Modrn Business

In this MB episode, Zack checks in with franchising’s resident brainiacs, Edith Wiseman and Alicia Miller from FranData. We discuss how the perception of resales are changing, standardizing credit fund scoring to decrease risk for franchisees, how franchisors are using technology to become more “asset-light”, is the “low-investment” rush here to stay and much more!

In this episode, Zack chats with Kaleidoscope Growth Advisors’ Ali McElroy about all things operations. We discuss pitfalls in growing a brand early, her recommended first hire for a young franchisor, the industries she believes give highest likelihood of “sustainable growth” and her methodology to building enterprise value.

In this episode Zack Fishman and Ryan Hicks break down a list of their top thoughts and six topics here in the month of April: 1) The Top Learnings From UnConference:
Game-Changing Insights on Value Creation & Growth. Featuring David Barr (Franchise Investor, Chairman of PMTD Restaurants, and former IFA Chairman) and Chris Dull (CEO of Freddy's Frozen Custard). 2) Sneak Peak: YoungCon Agenda Is Here! A quick thumbnail on what the event entails. Register here: https://franchiseyoungconference.com/ 3) Is Franchise M&A Heating Up?
 An industry update from Zack Fishman. 4) An Emerging Service Brand Growth Story. A great example for emerging and regional franchisors. 5) Zack’s Advice On PR In 2025. As an expert on the topic he brings practical insights on PR for franchise organizations in the modern age. 6) Technology Corner: A discussion around 4 topical technologies to stay up to date on what's possible in todays fast pace world of technology advancements. Subscribe to our monthly newsletter: Get the Hottest Franchise News & Trends, Every Month Franchise experts Ryan Hicks & Zack Fishman will be sharing their personal thoughts on industry headlines & trends. https://share.hsforms.com/2QTZETnIPReacZuTlRmmRoAdisk2

Join Ryan Hicks and Zack Fishman as they host Jamie Adams, Chief Revenue Officer of Scorpion, and Ryan Combe, Managing Partner of Cornerstone Franchise Partners. In this episode we dive into the latest chatter from the IFA convention and share behind‑the‑scenes insights on franchising trends, technology decisions, and the power of networking. From debating whether to build or buy tech to discussing economic forecasts and mentorship initiatives, this episode delivers a dynamic conversation peppered with franchise success stories and personal anecdotes that reveal the heartbeat of the industry. Episode Outline: 1) Intro & Sponsor Shout-Out: Candidate view is an innovative new way to streamline your hiring process and focus only on the best talent with one way video prescreening. Candidates respond on their own time so your franchisees can save their time. No more scheduling headaches, no more wasted interviews, just faster, smarter hiring. Join top franchise organizations already saving time, energy, and money with CandidateView. Visit CandidateView. 2) IFA Convention Recap: Insights on the event’s energy, networking moments, and feedback on session formats. 3) Tech & Transaction Talk: Debates on building vs. buying proprietary technology and the impact on franchise value. 4) Economic Outlook & Industry Trends: Discussion of franchise growth statistics, employment increases, and GDP impact. 5) Anecdotes & Success Stories: Stories from the NFL to Hardee’s, illustrating how small moves can lead to generational wealth. 6) Mentorship & Community Focus: Ideas on establishing mentorship programs to support franchise success and sustainability. 7) Closing Thoughts & Connect: Final reflections and a call-to-action to join the conversation on LinkedIn and subscribe to the newsletter.

In this Modrn Business episode, Zack chats with one of franchising’s foremost experts on early-stage franchisors, Brian Luciani of SMB Franchise Advisors & Stadium Ventures. We talk about venture capital’s increased prominence with franchisors, start-up category trends from 2024, what we’ll be seeing in 2025 and how the new Trump administration will dictate the types of brands we see start franchising in the years to come.

In this MB conversation, Ryan hosts the co-founders of Sales Chatz, a franchise development advertising technology that has disrupted the way franchisors use Meta advertising to attract franchise candidates.

In this episode, Zack sits down with CEO & Founder of Fransmart, Dan Rowe, to talk all things franchise sales. We get into his humble beginnings, what industries within franchising he has historically gravitated to, his opinions on how to build enterprise value through franchise sales, his secrets to sourcing MUMBOs leads (hint, it’s not easy to replicate) and his outlook on how franchise sales will change in this decade.

In this episode, Ryan Hicks and Zack Fishman bring on guests Jamie Adams, (Chief Revenue Officer of Scorpion) and Ryan Combe (Managing Partner of Cornerstone Franchise Partners) to reflect on key winners and trends in the franchise landscape in 2024, and make predictions for 2025. We also explore significant leadership changes, lessons learned in 2024, and contrarian beliefs for the future of franchising, emphasizing the importance of franchisee profitability and the potential for franchising to grow as a percentage of GDP. Chapters 00:00 - Introduction 03:12 - Reflections on 2024: Winners and Trends 05:58 - The Role of Institutional Investors in Franchising 08:53 - The Rise of Franchise Sales Organizations 12:06 - Predictions for 2025: Key Players and Trends 14:57 - Breakout Brands of 2024 and 2025 18:11 - Bold Moves and Disruptors in Franchising 21:06 - The Future of Health and Wellness Franchises 45:03 - Chick-fil-A's Bold Business Moves 51:10 - The Rise of Limited Service Restaurants (LSR) 57:54 - Innovations Shaping the Future of Food Service 01:09:32 - Leadership Changes and Their Impact 01:12:46 - Lessons Learned in 2024 01:17:00 - Contrarian Beliefs for 2025

In MB’s first episode of 2025, Zack is joined by Serviceminder’s new CEO, Berkley Simmons and their Founder & CTO, John Keene, to talk all things PE within home service. We discuss how technology plays a role in reaching your next stage of growth, predictions for how franchise technology will play a role in this second phase of PE investment, the right time to roll out a robust technology such as Serviceminder and the importance of recognizing franchising’s uniqueness vs. other business models.

