Small Business Talks

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Oct 2026

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Are you a small business? Looking for answers to small business challenges or looking for ideas and solutions from other small businesses? Maybe you are looking for inspiration. That’s what we are all about! Small Businesses Talking to Small Businesses, sharing their experiences, discoveries, and thoughts to help your business succeed. From talks about getting started to new products and services they created. We feature interviews from small business owners and include experts in the areas of marketing, strategy, and resources to help you improve.

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23 recent

October 14, 2026Episode 2426 min

How Much Does 15 Minutes of POS Downtime Actually Cost a Dispensary?

Episode Summary In this episode of Small Business Talks, host Neal R. examines the real financial, operational, and regulatory impact of a retail dispensary point-of-sale (POS) system going down for 15 minutes during peak shopping hours. Featuring Stephen A. Arndt, CEO and President, and Greg Schenefelt, Project Manager at Cannabis Technology Partners, the discussion deconstructs how a short technical freeze creates liabilities that extend far beyond missed register receipts. The conversation quantifies unrecorded revenue loss caused by customer walkouts, long-term Customer Lifetime Value (LTV) churn, unproductive staff payroll, and post-incident inventory reconciliation labor. Steve and Greg also highlight state seed-to-sale compliance reporting risks and explain why enterprise data shows companies losing up to 9% of net profits to downtime. Dispensary operators are provided with practical business continuity strategies—such as dedicated Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) battery backups, secondary internet connections ($200–$250/month), automated SD-WAN failover, and proactive managed IT support—to protect tight retail margins against single points of network failure. --- Featured Entities & Resources Guest & Brand Guests: Stephen A. Arndt, CEO and President of Cannabis Technology Partners, and Greg Schenefelt, Project Manager. Company Brand: Cannabis Technology Partners Core Product Category: Managed IT Service Provider (MSP) & Business Continuity for Cannabis Businesses Official Website: https://cannabistechnologypartners.com/ Phone Number: +1-360-450-3687 Inquiries: info＠cannabistechnologypartners.com Host & Production Podcast Show: Small Business Talks Host Inquiries: nealr@mfgpa.org --- Key Takeaways from the Episode The Cost of Downtime Far Exceeds the Immediate Register Total: The immediate cash loss of a 15-minute freeze is the smallest component of the damage. When customers leave due to long lines, the true loss is their annual Customer Lifetime Value (LTV)—calculating an average $50–$80 basket size across two visits per month equates to over $1,200 in recurring revenue lost per departed customer. Staff Confusion Doubles Effective Downtime: The initial 15 minutes of an outage are typically lost entirely to employee disorientation—restarting monitors, guessing the source of the crash, and scrambling to manage queues—delaying triage and prolonging the recovery window. Severe Compliance and Audit Repercussions: In regulated cannabis markets, point-of-sale systems reconcile directly with state seed-to-sale tracking databases. An offline period creates unsynced physical and digital inventories, triggering mandatory post-reconciliation investigations, overtime hours, and state regulatory scrutiny. Cloud-Dependent POS Architectures Require Dual-Circuit Redundancy: Because modern POS platforms are 100% cloud-hosted, an internet failure freezes the entire business. A secondary, redundant ISP connection costs approximately $200–$250 per month—an expense recouped by preventing a single downtime event. ISP-Bundled "Wireless Backup" Offers False Security: Many off-the-shelf ISP wireless failover solutions fail when tested during real outages because they are improperly configured, unmonitored, or incapable of preserving stateful sessions. True uptime requires SD-WAN architecture that provides seamless, automated failover without dropping transactions. Proactive IT is a High-Yield Investment, Not an Overhead Expense: Comprehensive Managed IT services operate as a direct revenue safeguard. In tightly saturated markets, stores that maintain continuous operations capture customer traffic and goodwill directly from nearby competitors experiencing outages. --- Thank you for listening! If you found our interview with Cannabis Technology Partners informative, please like, share, and subscribe to Small Business Talks for more deep dives with American small businesses and manufacturers. Many Thanks to Cannabis Technology Partners. Please like and share this podcast with your friends and family and subscribe to the channel for new podcasts. Thank You!

