Preston Unck is the founder and CEO of Tee Box, one of the fastest growing golf simulator franchise concepts in the country. What started as a single facility he built for his own family during COVID has grown into a 100+ location franchise backed by a direct data partnership with Trackman, $8 million raised to date, and a new $15 million funding round on the way.In this episode, Preston shares how a neighbor's invite to golf during the pandemic turned into a full blown business. He talks about combining gym training, Trackman simulators, and putting greens into one player development concept, how Trackman approached him about franchising after watching what he built, and why he was intentional about hiring franchise experts instead of trying to figure it out alone.We also get into the discipline it takes to scale responsibly, the biggest misconceptions people have about franchising, what his day to day actually looks like as CEO now versus when he was mopping floors himself, and how Tee Box is using AI and player data to change how golfers train both indoors and out.If you're thinking about franchise ownership or just want to hear how a first time golfer built one of the hottest concepts in the space, this one is worth the watch.Connect with Tee Box: https://tbx.golfFree 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/LDRCtfTNBbAhWhR

n this episode of The Sidekick Life, Ryan Zink and Tyler Altenhofen talk with franchise owner Doug Anthony about building wealth through franchising.

Doug shares how he went from starting a business on his own to owning multiple franchise businesses, including a staffing franchise and a roofing company. He breaks down why franchising helped him grow faster, how he approached financing, what it takes to build a strong team, and how he created a more semi-absentee ownership model.

This episode is a real-world look at franchise ownership, business growth, leadership, and using entrepreneurship as a path to long-term wealth.

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/LDRCtfTNBbAhWhR

The biggest problem with buying a franchise isn’t the brands — it’s the lack of transparency.

In this episode, Ryan Zink and Tyler Altenhofen talk about why franchise buyers often have such a hard time finding real, unbiased information before making a major investment. They break down the problems with paid franchise lists, lead portals, limited franchisee validation, and the lack of true franchise reviews in the industry.

They also introduce Sidekick See Through, Franchise Sidekick’s new platform built to help buyers research brands with more clarity through franchisee reviews, matching tools, territory insights, and brand comparisons.

If you’re considering franchise ownership, this episode will help you understand what questions to ask, what information to look for, and why having the right guidance matters before you invest.

Most people think getting into a franchise is as simple as finding the right brand and writing a check. But for the best franchise opportunities, approval is a two-way street.

In this episode of The Sidekick Life, Mike Silverman sits down with Franchise Sidekick advisor Regan Clemenson, who spent years on the franchisor side of the table helping decide which candidates were approved — and which were not.

Together, they break down what actually happens during the franchise approval process, including Discovery Day, Confirmation Day, validation calls, and the small details that can make or break your chances of getting approved.

You’ll learn how to show up prepared, ask better questions, position yourself as a strong franchise partner, and avoid common mistakes that cause candidates to lose out on the business they want.

If you’re exploring franchise ownership and want to stay in the driver’s seat, this episode will help you understand what brands are really looking for.

In this episode of The Sidekick Life, Ryan Zink talks with Erin King, energy researcher, author, keynote speaker, and serial entrepreneur, about why your energy may be your greatest advantage in business and leadership.

Erin shares how burnout led her to study human energy management with 10,000 people around the world, revealing that high performers are not just working harder—they are operating with more clarity. Together, Ryan and Erin discuss entrepreneurship, burnout, AI, leadership, personal energy types, and why the energy you bring into a room can shape your business, your team, and your life.

You’ll hear Erin’s perspective on why knowledge is becoming standard in the age of AI, while human energy, empathy, intuition, creativity, and connection remain impossible to copy.

Take Erin’s free assessment:
https://theenergyexam.com

Free Training for Future Owners
Watch our 20-minute webinar: “10,000 Locations and Counting: The Franchise Buyer’s Blueprint.”
Learn how we help you de-risk buying a business and find the right fit.

https://webinars.franchisesidekick.com/ref/LDRCtfTNBbAhWhR

Josh Herscheid walked away from Microsoft chasing something more than just a paycheck—but nearly went down the wrong path in the process.In this episode of The Sidekick Life, Ryan and Tyler sit down with Josh to unpack his journey from corporate comfort to business ownership—and how what looked like a dream opportunity almost pulled him further away from the life he actually wanted.After falling in love with a fast-growing coffee franchise, Josh committed before fully understanding the realities of the business. What followed was a year of frustration, tough lessons, and the realization that the opportunity didn’t align with the lifestyle and freedom he was actually after.That’s when everything changed.With guidance from a Franchise Sidekick advisor, Josh pivoted to a completely different business—one that gave him something he couldn’t find at Microsoft: flexibility, alignment, and real meaning in his work.In this episode, you’ll learn:- Why chasing the “exciting” brand can lead you in the wrong direction- How to avoid costly mistakes when leaving corporate America- Why the right business fit matters more than the biggest opportunity- The emotional and financial reality of making the leap- What it actually takes to find a business that fits your lifeJosh’s story is a reminder: success isn’t about going bigger—it’s about getting aligned.If you’re thinking about leaving your 9–5, don’t make the wrong move before watching this.Free Training for Future OwnersWatch our 20-minute webinar: “10,000 Locations and Counting: The Franchise Buyer’s Blueprint.”Learn how we help you de-risk buying a business and find the right fit.https://webinars.franchisesidekick.com/ref/LDRCtfTNBbAhWhR

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

Ryan and Tyler sit down with Dr. Jason Wersland, founder of Therabody, to share the real story behind the Theragun — an 8.5-year journey of persistence, setbacks, and belief.

What started as a personal mission to solve chronic pain after a motorcycle accident turned into one of the most recognizable brands in wellness. But it didn’t start as a business idea — it started as a problem that couldn’t be ignored.

This episode is a deep dive into entrepreneurship, resilience, and the realities of building something meaningful.

Key takeaways:

• Solve real problems, don’t chase ideas

• Success takes longer than you expect

• Early adopters are everything

• Trust and education beat hype

• Mindset determines everything

• Every win comes with trade-offs

A powerful conversation for anyone building, scaling, or searching for purpose in business.

Free Training for Future Owners

Watch 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/LDRCtfTNBbAhWhR

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