Turn complexity into clear executive decisions. Built on 30+ years of executive experience scaling, stabilizing, and transforming franchise brands at every stage of growth.
Insure Your Franchise Business Thrives for Four Generations of Succession...
Not Just Hope It Survives to The Next One.
We advise franchise businesses through growth, transition, and succession by
focusing on bringing clarity, structure, and discipline to the decisions that matter most.
ABOUT OUR COMPANY
The HSM Group, LLC
The HSM Group is a franchise advisory firm focused on growth, transition, and long-term continuity.
Our passion is helping franchise organizations navigate critical inflection points—whether scaling operations, preparing for leadership transition, or stabilizing performance following change.
With deep experience spanning multi-unit operators, private equity-backed brands, and family-owned businesses, our focus remains consistent: bringing structure, clarity, and discipline to key client decisions that materially impact long-term outcomes.
Read More
The firm operates at the intersection of strategy and execution. Engagements are grounded in the operational realities of franchise systems—where performance depends on alignment across ownership, leadership, and field execution. This includes establishing clear decision frameworks, strengthening leadership accountability, and ensuring that growth does not outpace operational capacity.
Particular emphasis is placed on leadership transition within franchise organizations. As founders step back and next-generation leaders assume responsibility, the risk of disruption increases. The work involves defining roles, clarifying authority, and preparing emerging leaders to operate with confidence and discipline.
Across all engagements, the objective is consistent: to ensure that growth is sustainable, transitions are controlled, and the business is positioned to perform beyond any single leadership generation.
Industry Focus
Our work is concentrated within the franchise industry, with a focus on operators and ownership groups managing complexity stemming from growth, scale, and leadership transitions.
01/
Multi-Unit Franchise Owners
Organizations managing multiple locations of a single brand or across multiple brands.
Focus includes operational structure, leadership alignment, and performance continuity.
02/
Family-Owned Franchise
Franchise organizations with active or emerging next-generation involvement.
Focus includes succession planning, role clarity, and leadership readiness.
03/
Private Equity-Backed Brands
Franchise systems undergoing accelerated growth, restructuring, or post-acquisition transition.
Focus includes scaling infrastructure, leadership discipline, and operational stability.
04/
Emerging Franchise Systems
Concepts transitioning from early growth into multi-unit franchise expansion.
Focus includes foundational systems, leadership development, and execution consistency.
Co-Founder, CEO & Chief Advisor
Hannibal D. Myers, III
Hannibal D. Myers III is a franchise industry veteran highly experienced at innovatively accelerating and managing the growth of brands of all sizes. He has worked with brands as diverse as Taco Bell, Papa Johns, Wendy’s, Burger King, Denny’s, Church’s Texas Chicken, UFC Gym and many others during his 30+ years in the franchising industry.
Read More
Having designed and implemented first-of-their kind strategies resulting in explosive growth for legacy brands and pioneered new growth initiatives from concept to $350M+ in annual revenue for a multi-billion dollar brand, he has established a proven track record of success with public and private companies in all phases of growth from start-up to turnaround. As a C-suite executive, Hannibal has worked with private equity to supercharge the growth of brands emerging from bankruptcy and with family offices to stabilize operations after difficult acquisitions or startups and mentor executive teams in preparation for successful domestic and international expansion. Having served as a Board Member on private non-profit, lifestyle, and industry boards including the Church’s Texas Chicken International Franchise Association and Multi-Unit Franchising Conference, he has been a speaker at various industry conferences, and has been featured in numerous articles on franchising in a variety of national publications.
Now a multi-unit franchisee and CEO of a franchise industry advisory group, Hannibal is passionate about helping the next generation of family office leaders across the franchise industry to unlock the potential value amplification they represent for their organizations.
Hannibal completed The General Manager Program at Harvard Business School Executive Education and holds a BS in Business Computer Information Systems from the University of Houston.
TOP STORIES
START THE CONVERSATION
If you are evaluating growth, leadership transition, or succession planning, the first step is a focused conversation.
The objective is simple: understand your current structure, identify areas of risk or opportunity, and determine whether there is a clear path forward for collaboration.