Franchise Trend #3: Healthcare on your own terms

Trends in the health and wellness space come with a lot of different connotations.?

Perhaps you remember the “South Beach Diet,” see flashes of neon stretch pants from the ‘80’s, or can still picture the food pyramid from elementary school.?

My mind immediately goes to Ron Burgundy in “Anchorman” explaining the 1970’s sensation of “jogging” to his pals in the newsroom.

“Veronica and I are trying this new fad called jogging,” Burgundy says. “Apparently you just run for an extended period of time. It's supposed to be wild.”

But in the franchise context, wellness trends represent more than the health “flavor of the month.” It’s about meeting the needs of Americans eager to find better healthcare solutions.

According to Time Magazine, more than 70 percent of adults across the country feel that their current healthcare needs are not being met. Lack of affordability, focus on profit, and the? system’s priority on treating illness versus preventative wellness were the top reasons for these sentiments of dissatisfaction.?

With such a large portion of the nation frustrated as they try, but are unable, to find adequate options for their healthcare challenges, franchise businesses are stepping in to provide personalized solutions.

These entrepreneurs are hearing are different iterations of the same story:

“I went to my primary doctor uneasy about an ailment affecting my life, but spent the 15 minute appointment answering vague questions while the doctor typed on the computer the whole time. I was prescribed with a new medication that barely helped, and things haven’t improved. There’s got to be a better option out there.”

Take, for example, obesity.

Two out of three Americans are either overweight or obese, and this widespread reality can lead to more serious ramifications as people age.

We’ve all heard the basic advice–dieting, exercising, and cutting out late night snacks, but for many, losing weight and keeping it off is a wellness hill that seems nearly impossible to climb on their own. This is where a doctor would come in.?

Ideally.

But what franchisors have found is that today’s adult needs a deeper level of care for this issue than what currently exists. The one size fits all approach to this health concern leaves too many right back where they started. So entrepreneurs decided to do something about it.?

Rather than generic tips like “don’t eat sweets,” medical weight loss franchises are providing patients with holistic nutrition plans and education on how different menu items affect the body.

Instead of the "take this pill, and I’ll see you back in 6 months” strategy from many doctors, franchise entities in this space offer one on one, ongoing coaching with licensed medical professionals that ensure accountability and sustainable results.

Obesity is a deeply personal journey that many across the country are walking through. Franchisors realized this, and have brought the specified, relational care that people in this boat need.

But weight loss is just the start. Franchise models are becoming more prevalent across multiple other health and wellness categories.?

Mental Health Counseling: Coming out of COVID lockdowns, and with screen time at an all time high, mental health struggles has become an all too common reality for millions in 2024. To meet the growing demand here, franchisors are locating seasoned business executives to work on a therapy business while hiring counseling professionals to work in this business.

Testosterone Replacement: Sensitive topic, I know, but the data says that one out of every four men over 30 in the U.S has low testosterone levels. The last thing these guys want to do is explain in a rushed doctor’s appointment how this phenomenon is negatively affecting the family and relational elements of their lives. So franchises have created friendly, discrete environments for men to experience the help they need in a setting they feel comfortable in.

Balance and Physical Therapy: According to The American College of Rheumatology, 790,000 knee replacements and 450,000 hip replacements are performed annually in the United States. Thought leaders around these procedures have found that balance is key to make sure that folks coming off knee/hip replacements can maintain stability and mobility as they age, avoiding major falls and enhancing quality of life. To scale and distribute this recovery strategy, balance-centered physical therapists have turned to the franchise model to partner with sharp entrepreneurs who are able to manage and grow a team of PTs.

The common hold up prospective owners of these businesses express is lack of experience in these fields.?

“I’m not a doctor, so how will I run this business?”

Here’s the kicker: Not being a medical professional is a good thing in these models. You can hire out a PT or a counselor, but what ultimately leads to scalability is the owner’s ability to hire/fire, manage a P&L, and cultivate a positive team culture.?

At that point, if you have that skillset, it comes down to supply and demand.

And clearly, there’s demand in this space.