The Sidekick Life

The Sidekick Life podcast explores how successful entrepreneurs are building fulfilling lives by creating solutions that serve others. Co-hosts Ryan Zink and Tyler Altenhofen dive into real stories of franchise owners and business leaders who have transformed their own journeys into platforms for helping others thrive. In each episode, they dive into real-life challenges and inspiring stories from people who are changing lives and living life on their own terms. Tune in to discover how purpose-driven entrepreneurship can be the key to freedom, fulfillment, and lasting impact.

The Sidekick Life is a business podcast hosted by Franchise Sidekick, with 50 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Franchise Sidekick hosts The Sidekick Life, a business show with 50 episodes published.

Our AI reads these to draft pitches. Use them as grounding for a pitch that cites a real guest and a specific topic.

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  Episode #50

  50 episodes down! Here's what surprised us

  Aug 5, 202612 minS1

  50 episodes down and The Sidekick Life is just getting started.In this milestone episode, Ryan and Tyler look back at the guests, stories and unexpected moments that have shaped the podcast so far. They revisit memorable conversations with founders, franchisees and entrepreneurs, including Donald Miller, Dr. Jason Wersland, Paul Reiser, Michelle Poler and more.They also get honest about what did not work, what surprised them about podcasting and why the best episodes came from focusing less on views and more on genuine conversations.From franchise owners who transformed their lives to world-class founders who built businesses with lasting impact, this episode celebrates the lessons learned through the first 50 episodes and looks ahead to what is next.Thank you to everyone who has listened, watched, shared and supported the show through its first 50 episodes.Subscribe for honest conversations, practical frameworks and inspiring stories designed to help you live life on your terms through business ownership.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

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  Episode #49

  From $0 to franchise empire at age 32

  Jul 22, 202649 minS1

  How do you go from a 23-year-old operator to a multi-unit, multi-brand franchise owner with multiple successful exits?In this episode of The Sidekick Life, Ryan Zink and Tyler Altenhofen sit down with Tanner Holmes, an entrepreneur and franchise operator whose experience spans European Wax Center, Hush Lash Studio, Sola Salons, and Perspire Sauna Studio.Tanner shares how he earned his first ownership stake through sweat equity, helped grow a European Wax Center portfolio from five locations to 12, and eventually participated in major exits, including an 11x return on the studios and a 19x return on the area-development business.But this conversation is about much more than the wins.Tanner opens up about growing up in an entrepreneurial family, navigating the uncertainty of COVID-19, choosing the right franchise opportunities, working with business partners, and learning why focus, patience, and accountability matter more than chasing unit count.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

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  Episode #48

  How Tee Box CEO turned a hobby into a 100+ unit franchise

  Jul 8, 202643 minS1

  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

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  Episode #47

  What it takes to build a semi-absentee franchise

  Jun 24, 202637 minS1

  <p>n this episode of The Sidekick Life, Ryan Zink and Tyler Altenhofen talk with franchise owner Doug Anthony about building wealth through franchising.</p><p>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.</p><p>This episode is a real-world look at franchise ownership, business growth, leadership, and using entrepreneurship as a...

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• 

  Episode #47

  Building wealth through franchising

  Jun 24, 202637 minS1

  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

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