Local Business Technology Advisor · Baton Rouge, LA
Technology Should Work For Your Business. Not The Other Way Around.
I help local business owners in the Baton Rouge area cut through the noise — on payments, visibility, connectivity, efficiency, and AI — and make technology decisions that actually make sense for their situation.
No jargon. No pressure. No solution looking for a problem.
Advisory Service
A Fresh Set of Eyes on Your Technology — At No Charge.
Most local business owners haven't sat down and looked at their technology setup from the outside. They inherited it, added pieces over time, and just kept going.
A Business Technology Review is an in-person conversation I conduct directly at your location — no pitch, no pressure. We look at three things together:
1. Payments
What you're currently paying to process credit cards, whether your rate structure makes sense for your volume, and whether a cash discount or Edge pricing program could reduce or eliminate that cost.
2. Visibility
How your business appears on Google, maps, and local directories right now — what's accurate, what's wrong, what's missing, and what it's costing you in lost customers.
3. Connectivity
A brief look at whether your current connectivity setup is keeping pace with how your business actually operates today — and general recommendations for current or future workflow needs.
What You Get
A plain-language summary of findings and a prioritized list of recommendations — what to fix first, what can wait, and what's genuinely not worth your money right now.
Especially valuable for businesses upgrading equipment, expanding to a new location, growing volume, or feeling like they're overpaying for things they don't fully understand.
Free. No obligation. In-person (30m) or video.
Why Kurt
An Advisor Who's Actually on Your Side.
I chose to work with North as a Local Business Technology Advisor because I believe businesses deserve more than a one-size-fits-all payment solution.
My role with North gives me access to excellent payment technology, better pricing options, and merchant solutions like reputation management and loyalty. We extend value to clients beyond payments with integrated partnerships across a number of industries.
Over the years, I've developed relationships by working with technology providers across connectivity, automation, customer engagement, business operations, and other areas that affect how a business performs.
Those relationships let me look at the bigger picture and recommend solutions that actually move the needle — whether that solution comes directly through North or through a trusted provider in my broader technology network.
The goal isn't to sell every business the same product. It's to understand how the business operates, identify where technology can improve profitability or efficiency, and connect the right solutions to the right needs.
Honest Assessment
I'll tell you when something isn't worth paying for. My value is your trust, not a commission on every product I can sell you.
Practical Implementation
Advice is only useful if it can actually be executed. I work with you through the process, not just the decision.
Local Context
Technology decisions look different for a Baton Rouge restaurant than for a startup in San Francisco. I give advice for your actual situation.
"Most local business owners aren't looking for more technology. They're looking for someone they can trust to tell them what they actually need."
— Kurt Howard
Payment Processing
Are You Paying Too Much to Accept Credit Cards?
Most local business owners don't know what they're actually paying to process credit cards — they just know the number that comes out of their account each month.
I work with North — one of the country's top-rated payment processors — to help local businesses understand what they're actually paying and whether there's a better option. In many cases, there is.
Free Payment Analysis
I'll review your current processing statement and tell you exactly what you're paying — and what you could be paying instead. No obligation.
Edge Pricing Program
Qualified businesses can enroll in a dual-pricing program that shifts processing costs to card-paying customers while offering a cash discount. Your net cost: $0.
Award-Winning Platform
North is both a processor and acquirer — meaning fewer middlemen, faster funding, and payment technology that connects with your POS, software, and website.
Local Business Visibility
If They Can't Find You, They Can't Choose You.
Right now, potential customers in Baton Rouge are searching for exactly what you offer. The question is whether your business shows up when they do — on Google, in the local pack, across directories, with accurate information and real reviews.
Local Lens is a Baton Rouge-based local business discovery platform built to help local businesses get found, get reviewed, and stay visible across the platforms that matter.
Listing Management
Your business information — name, address, phone, hours, categories — updated and synchronized across Google, Yelp, Facebook, and 80+ directories from one place.
Reputation Monitoring
Get notified when a new review comes in, track your ratings over time, and respond to customers — all from a single dashboard.
Local Lens Community
A growing network of Baton Rouge residents actively discovering and supporting local businesses. Live streams, local guides, deals, and more.
