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In this episode of The Moss HR Minute, Nicole Moss, Co-Founder of Moss Consulting HR Services, sits down with John Franklin Wiley, a CEPA certified exit strategist and value acceleration advisor based in Scottsdale. Joined by Preslie Deusenbery, Moss Consulting’s Phoenix Area HR Manager, this conversation tackles the high-stakes reality of business transitions and why most owners wait too long to prepare for a sale.

John reveals a staggering statistic: 8 out of 10 businesses in the United States that go on the market fail to transact. He explains that this is often because owners build "lifestyle businesses" rather than "value acceleration businesses," leaving them with little to sell when they are ready to exit. The discussion provides a roadmap for shifting from founder-dependency to a scalable organization, using John’s signature "fire drill" analogy to measure readiness.

Key topics discussed in this episode include:

• The Maturity Question: Why the percentage of the business that depends on the owner’s presence is the ultimate indicator of valuation.
• 4 Forms of Intangible Capital: The hidden assets that do not appear on a balance sheet but determine the quality of a deal.
• The "Fire Drill" Assessment: Why every business owner needs an annual readiness drill to identify "cracks" before a buyer’s lender finds them.
• 90-Day Value Sprints: How to systematically "de-risk" a company in manageable increments to increase the multiplier.
• The Identity Trap: Navigating the emotional and spiritual challenge of extracting a founder’s identity from their company.
• Fractional Depth: Utilizing experts to provide "wraparound care" for businesses valued under $50 million, allowing them to compete with the "big boys".

This episode is essential for any founder or operator who wants to reclaim their time, increase their profitability, and ensure they don’t become part of the 80% that fail to sell. John provides clear, actionable steps for building a business that can thrive without you—delivered within one Moss Minute.

Guest Information

John Franklin Wiley, Exit Strategist & Value Acceleration Advisor

Website: www.johnfranklinwiley.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnfranklinwiley/

Phone: 602-550-3175

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 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

Follow the show

@TheMossHRMinute

Send us Fan Mail

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