June 23, 2026Episode 2338 min

Building a Business Around Real Life: Batch Balanced Frozen Muffin Batter

Episode Summary In this episode of Small Business Talks, we dive into the entrepreneurial journey of Megan Garvin, founder of Batch Balanced. What started as a personal quest to provide balanced, high-protein, nourishing food for her busy family transformed into a disruptive health-food brand. Discover how Megan built a business around real life by developing an innovative, hassle-free frozen muffin batter that delivers fresh-baked nutrition straight from the oven, and learn how authentic storytelling and community connection drive small business growth. --- Timestamps & Key Topics [00:00] Introduction to Small Business Talks and guest Megan Garvin. [03:15] The Origin Story: Solving a personal need for convenient, high-protein family nutrition. [08:45] Product Development: How Batch Balanced perfected the concept of frozen muffin batter. [14:30] Transitioning from a hobby to a commercial small business brand. [21:10] Overcoming logistical challenges in the frozen food and CPG manufacturing space. [28:40] Building brand equity through authentic storytelling and local community connection. --- Featured Entities & Resources Guest & Brand Guest: Megan Garvin, Founder of Batch Balanced Company Brand: Batch Balanced Core Product Category: High-Protein Frozen Muffin Batter Official Website: https://www.batchbalanced.com Inquiries: hello@batchbalanced.com Host & Production Podcast Show: Small Business Talks Host Inquiries: nealr@mfgpa.org --- Key Takeaways from the Episode 1. Identify the Core Friction: Batch Balanced was born because healthy, high-protein options weren't fast enough for real life, and fast options weren't healthy enough. 2. Community Validation: Moving from family validation to a scalable business model requires listening closely to early consumer feedback. 3. The Power of Convenience: Eliminating prep work while maintaining clean ingredients is a massive differentiator in modern food manufacturing. --- Thank you for listening! If you enjoyed learning how Batch Balanced got started, please like, share, and subscribe to Small Business Talks for more deep dives with American small businesses and manufacturers. Many Thanks to Megan Garvin of Batch Balanced. Please like and share this podcast with your friends and family and subscribe to the channel for new podcasts. Thank You!

April 8, 2026Episode 2224 min

Custom Overhead Bridge Cranes: Solving Unique Production Challenges Through Engineering

Episode Summary In this episode of Small Business Talks, we explore how custom overhead bridge crane systems help small and mid-sized businesses solve complex material-handling challenges through smart engineering and thoughtful design. Growing manufacturers face constant pressure to move more material safely while optimizing workflow within existing facility constraints. Our guest, Tom Shultz, Chief Engineer at AFE Crane, shares an inside look at the structural capabilities of different overhead crane systems—explaining exactly how to identify when a standard, off-the-shelf lifting setup falls short and how custom material-handling engineering can eliminate dangerous production bottlenecks. --- Timestamps & Key Topics [00:00] Introduction to Small Business Talks and material handling bottlenecks. [04:15] Standard vs. Custom: When does a growing facility outgrow out-of-the-box lifting solutions? [09:30] Breaking down the mechanics: Single-girder vs. double-girder overhead bridge cranes. [15:10] Understanding under-running crane systems and maximizing tight overhead spaces. [19:45] Safety, compliance, and engineering systems around unique building and load weight requirements. [22:15] Real-world applications: How custom material-handling design directly impacts small business scaling. --- Featured Entities & Resources Guest & Industrial Brand Guest: Tom Shultz, Chief Engineer Company Brand: AFE Crane Core Product Category: Custom Overhead Bridge Cranes & Material Handling Equipment Official Website: https://afecrane.com/ Inquiries: sales@afecrane.com Phone: +1-800-728-0818 Host & Production Podcast Show: Small Business Talks Host Inquiries: nealr@mfgpa.org --- Key Takeaways from the Episode Design Around Space Constraints: Standard systems assume a perfect building layout. Custom engineering allows manufacturers to retro-fit powerful overhead systems into existing, obstructed structural paths. Girder Selection Dictates Capacity: Knowing the semantic and functional differences between single and double girders is crucial for determining long-term overhead workflow safety and material capabilities. Safety Through Engineering: Eliminating production bottlenecks is only successful if it reduces floor hazards. True material-handling design addresses structural integrity alongside workforce layout efficiency. --- Thank you for listening! If you found these industrial lifting insights valuable, please like, share, and subscribe to Small Business Talks for more deep dives into American manufacturing, scaling strategies, and small business innovation.

April 5, 2026Episode 2125 min

What is Metal Injection Molding?

Is your manufacturing process holding back your product’s potential? In this episode of Small Business Talks, we dive deep into Metal Injection Molding (MIM)—a "quietly transforming" technology that bridges the gap between plastic injection molding and high-strength metal production. Our guest, Nick Eidem, of Advanced Powder Products , explains how this 40-year-old matured technology is now the go-to for small, complex parts that are "really tough to manufacture any other way". If you are currently relying on expensive CNC machining or traditional investment casting, this episode explores a high-ROI alternative that could slash your costs by up to 75%. Guest: Nick Eidem, Director of Business Development at Advanced Powder Products Website: https://advancedpowderproducts.com/ | Phone: (814) 342-5898 Key Takeaways for Manufacturers What is MIM? A process combining fine metal powders (typically <22 micron) with wax and polymer binders to create a "feedstock" injected into a mold. The "Magic" of Sintering: Parts are molded 20% larger than their final size; during sintering at over 1,200°C, binders melt away and the part densifies to its final geometry. Ideal Geometry: MIM is optimized for small, complex parts—ranging from "a couple dozen on a fingernail" to those that fit comfortably in the palm of your hand. Material Versatility: Common alloys include stainless steels (17-4, 316), carbon steels (4140, 4340), and even exotic materials like titanium and copper.