The Six Technology Lanes
Where Technology Meets Local Business
Local business technology isn't one decision — it's six. Each area has its own vendors, its own jargon, and its own landmines. Here's how I think about them.
1. PAYMENTS
How you accept, process, and manage payment — credit cards, cash discount programs, invoicing, recurring billing, and merchant account structure.
"What am I actually paying? Is there a better option? Can I eliminate processing fees?"
2. VISIBILITY
How your business appears across Google, maps, directories, and local search — including your Google Business Profile, listing accuracy, and review strategy.
"Am I showing up? Is my information correct everywhere? Are my reviews helping or hurting?"
3. CONNECTIVITY
The internet and phone infrastructure everything else runs on — speed, reliability, and what happens when it fails.
"Is my internet fast enough? What happens when it goes down?"
4. EFFICIENCY
The tools that help your business run — POS systems, scheduling, invoicing, inventory, and workflow automation.
"What should I automate? Is my POS holding me back? Am I chasing payments manually?"
5. CUSTOMER ENGAGEMENT
How you communicate with customers — text messaging, email, online ordering, loyalty programs, and review requests.
"Am I losing customers because I don't follow up? Should I be texting customers?"
6. AI & AUTOMATION
How AI tools and automated workflows can handle repetitive tasks — answering phones, qualifying leads, sending follow-ups, and more.
"What can AI actually do for my business? What should I automate first?"
Who I Work With
Technology Advice Built for Your Industry
The technology decisions a restaurant owner faces are completely different from those facing a healthcare practice or a retail shop. I work across these industries and understand the nuances that matter.
Restaurants & Food Service
POS systems, online ordering, delivery app strategy, payment processing, kitchen connectivity, and customer loyalty.
Healthcare & Medical Practices
Practice management, patient payment plans, HIPAA-compliant billing, and payment processing that integrates with your existing systems.
Retail
Point of sale, inventory management, payment processing, local visibility, and customer engagement for brick-and-mortar shops.
Service Businesses
Contractors, HVAC, plumbing, home services — scheduling automation, invoicing, field payment acceptance, and customer follow-up.
Nonprofits & Churches
Donation platforms, kiosk giving, event management, and payment processing built for mission-driven organizations.
Professional Services
Salons, spas, healthcare practices, legal, and consulting — scheduling, payment, reputation management, and communication.
My Partner Network
Best-in-Class Solutions. Advisor-Selected.
I don't offer every solution — I choose the ones I truly believe in. Each solution was selected because they solve a real problem for local businesses in a way I can confidently recommend.
North / PayAnywhere
Industry-leading merchant services backed by an in-house processor. Award-winning developer platform, next-day funding, and Edge pricing for zero-cost processing.
ChargeZoom
Syncs payment processing directly with QuickBooks, Xero, and FreshBooks to eliminate manual reconciliation and automate collections.
Practice Management Bridge
Integrates with your existing healthcare software to streamline patient billing and payment plans.
Salido
North's restaurant operating system — front of house, back of house, and payments in one platform. Tableside ordering, kitchen display, inventory tracking, and real-time reporting backed by in-house processing.
GiveHub
Donation kiosks, mobile giving, and online platforms that help churches and nonprofits increase donation volume and donor engagement.
Small Business Loans
North customers get exclusive access to business capital options designed to fund technology upgrades without disrupting cash flow.
Your AI Technology Advisor
Meet Nora.
Available 24/7. Knows the Answers.
Nora is my AI concierge — trained to answer questions about local business technology, help you understand your options, and connect you with the right resources.
You don't need an appointment to get started. Ask Nora anything.
Nora · AI Advisor
Powered by ReignMakerAI & Local Lens
From the Blog
Real Advice. No Fluff. Written for Business Owners.
Three new articles publish every week covering the six technology landscape categories.
Ready to Get Clarity on Your Technology?
You don't have to figure this out alone. Start with a conversation — no obligation, no pressure.
Schedule a Technology Review
Free in-person assessment — payments, visibility, and connectivity at your location.
Chat with Nora
Get answers right now — available 24/7.
Schedule with Kurt
Ready for a direct advisory call? Pick a time.
Send a Message
Prefer to write it out? Send a message directly.