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.