how much setup support you’ll need. Some tools are plug-and-play; others require planning and customization.

4. Plan for migration. Switching systems is never seamless. Use vendor tools, budget extra time, and lean on partners when necessary.

5. Demand privacy. As AI becomes more embedded in business software, ensure your vendor treats privacy and compliance as core commitments.

Final Thoughts

As the conversation wrapped up, I thanked Thomas for his time. His answers reinforced Zoho’s value proposition for small businesses: a comprehensive suite of tools at a price point that respects tight budgets, paired with a strong emphasis on privacy and flexibility.

For entrepreneurs weighing their technology stack in 2025, the message is clear. You don’t need to overpay for software, but you do need to adopt tools that help you stay efficient, compliant, and competitive.

Zoho’s U.S. CEO summed it up best: businesses today need integrated, affordable, and privacy-conscious solutions. And while technology may feel overwhelming at times, the right strategy is to start small, choose wisely, and grow into the tools as your business scales.

This article, "Inside Zoho SMZ 2025: CEO Tony Thomas on SMB Growth, Pricing & AI" was first published on Small Business Trends

Cybersecurity may not always be the flashiest business topic, but for entrepreneurs, it’s quickly becoming one of the most critical. Small business owners are increasingly targeted by cybercriminals, and one wrong click can lead to devastating losses. To help address this growing threat, Ramon Ray, well-known small business expert, speaker, and founder of Zone of Genius, has been appointed Small Business Ambassador for Bitdefender.

In a recent conversation with me, Ramon shared why cybersecurity matters now more than ever, how small businesses can protect themselves, and what his new role with Bitdefender will entail.

A Personal Announcement with Big Implications

Ramon began by acknowledging his longstanding relationship with the small business community and with me personally.

“Watching you build Small Biz Trends has just been beautifully amazing… we both love small business and both are super smart. It’s amazing how we show up different, but I appreciate you and what you build.”

Then came the official news:

“I’ve recently been engaged by Bitdefender… as their small business ambassador doing things just like this to show up and say, yep, build companies, build a business, be an entrepreneur — but be secure. Bitdefender has amazing solutions… to help small business owners be secure.”

Why Cybersecurity Should Be a Top Priority for Small Businesses

Ramon compared securing your business to locking your home or car.

“We’re not living in panic, but we’re living in being prudent… Hackers want to attack us… there’s cyber criminals, nefarious people all over.”

I agreed, noting that a company’s data is its lifeblood. A breach or extended downtime can be catastrophic.

“At the core of your business is data… any kind of interruption and all of a sudden, bam — you can be out permanently or at least months at a time.”

Ramon outlined his ambassador role as part educator, part motivator, and part connector between Bitdefender’s technology and small business owners’ needs.

Common Cybersecurity Myths

One of Ramon’s top priorities is dispelling dangerous misconceptions.

“It’s a fallacy… to think that I’m a small business, so only the bigger brands have to be secure. That is incorrect. Hackers want to attack even the smallest small businesses.”

Another myth is that careful clicking alone is enough.

“That’s part of it… but hackers and threats are so sophisticated, it’s even easier [for them] than ever.”

Practical Steps for Better Protection

Ramon offered a straightforward checklist for business owners:

1. Adopt a security mindset — train yourself and your team to think before clicking or sending.

2. Install reputable security software — Bitdefender’s solutions start at under $200 per year.

3. Educate employees about phishing scams — verify requests through known contact methods, not reply buttons.

4. Use two-factor authentication — even if it’s inconvenient, it adds a vital layer of protection.

5. Create and enforce strong passwords — avoid weak, guessable credentials.

6. Keep software and systems updated — unpatched tools leave easy openings for hackers.

7. Maintain regular backups — store them securely and test restore processes.

I added the backup reminder from his own experience:

“There’s a business… their computers got hacked and ransomware [hit]… everything’s encrypted… we just have to shut down. A simple backup… could have prevented this.”

Ramon agreed, calling backups “insurance” that can save a company from closure.

