Advocating with the Intuit Small Business Council
In May 2025, Sean Brownlee, CEO of Ravenox, returned to Washington, D.C. as a member of the Intuit Small Business Council. Alongside entrepreneurs from across the country and Intuit’s Global Corporate Affairs team, Brownlee met with members of Congress and key federal agencies to advocate for a critical policy priority: modernizing America’s payment infrastructure.
Why Payment Modernization Matters
Small businesses form the backbone of the U.S. economy, yet they remain hampered by slow, costly payment systems that were built for a different era. According to Intuit’s Small Business Index, nearly 82 percent of business failures are linked to cash-flow problems. Late payments and high transaction fees force many entrepreneurs to choose between paying employees, suppliers, or themselves. Modernizing U.S. payment policy would allow trusted third-party providers like Intuit to access Federal payment rails directly, enabling faster transactions and reducing costs. This change could transform how millions of small businesses manage cash flow, meet payroll, and compete in a global digital economy.
The Challenge: Slow Payments in a Digital-First World
Today’s economy moves faster than its financial infrastructure. While over 90 percent of Americans use digital payments, the system governing those transactions has not kept pace. Small businesses often wait days for funds to clear, creating gaps in liquidity and opportunities lost to larger competitors with faster access to capital. The Federal Reserve’s FedNow Service, launched in 2023, was a step forward, allowing instant payments between banks. However, third-party providers like Intuit must still operate through traditional financial institutions—a constraint that adds complexity and cost for small businesses. The Council urged Congress to consider direct access for trusted payment processors, a policy already adopted in countries like the U.K., Canada, and Singapore.
Advocacy in Action
During two days of meetings on Capitol Hill, Brownlee and fellow Council members outlined how modernizing the U.S. payment system could improve financial efficiency and resilience for entrepreneurs nationwide. Their discussions with the House and Senate Small Business Committees emphasized three key points:
1. Faster Access to Earnings
Small businesses should not wait days to receive payments for goods and services. Real-time settlement through direct access to Federal rails would enable instant cash flow and reduce dependence on credit to bridge gaps between invoices and payments.
2. Lower Transaction Costs
By introducing competition into payment processing, fees would decrease, putting more money back into the hands of small business owners. According to Intuit data, QuickBooks processes over $1 billion in payments each month, demonstrating the scale of impact modernization could achieve.
3. Driving Innovation and Global Competitiveness
Payment modernization would fuel fintech innovation, creating new tools for automated invoicing, cash-flow forecasting, and seamless integration with e-commerce platforms. These advances would help small businesses stay competitive in an economy increasingly dominated by instant digital transactions.
A Vision for Faster, Fairer Finance
Brownlee and his fellow Council members advocated for a modern payment system that works for everyone, not just large financial institutions. By supporting legislation that expands access to digital payment rails and reduces barriers to entry, lawmakers can empower millions of small business owners to thrive in a digital-first economy. Faster payments mean stronger businesses, and stronger businesses mean stronger communities. For entrepreneurs like Brownlee, who manufacture and sell American-made products worldwide, cash flow is not just a metric—it is the lifeblood of growth.
Continuing the Mission
Now in his third year with the Intuit Small Business Council, Sean Brownlee continues to champion policies that enable small business success. From advocating for AI innovation in 2024 to advancing payment modernization in 2025, his work illustrates how entrepreneurs can help shape national policy for a more inclusive and dynamic economy. Through continued collaboration with Intuit and fellow Council members, Brownlee represents the voice of small business on issues that matter most: access, equity, and innovation for entrepreneurs across America.