Ben Richmond

1 week ago | entrepreneur.com | Ben Richmond

The small business landscape has never been more complex. Shifting consumer expectations, ongoing macroeconomic headwinds and evolving workforce dynamics are forcing business owners to rethink traditional strategies and embrace more adaptive ways of operating. A decade ago, the playbook looked different. Today, businesses face a swirl of uncertainty — tariff fluctuations, inflationary pressure, late payments and unpredictable policy shifts.

3 weeks ago | canadian-accountant.com | Ben Richmond

IN MY recent article, I spoke with Chad Davis and Josh Zweig, Co-Founders of LiveCA about lessons learned five years out from the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, we’re taking a look ahead at the next five years, to the year 2030, where the accounting profession will experience another fundamental transformation. Technology, like artificial intelligence (AI), is changing how clients engage with accountants, how firms operate, and what it means to be a trusted advisor.

2 months ago | canadian-accountant.com | Ben Richmond

Ben Richmond is Managing Director, North America at Xero. THE accounting industry has evolved steadily over the last decade, undergoing somewhat of a quiet revolution that was accelerated by the global pandemic. While the profession is generally perceived as being slower to innovate — this is not necessarily the reality. Across Canada, and particularly over the past few years, firms are embracing new technologies and fine-tuning how to best serve their clients.

Mar 7, 2025 | betakit.com | Ben Richmond

Canadian small business owners must take rapid action to protect their own interests, as new data from Xero reveals a widening gap between small business sales in the US and Canada, and a major disconnect in overall mood. Small business sales in Canada dropped more than two percent during the September quarter 2024, while south of the border, small business sales were up nearly one percent, according to the latest Xero Small Business Insights (XSBI) report.

Feb 18, 2025 | entrepreneur.com | Ben Richmond

With a new administration on the horizon, it's hard to ignore speculation around the impact of policy changes on small business owners — changes that can have mixed outcomes, both creating opportunities and introducing new challenges. While policies introduced by the government may open doors to new funding, tax incentives or support programs, they can also lead to uncertainty and potential obstacles, such as changes to tariffs or labor laws.