Free AI for Small Business Webinar: Data Analysis, Marketing & Bookkeeping Made Simple
Discover how small businesses are using AI to save time and make smarter decisions — without needing a tech background.
On this week’s Webinar Wednesday, host and SBDC Director Kelly Bearden is joined by Small Business Specialist Ranjeet Singh Loa for an in-depth look at how the CSUB Small Business Development Center helps clients use AI for data analysis, sales trend tracking, email marketing, content creation, bookkeeping, and expense categorization — and much more.
Whether you’re a small business owner trying to make sense of your numbers or just curious how AI fits into everyday operations, this episode breaks it down in plain language with real client examples.
This is the 384th episode of Webinar Wednesday, our free business series delivering news and insights for employers and business owners.
The CSU Bakersfield SBDC offers no-cost, one-on-one advising to new and existing small businesses. Visit https://csubsbdc.com/ to learn more or schedule a meeting with a business advisor today.
TIMESTAMPS
00:00 Intro
03:13 Poll #1: What’s your biggest barrier to using AI?
5:18 Poll #2: Which area could AI save your business the most money?
07:12 Capital Corridor: SBA lenders and AI
– SBA lenders aren’t making “AI loans”
– What lenders want to see: efficiency, profitability, scalability
– Simplifying the loan application process
– Strengthening cash flow and debt service coverage
– Improving loan eligibility
12:04 Economic Corner: The productivity focus
– Rising labor and insurance costs
– Getting more from your current team
13:16 Will AI become the biggest productivity tool since the internet?
13:34 AI and ? – Kelly’s take on AI and the CSUB SBDC
14:17 A new consulting model for small business success
15:27 Find past webinars on the CSUB YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/@csubsbdc
16:59 Introducing guest Ranjeet Singh Loa, SBDC Small Business Specialist
18:21 Why AI matters for small business owners right now
18:56 What this presentation is (and isn’t) about
19:46 Your business is already collecting data — is anyone reading it?
20:55 A spreadsheet isn’t an answer
21:31 The SBDC’s 5-step process:
– Step 1: Collect
– Step 2: Clean and structure
– Step 3: Analyze
– Step 4: Translate
– Step 5: Act
23:13 Real results, not just theory
23:30 Six areas AI can improve: cash flow, pricing, marketing, scheduling, growth readiness
25:08 Three real client stories
25:17 From generic chatbot to customized marketing dashboard
26:37 Turning sales data into a cash flow forecast
26:59 Automating staff scheduling
27:45 Example dashboard: 7-day revenue and top-selling items
29:26 Example dashboard: multi-location revenue, margins, and payroll
31:06 What is a dashboard? Customized to your focus
– Financial health
– Revenue and top performers
– Growth readiness
32:31 Financial analysis made understandable
33:09 Example: gross margin by category
33:52 Example: identifying revenue leakage
35:26 Marketing backed by data, not guesswork
36:04 Example: where your traffic is really coming from
36:52 Example: mapping the marketing funnel
38:34 Revenue trends and AI-powered projections
39:29 Example: top 15 products by performance
41:18 What a typical SBDC session looks like (5 steps)
– Step 1: Bring what you have
– Step 2: Tell us your focus
– Step 3: Run the AI analysis
– Step 4: Review findings together with your business advisor
– Step 5: You leave with a plan
43:01 The real takeaway: clarity, confidence, and direction
43:37 It’s free, confidential, and fast
44:29 No matter where your business stands, we can help
45:20 Behind every data point is a family
46:24 The old way vs. the new way: AI lets us scale
47:16 AI gives us speed; advisors give the judgment
48:00 What SBDC + AI + a real advisor can do for you
49:06 Getting started: 3 simple steps for your first session
50:09 Closing thoughts and call to action
50:50 Q&A begins with attendees