Written for the leaders, owners and professionals of the 11 million businesses with between $50,000 and $50 million in revenue.

Sharing accounts for streaming apps … Keeping student discounts after graduation… Lending out Costco membership cards. A subscription-based business model has many advantages, but also a risk of “freeloading.”

Now, major businesses are fighting back with technology. Netflix has targeted password sharing if users aren’t located at the same address, which has resulted in millions of new subscriptions. Retailers have turned to digital verification services like SheerID to confirm students’ current enrollment. Costco is using new scanners to “match members to their cards at the door.”

But customers might start to worry about their privacy as identity verification reaches sci-fi levels. (Worldcoin’s Sam Altman reportedly wants to scan the iris of every human being.) If you gaze for too long into Netflix, does Netflix also gaze into you?

Jotform: CEO wants you to Automate Your Busywork

Rising Tide: Florida car wash proves “everyone can shine”

Hot dog: You can now buy a flamethrowing robot pooch

Back in the ‘00s, Aytekin Tank revolutionized web design with Jotform, which automated the building of online forms. He remains CEO of the company and still has a passion for automation. He’s written the book Automate Your Busywork: Do Less, Achieve More, and Save Your Brain for the Big Stuff.

Tank spoke with b. about why he feels AI won’t make small businesses obsolete, just the least exciting aspects of running one.

b.: Do you see small business owners lagging behind in incorporating AI?

Tank: I’ve seen some reluctance … partly based in a fear that AI will take human jobs. Small business owners want to show solidarity with their employees, and I understand that sentiment. 

But … I don’t see AI as necessarily a threat to humans. I see it as something that many professionals can use to … leave more space for more meaningful activities — the parts of their jobs that make them tick. 

b.: What operational processes are perfect for automation?

Tank: For starters, customer service. AI-powered chatbots can be incorporated into your website to handle common customer questions and issues. We do this at my company, and importantly, it hasn’t replaced our human employees — our team continues to grow. 

Instead, it frees up our employees to focus on novel and more complex issues. Customers receive immediate attention and are more satisfied.

b.: What’s the best way to get started?

Tank: Using AI tools that fit right into your existing operations is a great way to dip your toes into the AI pool without having to completely overhaul your systems.

For instance, QuickBooks … uses AI to analyze customer payment patterns and predict the best time to send invoices, minimizing the likelihood of having to send multiple reminders and chase down payments, a headache that any small business owner would be happy to avoid. It can also automatically analyze your … customer segmentation, providing insight to your marketing team.

b.: What AI tools do you suggest that small business owners avoid?

Tank: I would not suggest using AI to generate editorial content, such as an article or newsletter. Editors and readers are increasingly savvy to “AI-speak.” … While AI can imitate voice, it can never nail your voice combined with your unique life experience and expertise. … I wouldn’t rely on any of the results without vetting the sources. 

b.: Where do you see the industry headed in the next year? 

Tank: AI’s capabilities will continue to expand and become more sophisticated. Tools will also become more accessible … and leave more time for the tasks that only humans can do. It will boost productivity on work that matters — that moves the needle for your company.

Text message marketing should be simple, but ask any small business owner who’s tried it and you’ll likely hear horror stories about navigating SMS/MMS limits, keeping tabs on short codes, and ensuring regulatory compliance. It doesn’t have to be this way — reaching your audience via text message can be as easy as one, two, three. 

That’s EZ Texting’s approach, with a fast and easy set up and user-friendly interface that even a text marketing novice can handle from day one. Forget the jargon and the complicated hoops to jump through. With EZ Texting, you’ll be able to create your audience and send your first text message marketing campaign right away.

Start your free trial today and see why more than 230,000 small business owners already trust EZ Texting with their text message marketing campaigns.

(Source: Rising Tide)

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 13% of Americans live with a disability, but only 22.5% of this population are employed.

Rising Tide Car Wash, a Florida-based business built to train and employ those on the autism spectrum and related disabilities, started when founder John D’Eri worried about how his son Andrew (who lives with autism) would manage in adulthood. While John felt his son was capable, he didn’t see career opportunities where Andrew could thrive. So, John decided to make one for Andrew and adults like him.

(Although many people with disabilities are employed at traditional workplaces, some may excel at businesses that keep their unique needs in mind.)

At Rising Tide, 80% of employees are living with autism or related disabilities. They can lean on visual cues, such as color-coded systems and scannable QR codes with step-by-step instructions for a particular process.

The business has scaled to open three locations and washes an estimated 500,000 cars a year. Over 100 team members have moved on to further employment opportunities in auto body repair, hospitality, retail, and maintenance.

(Also, Rising Tide’s COO and Andrew’s brother Tom D’Eri has released a book on workplace inclusion for any business owner to learn from.)

(Source: Throwflame)

Hey gift shoppers, what do you get for the person who has everything?

Well, thanks to an Ohio-based flamethrower company — creatively named Throwflame — you can purchase a new android pet, which happens to spew fire for some reason. Yes, Throwflame is positioning its Thermonator as “the first-ever flamethrower-wielding robot dog.”

This remote-controlled quadruped robot dog features laser sights, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, one hour of battery life, and a 30-foot burn range. It’s available for public purchase (no military contract necessary) at $9,420. The nightmare-fuel death pooch can be used for “ice removal,” “agricultural management,” and “entertainment.” Dog help us all. 

Written by Antonio Ferme, Jake Wengroff, Carolyn Neuhausen, and Dan Ketchum.