Real-World Consequences of Phishing

The conversation touched on how phishing plays on trust. I recalled an incident where a mutual friend was tricked into sending gift cards after receiving what appeared to be a message from former Small Business Trends owner Anita Campbell.

“It can be brutal… a couple thousand dollars, and it’s gone in the ether.”

Ramon emphasized the need to verify through a known, separate channel.

“Don’t just click… it could be 3 a.m. and you may not realize it didn’t say Leland, it said Lee Tand.”

AI’s Role in Cybersecurity — For Good and Bad

Ramon sees AI as a double-edged sword.

“Two things… voice scams are definitely on the rise… AI makes it easier… and crime is becoming easier to do. Hackers… are using AI to attack our businesses.”

On the defensive side, he noted that Bitdefender leverages AI in its software to detect threats and protect systems in the background.

Remote Work Security Challenges

As remote and hybrid work models expand, security risks multiply.

“One, is the person you’re hiring even who they say they are?… Number two, since they’re remote, is it their personal computer… or the corporate computer with all your information?”

He stressed requiring security software and VPN use on any device connecting to company networks.

Why VPNs Matter

Ramon broke down the importance of a VPN (Virtual Private Network) for entrepreneurs and their teams:

“When you’re off the corporate network… your data is open for all. The VPN encapsulates your data, encrypts your data… so it’s much more secure.”

I added that even at home, traffic passes through an ISP — and a VPN can offer more control and trust.

Building a Culture of Security

Ramon compared security gaps to leaving a gaping hole in a store wall.

“Every day you pass by… people are pointing it out… you should be fixing that hole. Security… is a critical foundation. Get the foundation built right, then build on top of that.”

I echoed the need for peace of mind:

“It’s vitally important to be able to know and be able to sleep at night and go, I’m secure.”

Bitdefender’s Approach

What excites Ramon most about the role?

“I can be Ramon… champion technology, champion building businesses… Bitdefender has a whole network of scientists and gurus… All they do is wake up every day and study the latest malicious attacks… My job… is to represent us and go forth and let small businesses know they should be secure.”

He encourages entrepreneurs to explore Bitdefender’s blog, trends reports, and resources, and to download his own free booklet at secureyourbrand.com.

The Bottom Line for Small Business Owners

Cybersecurity is no longer optional. Threats are constant, indiscriminate, and increasingly sophisticated. But as Ramon emphasized, the right mindset, tools, and habits can make a significant difference.

“We want you to build a thriving business… We’re just asking that you do it securely… It can’t hurt to invest… and make sure that you’re secure as possible.”

Resources:

• Bitdefender Ultimate Small Business Security: https://www.bitdefender.com/ramon

• Secure Your Brand Booklet: secureyourbrand.com

This article, "Discussing the Importance of Digital Security with Ramon Ray" was first published on Small Business Trends

Understanding the Real State of America’s Economy

Key Insight: Despite the prevailing “politics of pessimism,” the U.S. economy is stronger than many realize.

– Data Over Narrative: Statistically, the U.S. leads G7 nations in GDP per capita—double the next highest country. Even Mississippi, the poorest U.S. state, outpaces most G7 nations except Germany.
– Impact of Free Trade: The 1992 General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) protected intellectual property and opened global markets, paving the way for tech giants like Facebook and Google.
– Historical Context: Free markets, trade, property rights, and civil rights have fueled unprecedented American economic progress.

Actionable Takeaways:
– Rely on data over headlines. Review credible economic indicators regularly.
– Leverage U.S. advantages: strong infrastructure, legal protections, and access to global markets.

Reclaiming Agency in a Fear-Driven Environment

Key Insight: Fear and pessimism are powerful tools used by politicians and media, but they undermine clear decision-making.

– The Amygdala Effect: Fear triggers emotional reactions that override rational thought.
– Exploiting Fear: Media and politicians use fear to control narratives and public perception.
– Restoring Agency: Seek accurate information, hold yourself accountable, and embrace diverse perspectives.

Actionable Takeaways:
– Audit your information sources for credibility and balance.
– Pause when fear-driven news hits—ask if it’s fact or emotion-driven.
– Engage with differing viewpoints to broaden understanding.

