Zenbooks

Grants, Growth & Grit: The Real Talk Small Business Owners Need to Hear" (With Nishant Raina, Mastercard Canada)

In this episode of The Small Business Big Insights Podcast, host Eric sits down with Nishant Raina, Vice President of Product Management at Mastercard in Canada. Nishant shares how Mastercard is helping small business owners tackle some of their biggest challenges. You’ll hear about the crucial role small businesses play in Canada’s economy, the pain points they’re facing right now, and how Mastercard’s programs and tools are making a difference.


00:00 Introduction and Guest Overview
01:21 The Role of Small Businesses in Canada’s Economy
06:34 Mastercard’s Initiatives to Support Small Businesses
09:31 The Future of Financial Institutions and FinTech
14:29 Mastercard’s Use of Data and Cybersecurity
18:31 Barriers to Digital Tool Adoption
21:13 Embracing AI and Digital Payments
23:30 Mastercard’s Role in Supporting Small Businesses
30:20 Building a Small Business Community
33:05 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

https://www.linkedin.com/in/nishantraina/

Zenbooks has been an incredible team to work with. They’re detail-oriented and on the ball when it comes to deliverables, so that we can analyze the data and make educated decisions on how to grow our business. We highly recommend Zenbooks and definitely wouldn’t be where we are without them.Justin Thomason

West of Main

Justin Thomason

Eric has been my accountant ever since he took over my former accountant's practice. He and his team have been a pleasure to work with and quick to respond to my emails. He has been very patient transitioning me over to the digital cloud based platform as I am still used to paper. They provide a quality service at a reasonable price.

Dr. Pam Li

Pam Li

Founder & CEO

Zenbooks is the best accounting firm I've ever worked with. I reached out to them with an urgent accounting matter, and within 48 hours, they solved the problem. They are an innovative and dynamic team that uses a number of different technologies and software to deliver financial solutions. I recommend them without hesitation.

Duco

Emrah Eren

Zenbooks has been an incredible team to work with. They have allowed our design firm to focus on growing and providing a high quality of service to our clients while they take care of the behind the scenes administrative bookkeeping & accounting transactions. Having a bookkeeping company we can trust with great communication and an open mind has provided a tailored service that best suits our needs. They’re detail oriented and on the ball when it comes to deliverables so that we can analyze the data and make the educated decisions on how to grow our business. We highly recommend Zenbooks and definitely wouldn’t be where we are without them. They’re a key component of our success and our day to day productivity.

Operations Manager

We have been working with Zenbooks for several years and they have provided our company with exceptional service and advice. They are always available to answer any questions or help however they can. I have had the opportunity to work with Colin for accounting and strategy, Beata for bookkeeping and Madison for payroll. They are all incredible support to us in their respective fields and are a pleasure to work with. I strongly recommend Zenbooks to anyone looking for accounting services.

Empire Deck and Fence

David Greenberg

New client here; signed with them for my company, Whiskeyjack Media, a few months ago. I would describe my feelings as "bananas happy" so far. Wishing I would have called them sooner... Keep up the great work, guys!

Whiskeyjack Media

Jake Naylor

Zenbooks has given me a huge weight off my shoulders, to know that my accounting is being done in a professional way, and has helped me to know that I can focus 100% of my attention on my practice and growing my business. They get back to my emails promptly, spend the time to explain what everything means, and have proven that they really care about helping businesses grow and thrive.

Naturopathic Clinic

Dr. Jada MacLeod, ND

As a business owner, I'm very impressed with the approach and philosophy that Colin and Eric have embraced with Zenbooks. Their processes and fees are transparent, their use of technology is efﬁcient and effective, and their overall strategy is innovative and leading-edge. They present a compelling solution for business owners who want both straightforward solutions and strategic advice.

Mayor of Ottawa 

Mark Sutcliffe

Executive Director

What I have valued most about our work with Zenbooks is the candid conversations and constructive feedback. When they came onboard, they were able to quickly implement a number of small changes that had significant positive impacts on our organization.

John Howard Society of Ottawa

Tyler Fainstat

Founder and COO

Zenbooks is highly accountable and capable. Their team is consistent, and the client trusts them with their needs. They also complete tasks within the agreed-upon deadline most of the time. I super appreciate their consistency and how much I can trust them with the things I need.

Beyond the Peak

Oliver Wolf

Co-founder & CEO

I worked with Eric and team for the first time this year. They were a true pleasure to work with!

Cards and Treasure

Warren Levitan

Managing Partner

The client is pleased with Zenbooks' flawless work and on-time, error-free payroll and accounting services. The team is also highly responsive to any questions the client has. They're accessible and show genuine care for their work. Overall, their members contribute greatly to the client's success. I appreciate their team!

