The Foundr Podcast with Nathan Chan

Episode 610: (Solo) The Secret to Finding Agencies That Don’t Burn You
Release Date: December 2, 2025
Host: Nathan Chan

Episode Overview

In this solo episode, Nathan Chan addresses a critical and frequently asked question in the entrepreneurial community: How do you find agencies, contractors, or freelancers who truly help your business rather than burn you? Drawing from over a decade of experience, Nathan shares candid stories, actionable strategies, and proven insights on identifying genuine partners who have your business’s best interests at heart. The episode is a practical guide for founders navigating the daunting process of hiring external talent, emphasizing the human aspect over merely the hard skills or flashy portfolios.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Real Challenge: Finding Partners Who Care

• Nathan explains that while skillsets and portfolios matter, what truly moves the needle is the character and mindset of the people you work with.
• On a daily basis, he receives 20–50 pitches from agencies and freelancers, highlighting how overwhelming and noisy the space has become.

  “People are always trying to sell me something. I reckon even more, maybe even 50 times. It's insane.” (02:14)

• He shares a recent positive experience with a small Conversion Rate Optimization (CRO) agency, chosen not for their flashy presentation but because the founder was “hungry, listened, and wanted to help Foundr win.”

  “What sold me was the person…their mindset, their hunger. They listened, they were thoughtful, they cared about our outcomes.” (03:00)

2. Story of Agency Partnership Success

• The small CRO agency’s work led to “tens and tens of thousands of dollars” in monthly revenue for Foundr, a result Nathan attributes not just to skill but to the personal trust and partnership established.

  “From just that one project, it's added tens and tens of thousands of dollars of revenue to the bottom line for our business per month. That's like serious ROI. But more than that, it's trust.” (03:16)

• Nathan notes that these great outcomes are rare and typically come from “true partnership,” not surface-level transactions.

3. Common Pitfalls with Agencies and Contractors

• Nathan has frequently experienced being “burnt” by unreliable or misaligned partners, echoing a pain felt by many founders.
• He cautions against focusing solely on portfolios, prices, or promises. Instead, prioritize evaluating honesty, self-awareness, and ownership in potential partners.

  “What you’re looking for is not perfect answers. You’re looking for honesty, self awareness, ownership.” (05:04)

• He shares a particularly frustrating story where, after an elaborate lunch and promising conversation, the agency ghosted him entirely.

  “I paid for lunch, he come and met me and... I never heard from him. Like it's a joke, right?” (05:35)

4. What to ACTUALLY Look For When Hiring

• Ask smart questions that reveal character, not just credentials:
  • How do you handle things when they go wrong?
  • Why do you want to work with me—do you care about our success?
• Probe for patterns BEFORE committing: Are they responsive? Do they follow through on what they say?
• Use test projects to assess skills and attitude in real-world scenarios.

  “If they're slow before you pay them, there’ll be worse after.” (06:25) “One of my rules is I trust the patterns I see before we ink the deal.” (06:30)

5. Where to Find Reliable Agencies & Contractors

• Referrals from trusted founders: Especially those who gain nothing from referring.

  “Referrals are gold. Ask other founders who don’t get a kickback for recommending them.” (06:43)

• Founder community: Leveraging networks and communities like Founder+ for vetted recommendations.
• Content Creators: Agencies and freelancers who produce teaching content often care about client outcomes.
• Specialized Platforms: Use sites like Behance and Dribbble for designers, Upwork for project-based hiring.
• Client References: Always ask to speak to past clients for honest feedback.

6. Guardrails and Red Flags

• Be wary of overpromises and exorbitant fees.
• Don’t hesitate to learn skills yourself if you can’t find trustworthy help.
• Focus not just on technical skills, but whether values, work ethic, and communication standards are aligned.

Memorable Quotes & Moments

• On the importance of character over portfolio:

  “It’s not just about the skill set. It’s not just about the output of the work. It’s really about the person behind that skill set.” – Nathan (01:42)

• On evaluating new agency partners:

  “Do whatever it takes to learn who the person is before you hire the company. Jump on a call, read between the lines, ask around, read reviews, ask if you can speak to other clients. Look at how they communicate, do they follow through?” (06:10)

• On referrals:

  “Referrals are gold. Ask other founders who don’t get a kickback for recommending them.” (06:43)

• On test projects and due diligence:

  “How can you test them? Like, you know, go on Upwork, speak to a few people, test them out, get them to prove themselves. Really, really, really key...” (07:36)

• On the value of peace of mind:

  “The upside isn’t just extra revenue, it’s peace of mind. And that is priceless.” (08:46)

Key Timestamps for Important Segments

• 01:05 – Framing the question: How do you actually find agencies/contractors that accelerate growth, not hinder it?
• 02:39 – Story of choosing an agency based on character, not flash.
• 03:16 – Results from the right partnership: Revenue growth and trust.
• 04:45 – Essential questions to ask potential partners.
• 05:26 – Cautionary tale: Being ghosted after a lunch meeting.
• 06:10 – Due diligence strategies before hiring.
• 06:43 – Where and how to find reliable partners (referral, community, platforms).
• 07:36 – Testing contractors before committing.
• 08:39 – Recap: Summary of the process and its impact.
• 08:46 – Core message: Peace of mind matters, not just financial ROI.

Conclusion & Takeaways

Nathan’s central message is clear: The greatest impact comes not from working with the “biggest” agencies or the cheapest freelancers, but by finding people whose values, work ethic, and motivations are in sync with yours. Do the extra work up front to vet, communicate, and test—peace of mind and scalable results will follow.

“Hiring the right kind of contractor or agency can change the game for your business. But it’s not just about what they know, it’s about who they are as an individual... Do the work to find that out, have the conversation and look for signals.” (08:07)

For more on hiring and scaling smart, check out the Founder+ Membership or connect with Nathan directly.