Serasana’s medicinal tea.
In a wide-ranging segment that includes everything from fitness and massage to acupuncture and IV drip concepts, wellness franchises are seeing a boom in interest. With physical and mental health in the spotlight, many brands are in expansion mode and here we’re highlighting four with growth on their minds.
For Stretch Zone’s Lindsey McFadden, VP of marketing, the wellness explosion has been a huge boon for the industry as a whole. “To see that explosive growth during COVID was really exceptional,” she said. Keep reading for more on Stretch Zone, plus Perspire Sauna Studio, Serasana Wellness Studio and Rise Modern Wellness.
Stretch Zone
The concept: A pioneer in the body-stretching sector, Stretch Zone began in 2004 with its patented stretching tables. A “proprietary practitioner assisted stretching concept,” it shouldn’t be confused with a fitness studio. The stabilizing tables allow for a deep stretch of muscles, according to McFadden, and is part of a client’s wellness routine. The practitioners are nationally certified and go through a “rigorous training program” in order to assist clients in the best way possible. The unofficial tagline is “We do all the work, you get all the benefits,” said McFadden.
Stretch Zone
The stats: Stretch Zone opened its 100th location in 2020, eclipsed 200 in 2022 and is marching toward the 300-unit mark. Studios are 1,000 to 1,500 square feet in size and typically located in retail shopping centers. The initial investment range is $107,000 to $209,000
The competition: While it was among the first stretching concepts to hit the scene, this is no longer the case. McFadden said competition has been on the rise as awareness grows, with the biggest name being Stretch Lab, one of 10 brands under Xponential Fitness. A possible edge for Stretch Zone? It counts former NFL star Drew Brees as a franchisee and brand ambassador.
The challenge: While it was among the first, more competition now means that Stretch Zone endeavors to make itself stand out. It’s a matter of getting the word out and highlighting what the brands sees as its differentiators, namely that stretching system from founder Jorden Gold.
Perspire Sauna Studio
The concept: There are plenty of saunas out there, but what makes Perspire stand out is its infrared sauna. Designed to be comfortable, with more types of light options, Perspire clients get the chance to enjoy a private space for at least 30 minutes. According to CEO Lee Braun, one session can burn between 200 and 400 calories while reducing inflammation.
The stats: Franchising since 2018, Perspire has 30 studios open. To open a location, the initial investment ranges from $444,067 to $590,667.
The competition: At the time Braun took over, infrared saunas were largely unknown. Now, there are dozens of infrared studios, boutiques that added them in and steam saunas. Franchise competitors include CYL Sauna Studio, Sweathouz and 3 Degrees.
Perspire Sauna Studio
The challenge: The biggest challenge is knowledge. When most people think of a sauna, they’re thinking about a steam room with hot stones and a water bucket. Perspire’s studios are all about light bringing the sweat out over a longer period of time.
Serasana
Serasana
The concept: Meaning “to be healthy,” Serasana is a wellness concept offering several Eastern traditional practices. Each location has a wide variety of options, including acupuncture, cupping, Gua Sha and much more. Locations offer have so many services that owner Patti McCormick described it more as “providing a journey to wellness.” Each location has a medicinal tea bar, six or seven treatment rooms and one to two yoga studios to start. A unique aspect of Serasana is the idea of “treating the whole body,” including the mind. The two are entwined in McCormick’s eyes, and her business reflects this.
The stats: One location is corporately owned while the other seven are franchised and spread through Texas, Colorado and North Carolina. The investment range is between $485,000 and $710,000.
The competition: Massage businesses are one competitor McCormick noted, though not for taking customers. Instead, they compete for employees, as massage therapists are the most difficult to recruit and have more employment options that those who perform some of Serasana’s other services.
The challenge: Staffing isn’t easy due to the variety of offerings at Serasana. With so many practices, and most of them involving touch, finding experienced staff tends to be the biggest challenge for the franchisee. As McCormick put it, “We’re basically running four little businesses in one business.”
Rise Modern Wellness
The concept: Rise is all about body wellness inside and out. The first location, which opened in Bend, Oregon, in 2021, started with cryotherapy and the brand has since added more services. As co-founder Garrett Ahlberg put it, “We use modern technology to really help people feel their best.” The business looks for the most cutting-edge tech, including ozone saunas, cryofacials and even IV hydration therapy. They also tackle a variety of problems such as inflammation and weight loss.
Rise Modern Wellness
The stats: There are two locations open, with an eye on expansion this year. The initial investment ranges from $450,000 to $888,000, with an average cost of around $600,000 for a franchise.
The competition: As cryo and wellness become more popular, there’s a lot of competition to contend with. Ahlberg sees Restore Hyper Wellness as the biggest competitor and also a good sign. With their popularity, they show that there is a massive market.
The challenge: Rise is a small brand and largely unknown outside its home market. Building brand awareness will be key as it pushes franchise expansion, in addition to finding and training employees.