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In this episode of The Moss HR Minute, Nicole Moss, Co-Founder of Moss Consulting HR Services, sits down with JC Lukens, CEO and CFO of Summit National Advisors, to discuss the silent leaks that drain profitability from healthy businesses. Joined by Preslie Deusenbery, Phoenix Area HR Manager, the conversation highlights how everyday operational costs—specifically credit card processing and inefficient technology—can quietly erode a company's margins.

JC reveals that credit card processing is often the second-largest operating expense for businesses behind labor, yet most owners treat it as a fixed, unavoidable cost. He explains the "Edge" program, a dual-pricing model that allows merchants to reach zero-fee processing legally and compliantly while maintaining a positive customer experience. The discussion also explores why approximately 70% of small businesses using AI are failing to see an ROI because they lack the proper guidance to make these tools work efficiently for them.

Key topics discussed in this episode include:

• The Reality of Profit Leaks: Why sales aren't always the solution to profitability problems and how to find cash "leaking out the back door" through poor technology implementation.
• The Interchange Trap: Understanding why Visa and Mastercard fees have quite literally never gone down in 50 years and why standard processing contracts allow for sudden rate increases.
• Zero-Fee Processing Explained: How the dual-price model removes convenience fees from the receipt to provide the most profitable way to accept payments in the US today.
• Broker vs. Representative: The value of a personal, tailored approach where advisors audit multiple systems rather than pushing a single out-of-the-box solution like Square or Toast.
• Technology as a Lever: How overworked founders can use efficient software to off-board tasks and reclaim their time.

This episode provides a clear roadmap for founders to take control of their recurring expenses and stop paying what JC describes as an "additional rent payment" in processing fees. JC shares his best advice for protecting margins—delivered within one Moss Minute.

Guest Information

JC Lukens, CEO/CFO of Summit National Advisors

Email: Jcl@summitnationaladvisors.com

Website: summitnationaladvisors.com

Instagram: @summit_national_advisors

About: summitnationaladvisors.com/about/

Contact Moss Consulting

Book time with Nicole to talk about your HR needs:

https://mossconsulting.com/book-a-free-consultation

Learn more about Moss Consulting HR Services:

www.mossconsulting.com

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@TheMossHRMinute

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In this episode of The Moss HR Minute, Nicole Moss, Co-Founder of Moss Consulting HR Services, sits down with Phil Guinouard, a seasoned business leader, speaker, and founder of the Empowerment Networking Organization (ENO). Joined by Preslie Deusenbery, Moss Consulting’s Phoenix HR Area Manager, the discussion focuses on how entrepreneurs can move from reactive scrambling to building a recession-resistant life and business.

Phil draws on decades of experience—including turning around over 80 restaurants—to explain why networking must be a permanent strategy rather than a temporary fix used only when the "funnel" is empty. He challenges leaders to examine their own personal sustainability, sharing his personal journey of losing 110 pounds and how leadership energy directly ripples down to influence team performance and morale.

Key topics discussed in this episode include:

• The "Sales Breath" Trap: Why leading with a sales pitch instead of a relationship kills credibility in networking.
• Leading Through Uncertainty: Why employees need consistency and increased communication from leaders when the economy feels unstable.
• The Chameleon Manager: Learning to adapt your leadership colors to motivate different personalities without losing your core identity.
• Diversification vs. Shiny Objects: How to build side revenue streams without diluting your primary brand or losing focus.
• The FOCUS Framework: A specific strategy for solopreneurs to stay on one course of action until successful.
• Collaborative Mindsets: Why viewing "competitors" as potential collaborators can lead to better outcomes and even exit strategy opportunities.

This episode provides a roadmap for founders who want more control over their income and health. Phil wraps up by providing his best advice for staying focused in a cluttered market—all delivered within one Moss Minute.

Guest Information

Phil Guinouard, ENO (Empowerment Networking Organization)

Website: www.philguinouard.com

ENO Website: https://www.enosuccess.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/phil-guinouard/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/philguinouard/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Philhealthiswealth/

Contact Moss Consulting

Book time with Nicole to talk about your HR needs:

https://mossconsulting.com/book-a-free-consultation

Learn more about Moss Consulting HR Services:

www.mossconsulting.com

Follow the show @TheMossHRMinute

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In this episode of The Moss HR Minute, Nicole Moss, Co-Founder of Moss Consulting HR Services, sits down with Steven Plumb, CPA and Founder of Clear Financial Services. With over 40 years of experience in accounting, finance, and M&A, Steven brings a level of rigor usually reserved for $100 million revenue firms to the mid-market business owner.

The conversation centers on Steven’s core philosophy: "The game is the same, but the rules have changed". In today’s global regulatory environment, owners can no longer afford to "fly straight" without expert guidance. Steven breaks down the transition from simple bookkeeping to strategic financial reporting, explaining why raw data from QuickBooks is often "garbage in, garbage out" if it isn't tied to volume-based metrics and key performance indicators.

Key topics discussed in this episode include:

• The Global Regulatory Shift: Why business owners must now worry about multi-state and international compliance rather than just local rules.
• Metrics vs. Statements: How to use financial reporting to drive direction and identify historical trends rather than just checking a box.
• The Reality of Raising Capital: Why documentation, honesty, and a strong sales team are the real differentiators in a successful fundraise.
• SEC-Level Rigor: The intense operational changes required for public listings, including the strict 4-day window for reporting material events.
• Fractional CFO vs. Bookkeeper: Knowing when your business has outgrown its current structure and needs a partner focused on the "big picture" and capital flows.

This episode is a masterclass for founders who want to align their people and their money to scale strategically. Steven concludes by answering five hard-hitting questions regarding financial discipline and investor confidence—all delivered within one Moss Minute.

Guest Information
Steven Plumb, Clear Financial Services
Email: steven@clearfinancials.com
Phone: (713) 780-0806
Website: clearfinancials.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/steven-plumb-contract-cfo/

Contact Moss Consulting
Book time with Nicole to talk about your HR needs:
https://mossconsulting.com/book-a-free-consultation

Learn more about Moss Consulting HR Services:
www.mossconsulting.com

Follow the show
@TheMossHRMinute