The Transparent Podcast

Viktor Popovic - Washing Away the Fees, Markups, and Fine Print

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2113580/fan_mail/new] Credit card processing feels simple until you’re the one paying the bill. Statements show one “rate,” then, when the month closes, the real cost is buried under layers of fees, markups, and fine print that most busy operators do not have time to decode. We talk with Viktor Popovic, co-founder of Avendo, about why that lack of transparency is a real profit leak for e-commerce businesses and how he’s trying to fix it with a fintech SaaS platform built for online merchants. Viktor also shares the long arc behind the startup. He came to the United States after the civil war in Yugoslavia, studied in Florida, and then built Ultimate Washer from scratch into a nationally recognized e-commerce company for over 21 years before exiting. This has given him a real understanding of what e-commerce brands deal with in credit card processing. If you’re building a startup, running an e-commerce business, or just tired of hidden credit card processing fees, you’ll get concrete ways to think about preparation, execution, and scaling. Learn more about Avendo at https://www.avendo.tech/

Candice Smith - Visibility Is The Real Growth Engine

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2113580/fan_mail/new] Shark Tank might call side hustles “risky,” but for most founders, going all in too early is the bigger risk. Nick Ford sits down with visibility strategist Candice Smith, founder of French Press Communications, to unpack what actually separates a smart test from a costly leap and how to set goalposts that tell you when it’s time to commit. If you want a clearer path to traction, stronger messaging, and visibility that drives real sales, hit play. Subscribe, share this with a founder friend, and leave a review with your biggest visibility challenge. Learn more about how Candice helps brands drive revenue through visibility and public relations at her website, http://www.frenchpresspr.com/

Nate Littlewood - From Chaos to Clarity With a Fractional CFO

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2113580/fan_mail/new] Polished logos do not build businesses, paying customers do. We talk with Nate Littlewood, founder and CEO of Future Ready CFO, about the unglamorous decisions that separate thriving founders from stressed-out operators, especially in e-commerce and CPG (consumer packaged goods).  Nate shares how he went from a corporate finance path to entrepreneurship, and why “clarity” in small business finance is not a nice-to-have, it is the difference between confident growth and expensive guessing. Find out more about Nate at his website, www.futurereadycfo.com Subscribe to Transparent Podcast for more real founder roadmaps, share this with a business owner who needs clearer numbers, and leave a review with your biggest question about building a business that lasts.

Aiden Ford - How An 8 Year-Old Turned Crafts Into Entrepreneurship

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2113580/fan_mail/new] You're never too young to start your own business. At 8 years old, the first customer can feel impossible, and then suddenly it’s the easiest thing in the world. That’s the honest turning point we dig into when we bring on our youngest guest yet: my son, Aiden Ford. Founder of Gronkle Tees, a kid-run tie-dye business selling shirts, bags, zip pouches, scrunchies, and more.  We talk through the real steps of starting a small business from scratch: picking a business that can be successful, choosing products you can make consistently, and learning how to talk to strangers who may keep walking. Aiden shares how a kid's entrepreneurial market pushed him to do the selling himself, how getting that first buyer changed his confidence. If you care about small business transparency, kids starting a business, or just need a fresh shot of motivation, listen now, subscribe, and share this with someone who needs a push. What would you sell if you had to make your first dollar this weekend?

Michael Hadden - Entrepreneurship Through A Library of Things

Send us Fan Mail [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2113580/fan_mail/new] Ever look around your garage and realize half of it gathers dust? We sat down with RoundAbout co‑founder and CEO Mike Haddon to explore a smarter way to live: own what you love, access what you rarely need. RoundAbout is a local “library of things” serving Forsyth County, delivering and picking up everything from pressure washers and lawn tools to pop‑up tents, party tables, and premium kitchen gear. It’s the convenience of a well‑run rental, built for real homes, busy weekends, and those once‑a‑season jobs you don’t want to overpay for. If you’ve wondered whether a local access economy can thrive—or if you’re weighing your own leap into entrepreneurship—this conversation brings hard‑won lessons and practical next steps.  Follow RoundAbout on Instagram and Facebook at @tryroundabout, or explore memberships at tryroundabout.com. If this story sparked ideas, share it with a friend, subscribe for more candid small‑business talks, and leave a quick review to help others find the show.