Ryan and Tyler go head-to-head in a fun new segment where they debate which Breaking Bad business concept could thrive as a franchise.
Breaking Bad should have been a franchise
In this fun and creative episode of "The Sidekick Life," Ryan and Tyler introduce a fresh new segment called "It should have been a franchise," a playful take on identifying fictional businesses from pop culture that could have thrived as real-life franchise concepts. For this episode, they dove into the hit TV series "Breaking Bad" to see which business had the most franchise potential. Here's how it played out.
The challenge
The hosts were tasked with picking a fictional business from "Breaking Bad," pitching why it should become a franchise and then defending their choice in a heated debate. Tim, Sidekick Advisor, played the role of judge to determine the winner.
Tyler’s pick: A Latin-inspired chicken concept
Tyler’s pitch revolved around a Latin-inspired chicken restaurant modeled after Los Pollos Hermanos. He built his case on several key points:
- Massive market opportunity: The chicken industry is worth $40 billion in the U.S. and growing at 9% annually.
- Smart expansion strategy: His concept included dual drive-thrus, tech-enabled service and a fleet of food trucks to expand reach efficiently.
- Retail opportunities: He envisioned retail sauces, seasonings and grilling supplies to build brand awareness and increase revenue streams.
- Simplicity for franchisees: Tyler emphasized a streamlined, tech-driven model requiring only two employees per location to keep operations simple and efficient.
Ryan’s pick: Street smart lawyers
Ryan’s concept was inspired by Saul Goodman’s infamous legal practice. His franchise idea, Street Smart Lawyers, focused on providing affordable, walk-in legal services for common legal issues. His key points included:
- Massive industry opportunity: The U.S. legal services market is valued between $80-$120 billion annually with zero major franchise competitors.
- Proven Model: Ryan compared the concept to successful tax preparation services like H&R Block, where CPAs aren’t required for day-to-day operations.
- Low startup costs: Projected costs of under $120,000 per location with high-margin services averaging $400 per transaction.
- Scalability: Leveraging a "hub and spoke" model, franchisees could expand rapidly with one overseeing attorney supervising multiple locations remotely.
The debate
- Tyler claimed his simple chicken concept could be managed with minimal labor and scale quickly. While Ryan countered that the fast food industry is highly competitive, with razor-thin margins and skyrocketing startup costs.
- Tyler then challenged the feasibility of hiring lawyers to oversee Ryan’s legal business, and Ryan highlighted the ease of using paralegals and legal templates to simplify operations.
The verdict
In a surprise twist, Street Smart Lawyers took the crown. Tim recognized the innovation, simplicity and massive untapped potential in Ryan's legal services franchise. The concept’s low investment, strong margins and scalable structure earned the victory.
Final thoughts
The episode wrapped up with plenty of laughs and some great insights into what makes a successful franchise concept. If you have an idea for a fictional business that should have been a franchise, drop it in the comments for the Sidekick team to tackle next!