The Power of Perspective: “Compared to When? Compared to Who?”

Key Insight: Perspective is essential for optimism and informed decision-making.

– Challenging Nostalgia: Every past era had unique challenges; no time was “perfect.”
– Global Comparison: Reframe your outlook by asking, “Compared to when? Compared to who?”

Actionable Takeaways:
– Benchmark your business against industry peers and global standards.
– Read data-driven, optimistic works like The Rational Optimist by Matt Ridley.

Optimism as a Business Strategy

Key Insight: Optimism isn’t naïve—it’s a competitive advantage.

– Optimism Drives Action: Believing in better outcomes spurs innovation and problem-solving.
– Resilience Through Change: Political and economic climates shift, but American principles endure.

Actionable Takeaways:
– Cultivate a growth mindset focused on controllable actions.
– Celebrate innovation stories to inspire your team.
– Build flexibility into your business plans to weather change.

Empathy and Civil Discourse: Healing Divides in Business and Society

Key Insight: Empathy and active listening bridge divides and strengthen relationships.

– The Dangers of Labeling: Dehumanizing opponents stops productive dialogue.
– Empathy in Action: Stories like the saxophonist who helped a former KKK member leave the group show how patient understanding fosters change.
– Personal Responsibility: Each person can choose to lead with empathy.

Actionable Takeaways:
– Encourage open dialogue and active listening in your team.
– De-escalate conflicts by avoiding labels and focusing on understanding.
– Model respectful, empathetic communication daily.

Action Steps for Small Business Owners

1. Stay Informed, Not Overwhelmed
– Subscribe to balanced news sources.
– Review economic and industry trends weekly.

2. Build Resilience Through Perspective
– Benchmark progress meaningfully.
– Recognize and celebrate long-term gains.

3. Practice Optimism and Agency
– Set clear, actionable business goals.
– Focus on factors you can control.

4. Cultivate Empathy and Civil Discourse
– Host regular team discussions on challenges and successes.
– Encourage diverse viewpoints respectfully.

5. Prepare for Change
– Develop contingency plans.
– Stay flexible and open to opportunities.

Listen to the entire episode on The Small Business Radio Show.

This article, "Can Optimism and Empathy Heal America’s Divides in Business?" was first published on Small Business Trends

Wharton began by addressing the dangers inherent in the current obsession with rapid scaling, billion-dollar valuations, and aggressive fundraising. He described how the startup world often glamorizes so-called unicorns, but the reality is starkly different: very few companies ever reach that status, and most fail or become stagnant. This high-stakes approach frequently leads to unsound business practices such as poor unit economics, high customer churn, and a lack of profitability—all of which make a business vulnerable during economic downturns. Wharton urged small business owners to reconsider whether chasing venture capital and scale is the best or only path forward. Instead, he advised assessing your business model based on its ability to stand independently, generate sustainable profits, and deliver real value to customers.

Looking back at the evolution of venture capital, Wharton noted that prior to the late 1990s, companies were expected to be profitable and stable before going public. But the Netscape IPO in 1995 shifted investor expectations, ushering in an era where speed and growth took precedence over fundamentals. Today, venture capital funding is more abundant but also less disciplined, creating an uneven playing field for small businesses. Wharton recommended that entrepreneurs study how enduring companies like Microsoft and Amazon were initially built—on modest capital and solid fundamentals—and advised being highly selective with any outside investment, ensuring that it aligns with the company’s mission and long-term goals.

At the heart of the conversation was Wharton’s advocacy for the evergreen company model. Evergreen businesses aren’t designed to sell quickly or chase market hype. They are built to endure, focusing on real profitability, treating employees well, and contributing positively to their communities. These companies are less reliant on continuous fundraising and more capable of weathering market turbulence. Wharton emphasized the cultural advantages of this model, where strong internal values foster loyalty, motivation, and long-term thinking.

