Smart Scaling with Nearshoring (with Brian Samson)

The KeyHire Small Business Podcast

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In this episode of The KeyHire Small Business Podcast, host Corey Harlock sits down with Brian Samson, CEO & Chairman of Plugg Technologies, to explore the power of nearshoring as a strategy for growth-minded business owners.

For years, small business leaders have wrestled with the complexities of outsourcing and offshoring—drawn to the promise of cost savings but often burned by the hidden expenses of time zone challenges, communication barriers, and cultural misalignment. Brian, who has built three nearshoring firms from the ground up and served as a VP of Talent in San Francisco startups, brings clarity to the conversation by breaking down the differences between outsourcing, offshoring, onshoring, and nearshoring.

At its core, nearshoring is about more than geography—it’s about alignment. By connecting U.S. businesses with top talent in Latin America, companies gain the dual advantage of cost savings and real-time collaboration. Unlike the middle-of-the-night calls often required with offshore teams, nearshoring offers workday overlap that eliminates delays, reduces stress, and improves overall productivity.

Brian shares how Latin America is becoming the go-to region for small businesses seeking to expand their teams. With IT outsourcing spend largely flat worldwide, Latin America’s share of the market is rising fast, “eating India’s lunch” in areas like software development and customer support. He also discusses the geopolitical shifts—including proposed legislation like the HIRE Act—that could accelerate this trend and make nearshoring not only a smart choice, but in many cases, the best choice.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• The real differences between outsourcing, offshoring, onshoring, and nearshoring.
• Why time zone alignment and cultural understanding give nearshoring a major advantage.
• How proposed policies like the HIRE Act could reshape global outsourcing.
• The biggest mistakes companies make when outsourcing—and how to avoid them.
• First steps to exploring nearshoring, from choosing the right country to setting up your team.

Listeners will also gain insight into the importance of treating nearshore partners as more than just “low-cost resources.” Brian emphasizes that when leaders onboard and manage nearshore teams with the same care as domestic employees, they unlock loyalty, dedication, and lasting results.

Whether you’re looking to hire one remote professional or set up an entire team abroad, this episode provides a roadmap to scaling smarter without sacrificing quality. If you’ve ever wondered whether nearshoring could help you reduce costs, improve operations, and better align with your customers and employees, this episode is a must-listen.

Corey and Brian cut through the noise and deliver practical advice that every small business leader can use to stop grinding and start growing.

Connect with the Experts

Learn More about Brian: https://plugg.tech/
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KeyHire Solutions helps small business owners scale smarter, not harder. From hiring the right talent to building systems that work, we give you the strategies and support to grow your business without burning out.

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