From Lemonade Stands to Legacy Building: Growing Small-Midsized Businesses with SAP Concur

?? At just 11 years old, I began working in my family’s small business—a local convenience store and grill in North Carolina—where I was a young cashier and shelf stocker. I enjoyed greeting our “guests,” answering their many questions, and singing “Happy Birthday” to celebrate their special day.? ???

?? By the time I was 12, I started my own small business, selling lemonade during our yearly festival. Money was tight, and I quickly realized that a single day of lemonade sales wasn’t going to be enough. So, I took those lemons and literally made lemonade—hustling candy to make ends meet. This early entrepreneurial spirit, combined with working several jobs (mostly outside my family’s small business) by the age of 18, shaped me more than I could have ever imagined. Those years instilled values that have become the foundation of my work ethic and my commitment to supporting small and mid-sized businesses.

As someone who grew up working in my family’s small business from the age of 11 and has spent years supporting small and mid-sized businesses, I’ve seen firsthand the unique challenges these businesses face. In any business, managing expenses is crucial—but for small and mid-sized businesses, where budgets are often tight and resources limited, effective travel and expense management can make a significant difference for cash flow and growth. ??

That’s why I love SAP Concur . Designed with small and mid-sized businesses' needs in mind, SAP Concur provides scalable tools that streamline travel and expense management, making processes more efficient and error-free. By automating expense tracking, submission, and policy compliance, SAP Concur frees up time and resources for small businesses, allowing them to focus on innovation and growth. With its easy-to-use platform, SAP Concur ensures that businesses have real-time visibility into their finances, supporting smarter decision-making and sustainable growth. It’s a very helpful solution that gives small businesses the confidence to scale, knowing their expenses are managed accurately and efficiently.

Understanding the Expense Management Challenge

?? Small and mid-sized businesses often grow organically, adding employees, customers, and new processes as they expand. SAP Concur is designed to grow with these companies, offering scalable solutions that adapt to evolving needs. Whether a business has five employees or fifty, SAP Concur helps by:

• ??Automating Expense Reports with Concur Expense: Instead of managing expenses manually, employees can submit expenses through the Concur Expense app, where the system automatically categorizes and tracks them. This ensures accuracy in reimbursements and gives employees confidence that they’ll be reimbursed quickly and efficiently.?
• ?? Maintaining Compliance and Control with Verify from SAP Concur: Small and mid-sized business owners know that every dollar counts, and Verify from SAP Concur helps enforce policy compliance by flagging non-compliant expenses in real time. This feature helps businesses maintain control over budgets, allowing for consistent financial oversight as the business grows. ??
• ??Optimizing Cash Flow Visibility with Concur Invoice: For small and mid-sized businesses, cash flow is often a top priority. Concur Invoice provides visibility into spending patterns, helping businesses track spending, plan for future expenses, and make informed budgeting decisions. The ability to review historical data can be helpful for business owners seeking a clear view of their company’s financial health. ??

The Benefits of Going Digital for Small and Mid-Sized Businesses

?? For many small and mid-sized businesses, managing expenses is still a largely manual process, with spreadsheets, paper receipts, and time-consuming approvals. Transitioning from this manual approach to an automated expense management system may seem daunting, especially for businesses accustomed to traditional methods. However, Concur Expense makes this shift smoother and less cumbersome. By digitizing expense processes, small businesses can save time, reduce errors, and improve accuracy. Additionally, having a digital system creates data that can be analyzed for trends and insights, giving businesses the information they need to make smarter, data-driven decisions.

SAP Concur as a Growth Partner

?? At its core, SAP Concur is more than just an expense management solution—I truly believe it’s a growth partner for small and mid-sized businesses. By handling travel and expense management efficiently, SAP Concur solutions allow small and mid-sized businesses to put their time and resources toward growth initiatives. When business owners are no longer bogged down by manual tasks, they’re able to focus on what matters most: building relationships with customers, innovating within their industries, and laying the foundation for sustainable growth.

Working in my family’s small business as a youngster taught me that running a business isn’t just about balancing budgets—it’s about relationships, community, and making smart choices to keep things running smoothly. SAP Concur does more than just automate expenses; it becomes a reliable partner, helping small and mid-sized businesses find time for the things that really matter, like building connections and growing sustainably.

…With SAP Concur by our side, business owners get more than just solutions—we gain a thought partner, a friend, and true peace of mind.