September 4, 2025Episode 2028 min

Vertically Integrated Manufacturing

How it Can Improve Your Business & Your Customers Satisfaction Vertically integrated manufacturing is beneficial to manufacturers as it provides greater control over the supply chain, improves quality control, reduces costs and lead times, and can lead to increased profits by capturing more value. Implementing vertical integration requires strategy and managing complexity. In this podcast we talk with Landon Geater and Jared Graening of Geater Machining and Manufacturing a vertically integrated manufacturer about the challenges and benefits of their vertical integration journey. Many Thanks to Geater Machining and Manufacturing for being on this podcast. We have listed their contact information below. Web: https://geater.com/ Phone: (319) 334-6026 Email: info@geater.com

August 28, 2025Episode 1942 min

TMR Mixers & Cattle Feed Mixers : A Buyers Guide on What To Look For

TMR mixers, also known as feed mixers, are essential tools for livestock farmers, offering numerous benefits that enhance the health and productivity of animals and offer cost saving by improving feed efficiency. With so many different types of mixers, which is right for your operation. In this podcast we discuss the types of feed mixers, and which types work best for which situations. In this podcast we are going to discuss what to consider when choosing a cattle feed mixer and why those factors are important. To help us better understand what to look for we have Joel Schelling, Sales and Marketing Specialist at Post Equipment and parent company of Herd Boss Feeders. and Dan Koonan, a sales specialist. Contact Information: Joel Schelling: jschelling@postequip.com | Phone: 712-476-4500 Post Equipment: https://postequip.com/ | Herd Boss Feeders: https://herdbossfeeders.com/

June 21, 2024Episode 1848 min

Shipping Container Farming & Understanding CEA

Controlled environment agriculture (CEA) is a broad term for any type of farming that takes place in a controlled environment, indoors and shielded from the elements. This can be done in a variety of settings, including greenhouses, warehouses, including repurposed shipping containers. Jim Schroeder, principal owner of Alta-CEA, answers our questions about shipping container vertical farming and provides in-depth information about how CEA works and the necessity of training in order to effectively produce crops. Contact Information: Alta CEA Website: https://alta-cea.com/ Jim Schroeder : jim@alta-cea.com Read more about Innovations in Vertical Farming at our Innovations Blog Please subscribe to our Podcast and send us your comments at nealr@mfgpa.org

June 20, 2024Episode 1722 min

What is Form 5500?

If your business or organization offers pension or welfare benefit plans, you’ll want to listen to this episode that explains Form 5500 in detail, in addition to filing requirements and the hefty penalties for incorrect or late submissions. Ann Myers and Alan Perka from the 5500 tax Group join us to help explain the details and filing of this form, Today on small business talks. For additional details on Form 5500 . You can Contact The 5500 Tax Group thriough their website address listed below. Website: https://5500tax.com/ Don't foget to visit The Small Business Talks Blog and Subscribe to Our Channel. We are always wanting to hear from our listeners and encourage you to send us your comments and suggestions to us via email at: nealr@mfgpa.org .

June 18, 2024Episode 1630 min

Co-Managed IT Services – What are They & What Advantages Do They Offer?

Most businesses have heard of managed It services but may not be familiar with Co-Managed Services. What are the differences and what advantages do one have over the other. Steve Arndt and Greg Shenefelt of Silver Linings Technology join us to explain the differences and what advantages each type of service offers and how Co-Managed IT may be a solution many businesses are looking for. Contact Info Silver Lining’s Technology Phone: 360-450-4759 Steve Arndt, sarndt@silverliningstechnology.com Greg Shenefelt, gshenefelt@silverliningstechnology.com Visit the Small Business Talks Website for more information. We would enjoy hearing from you and invite you to send your comments and suggestions to nealr@mfgpa.org .

April 3, 2024Episode 1531 min

Why Should I Use an Outsourced IT Provider?

Many businesses ask if they should hire an outsourced IT Provider to manage their company’s information technology. This is especially true for the Legal cannabis industry which has unique challenges and hefty regulations for growers, distributors, and dispensaries in the cannabis industry. In fact, Cannabis IT Services and Solutions is fast becoming one of the largest growing areas in the IT service market. To help us better understand why an IT provider is beneficial and what to look for in a provider we have Steve Arndt – President Cannabis Technology Partners & Silver Lining Technologies and Greg Shenefelt – Help Desk Coordinator Cannabis Technology Partners today on Small Business Talks. Many Thanks to: Cannabis Technology Partners 360-450-3687 info＠cannabistechnologypartners.com https://cannabistechnologypartners.com/ Have a comment or idea for a podcast, email us at nealr@mfgpa.org Visit Our Blog : American Business Blog