One of the central principles of evergreen companies is prioritizing profitability over unbridled growth. Borrowing a phrase from business thinker Clayton Christensen, Wharton encouraged entrepreneurs to be “impatient for profits and patient for growth.” Establishing profitability early allows businesses to maintain control, reinvest strategically, and scale responsibly—without being overly dependent on external capital or investor pressure. This profit-first mentality also creates a more stable foundation and better customer experiences, which are critical for lasting success.

Wharton also championed the use of low-cost experiments to reduce risk and promote learning. In contrast to the dot-com era’s high-stakes gambles, today’s smart businesses take a leaner approach: testing ideas through pilots or minimum viable products (MVPs) to gather feedback and iterate. This process allows for rapid pivots and smarter resource allocation. Small experiments not only limit downside risk but also create a culture of adaptability and continuous improvement.

Innovation, Wharton argued, should be pragmatic and intentional—not driven by hype, but by a desire to serve customers better and grow sustainably. He advised business owners to engage in what he calls “learning journeys”: connecting regularly with peers, seeking mentorship, attending industry events, and staying intellectually curious. Importantly, he urged companies to document lessons learned and foster an environment where experimentation is both encouraged and systematically reviewed.

Finally, Wharton emphasized the role of purpose as a guiding force for resilient businesses. A clearly defined mission helps align teams, improves decision-making, and becomes a critical source of strength during challenges. Too often, accepting venture funding shifts a company’s focus to maximizing investor returns, which can dilute or even contradict the founder’s original mission. A purpose-driven company, by contrast, maintains strategic coherence and attracts employees who are motivated by more than just financial incentives.

In sum, Wharton’s message is clear: long-term, sustainable success doesn’t come from chasing growth for its own sake. It comes from building a company grounded in solid fundamentals, committed to profitability, and anchored by a meaningful purpose. For small business owners navigating today’s volatile landscape, the evergreen model offers not just a strategic alternative—but a more human, resilient, and fulfilling way to build a company that truly lasts.

Listen to the entire interview on The Small Business Radio Show.

This article, "Is the “Get Big Fast” Mentality Hurting Your Small Business?" was first published on Small Business Trends

This week on The Small Business Radio Show, I talked with  Rich Hagberg, PhD—Silicon Valley’s “CEO Whisperer” and explored the core reasons founders fail and what it takes to build a thriving business. Drawing on decades of experience coaching top tech leaders and helping entrepreneurs overcome communication challenges, their insights offer powerful, practical guidance for small business success.

One major theme discussed was the “visionary’s dilemma.” Most founders are brilliant idea generators but often lack the operational skills required to scale a business. Startups tend to fail not because of a shortage of ideas, but due to poor execution. Many founders resist building systems and processes, resulting in companies that are technically alive but not truly thriving. To combat this, founders must assess their own strengths and weaknesses, embrace operational excellence, and break big visions into clear, actionable steps using tools like Trello or Asana.

Another key insight is the value of execution partners. Founders frequently try to do everything themselves, which leads to burnout and bottlenecks. By recognizing their limitations and partnering with individuals who bring complementary skills—like a strong COO—they can build more resilient organizations. Effective delegation, clearly defined roles, and a culture of feedback are essential components of this strategy.

The episode also debunks the “genius jerk” myth. While the media often idolizes difficult but brilliant founders, research shows that emotional intelligence and adaptability are far stronger predictors of business success. Toxic leadership can ruin morale and drive away talent, so cultivating self-awareness, practicing adaptability, and prioritizing team health are critical.

Personal growth emerged as another powerful differentiator. Founders who commit to continuous learning—through reading, mentorship, and reflection—are far more likely to succeed. Embracing vulnerability and conducting regular “post-mortems” after major initiatives can help leaders evolve and avoid repeated mistakes.

Finally, the discussion highlighted the importance of delegation and trust. Micromanagement slows growth, while systematized delegation, team recognition, and leadership development fuel a culture of empowerment. As companies scale, founders must step back from control and invest in others to move forward.

Listen to the entire episode on The Small Business Radio Show.

This article, "Why Founders Fail: Busting the Genius Jerk Myth" was first published on Small Business Trends