Is franchise ownership right for you? https://hubs.ly/Q03-pnR00What does it really look like to leave a stable corporate job, take on the risk of business ownership and build something bigger than yourself?In this episode of “The Sidekick Life,” Ryan Hahn shares exactly that journey. What started as a desire for more control and more purpose turned into an eight-location business with The Exercise Coach franchise across multiple markets.His story is one a lot of aspiring entrepreneurs are working toward.Ryan and his wife were doing what many ambitious professionals do: earning degrees, building strong careers and climbing the ladder at major companies in Omaha.But over time, Ryan realized the ladder still left too much out of his control. Promotions, leadership changes and company decisions could reshape everything overnight.“I wanted to be part of creating things, starting things and be on my own terms,” Ryan said.That desire became even more real when ConAgra moved its headquarters to Chicago. What looked stable on the surface no longer felt secure.Before buying a business, Ryan and his wife helped start their church, Grace Hill. That experience gave them clarity. They realized they loved building something together and wanted to create a life around that.But they also knew they did not want to start completely from scratch.“We’ve done enough reading and research to say franchising is a less risky way to become an entrepreneur,” Ryan said.That is what made franchising so attractive. It offered a path into business ownership with a proven system, established support and less trial-and-error than building an independent business alone.Free Training for Future OwnersWatch our quick 20-minute webinar: “10,000 Locations and Counting: The Franchise Buyer’s Blueprint.” Learn how we de-risk buying a business and help you find a brand you’ll love. (It’s 100% free.)https://webinars.franchisesidekick.com/ref/LDRCtfTNBbAhWhRw

Is franchise ownership right for you? https://hubs.ly/Q03-pnR00

What if tax season didn’t feel like a surprise bill you just accept … but a strategy you run on purpose?

On this episode of “The Sidekick Life,” Ryan and Tyler sit down with Matt Bontrager, founder and CEO of TrueBooks, to talk about what most high earners get wrong about taxes – and how to legally keep more of what you make.

This isn’t about gimmicks, loopholes or shady write-offs. It’s about understanding the rules, using them intentionally and building a plan that matches your goals.

“TrueBooks is my baby … we focus on tax and accounting for specifically real estate investors and business owners,” Matt said.

We sat down with Matt Haller, president and CEO of the ⁠International Franchise Association⁠, to unpack a powerful new report on the value of franchising and why the future of this business model depends on smart advocacy, real data and bold storytelling.

And yes … we also talk about the biggest event in franchising happening next week in Vegas. 👀

The IFA partnered with ⁠Oxford Economics⁠ to create a comprehensive, ⁠data-backed report⁠ on the impact of franchising across the U.S. economy.

But why now?

“We’re always trying to create conversation about franchising … Data is really important for us to tell the story,” Matt said.

In a world where opinions travel faster than facts, the IFA wanted something irrefutable. This wasn’t anecdotal. It includes:

• 3,000 franchisees surveyed

• Representation across 300+ industries

• Payroll data comparing franchise vs. non-franchise businesses

The goal? Ground the conversation in real numbers and protect a business model that creates wealth, jobs and opportunity.