Moniker Partners

Sean Hoff

Zenbooks has been amazing with helping us with our accounting for our small business. Eric is very reliable, not to mention very quick at responding to our emails and requests! He is always willing to jump on the phone if we have any questions or advice to ask. Their products are easy to use on the fly, and accessible from anywhere, which is very important for us as we are a mobile office. 100% would recommend to any business!

Ottawa Coffee Fest

Geneviève Séguin

Zenbooks helped us create a system that saves money and is more useful. We’re more impactful because of it.

Canadian Society of Respiratory Therapists

Andrew West

Secretary General

I contacted Eric regarding fund-based accounting for a previous non-profit charity I founded. Eric was responsive and well-informed on current challenges and opportunities facing charities in their start-up phase. Eric walked me through several options and clarified where and how he and his team at Zenbooks could work with the organization. While the organization did not proceed at the time due to internal decision-making, Eric has remained a trusted partner and mentor. He continues to advance the small business landscape while including non-profits/social enterprises. I am confident that our professional paths will cross again. I recommend him to any organization looking to improve their accounting processes or ensure they set themselves up for success right from day one.

Council Advancing Work-Based Learning

Jeremy McQuigge

Zenbooks has been an important part of the growth of our business. We have grown from a solo consultancy to now having ten people on payroll thanks to the advice from Colin, Eric and the Zenbooks team. They take care of accounting, bookkeeping and payroll for us. They have also helped make tax headaches, much less of a headache. I'm so happy to have these knowledgeable people to help me in this area!

I would highly recommend their services.

Marie Haynes Consulting Inc

Marie Haynes

Zenbooks has been an important part of the growth of our business. We have grown from a solo consultancy to now having ten people on payroll, thanks to the advice from Colin, Eric, and the Zenbooks team. They take care of accounting, bookkeeping and payroll for us. They have also helped make tax headaches much less of a headache. I’m so happy to have these knowledgeable people to help me in this area! I would highly recommend their services.

Reviewing my books now, and doing a side by side comparison between my taxes owing from last year (with Zenbooks) and the previous year (local accountant). There is a SIGNIFICANT financial benefit for having made the switch. They are also great to work with in terms of accessibility and technology (virtual file upload and automated reminders), as well as just being kind cool people. Highly recommend!

Naturopathic Doctor

Dr. Sarah Goulding

Jeremy Irving

Excellent modern accounting firm to work with. Recommended!

IC 360 Solutions

Co-Founder & CFO

Helpful and thorough group of professionals that can really ease your day-to-day burden.

Inter-Val

Colin Szemenyei

Simply the BEST accounting firm in CANADA hands down. Our accountant, Albert, is more than just an accountant for us; we consider him a family friend. He goes out of his way every year to help us navigate the crazy world of taxes. Thank you, Zenbooks, and THANK YOU, Albert, for always being there for us.

interVal

Owner/Founder

I use these guys for the accounting for my small business and couldn’t be happier. I am clueless about taxes and find the topic really stressful, but Colin is always great at simplifying things and handling all the stuff I don’t want to handle myself. Their fees are reasonable, and I love the fact that they have our bookkeeping up-to-date instead of months behind. I’d strongly recommend them if you’re looking for a good accounting firm.

Sterling Sky

Joy Hawkins

Zenbooks has been doing an amazing job with the accounting and payroll for my business. They are easy to reach and extremely organized.

Everything Elena

Elena Loreal

Chair & Head, Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine

Eric and Colin have always been responsive and there to assist. They also accommodate my eccentricities. Two years from last review. Still extremely happy. That must say something for them.

The Ottawa Hospital

Dr. David Neilipovitz

Eric and his team have been absolutely instrumental to the operations and growth of my real estate development company. From day one, they brought a level of professionalism, precision, and care that is rare to find. They don’t just “do the books” — they bring financial clarity, structure, and insight into every aspect of controlling, budgeting, forecasting, and compliance. What sets Eric apart is not only his technical expertise as a CPA, but also his deep understanding of real estate development and the complex, moving pieces that come with it. Whether it’s setting up financial systems, coordinating with legal and tax advisors, or preparing investor-ready reporting packages, Eric's team brings a calm, methodical, and forward-thinking approach that gives us peace of mind. They’ve been a true partner and an extension of our internal team, and I genuinely don’t know how we’d be operating at the level we are today without them.

If you're a founder or operator in real estate looking for a finance team that’s as invested in your success as you are — look no further. Eric and his team are exceptional.

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Grants, Growth & Grit: The Real Talk Small Business Owners Need to Hear" (With Nishant Raina, Mastercard Canada)

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