In this episode, Zack explores the new industry of smart home automation with the franchisor to market, Daisy CEO & Founder, Hagan Kappler. We discuss her decision to go the venture capital route, her “grow by acquisition” strategy, her plans for starting franchise development and the future of the smart home automation industry.

In the Modrn Business episode Ran chats with Gary Liskovich, Founder & CEO of Harmonyze.

In this episode, Zack chats with a local IL franchisor, Joe Tota, CEO & Founder of Tapville, about one of his favorite categories within franchising, bars. We talk through their differentiators, their model innovations, their ideal customer profile, the types of franchisees they attract, where they see the bar industry within franchising going and how data helps all of their franchisees win.

In this episode, Zack revisits one of his favorite categories within franchising, pet services, to talk with Scenthound Co-Founders Tim & Jessica Vogel. We get an update on the brand’s progress since my last conversation with Tim, get into the inner-workings of the brand positioning with Jessica, learn how the brand’s ideal candidate profile has evolved with their recent professionalization and about emerging services they believe will be a growth catalyst in the future.

After 1 year, a lot has changed for Protein Bar & Kitchen. Several new franchisees in the pipeline, non-traditional locations sprouting up across the country and suburban locations humming. What is inside this first-time franchisor rapid rise? Tune into this episode to hear from the sources, CEO Jeff Drake and VP of Franchise Development Jimmy McFeeters, on exactly how!

In this episode, Zack chats with the founder of the automotive franchise space’s most exciting brand, Tint World. We delve deep into his meteoric rise, how his heritage of a multi-unit franchisee has helped his growth with fellow MUMBOs, how technology has played a role, why automotive after-market is the surest bet in the industry today and exciting news for 2025.

Modrn Business welcomes franchise technologist and CEO of Serviceminder, John Keene, onto the show discuss all facets of the franchise technology world. Between PE in franchising, AI, point solutions vs. all-in-one and everything in between, this episode covers all of the major topics franchise brands grapple with when it comes to tech!

In this Supplier Wire Series episode of Modrn Business Podcast, Ryan Hicks chats with Kyle McEuen, SVP of ProfitKeeper. ProfitKeeper is the ultimate franchise analytics platform that empowers every franchisor and franchisee to achieve more. Ryan & Kyle discuss how ProfitKeeper turns financial and operational franchise data into actionable insights, and why ProfitKeeper is trusted by some of the largest franchise brands. Connect with today's guest: franchisesuppliernetwork.com/featured-s…salesdesk/ Register for the Franchise “UnConferences” at www.franchisors.com

The Incredible Story of Stephen Shields: The multi-unit Express Employment Professionals Franchisee put everything on the line at 26 years old. He moved to Joplin MO (where he knew nobody) and built the American Dream. Listen to this episode to hear his playbook. Share it with someone you know! This story needs to be told. Episode Summary: In this special edition of Modrn Business Podcast, Ryan Hicks sits down in person with Stephen Shields, a multi-unit franchisee and area representative for Express Employment Professionals. Steven shares his incredible journey coming from a small town in Missouri, moving to Joplin with a loan from family and friends to buy the territory and build an empire. They discuss the importance of following proven systems, staying disciplined, and "doubling down on the hustle" during tough times. Key topics include: - The early struggles of entrepreneurship and how Steven overcame them. - The value of the franchise support system and how Express University shaped his success. - Insights into what makes a successful franchisee in both good and challenging times. - The importance of giving back to the community and the lives impacted by franchising. - Personal stories of team development and the pride of seeing employees grow. Sponsor Shoutout: This episode is brought to you by Voxie, a cutting-edge conversational texting platform designed for franchise businesses. Voxie offers two-way conversational texting, powered by AI, and has been a leader in the space since before most people even knew about OpenAI. "The only Texting software built for franchise systems to boost revenue" Learn more at www.voxie.com. Special Announcement: We’re thrilled to announce the upcoming release of the Franchise America Docuseries! Ryan Hicks is diving deep into the world of franchising through the eyes of operators. Be sure to catch teaser clips with the full series launching in October. Follow Ryan on LinkedIn and Twitter at @RyanThomasHicks for updates. Register now for Franchise Springboard, taking place September 18-20 in Philadelphia. It’s a can't-miss event for anyone in the franchise industry. Learn more at franchisespringboard.com.

In this episode, Zack hops on with Bun Mee’s CEO & Founder, Denise Tran. We discuss her founding story, how she went about educating consumers on Vietnamese cuisine, where she believes her best opportunities for growth are, where she sees the brand in 3-5 years and how she’s creating franchising’s first Vietnamese food powerhouse.

In this episode, Zack dives into all things “eatertainment” with one of franchising’s foremost investigate journalists, Laura Michaels, Editor-In-Chief of Franchise Times. We discuss the industry’s viability, which modulars will emerge, the international influences of the category, the types of franchisees these brands should target and the pitfalls we’ve already seen.