From the Houston Business Journal: Houston franchisees muscle in on chiropractic market
From the Houston Business Journal: bizjournals.com/houston
by Allison Wollam, Reporter
Houston franchisees David and Anne Glover have come out of retirement to bring a chiropractic clinic concept to the area.
The husband and wife team have signed on as regional developers of the Scottsdale, Ariz.-based franchisor of chiropractic clinics known as The Joint, with plans to develop as many as 50 locations in Houston, Dallas-Fort Worth and Austin.
The Glovers were former Massage Envy franchisees operating five clinics in the Houston area. Already familiar with John Leonesio, founder and former CEO of Massage Envy and current CEO of The Joint, the couple said they did the proper due diligence and decided to get back in the health care franchise game.
"With lower start-up costs and minimal staffing needs, the potential for profit is quite impressive," said Anne Glover. "Each location only needs a chiropractor and a front-office person, so it's a really simple franchise to operate."
Glover estimates that the start-up costs for a franchise range between $80,000 to $100,000. She said they haven't chosen an architect or general contractor.
Because insurance companies have just started to chip in to chiropractors reimbursement rates, she expects chiropractors to be attracted to this cash-based business model.
The first order of business is awarding franchises throughout Texas, but she said the couple plans to operate a few of their own Houston franchises.
She estimates there will be a maximum of 20 locations throughout Houston over the next several years.
The couple is already scouting potential sites in the Galleria area, River Oaks, Katy, Sugar Land, Champions and Pearland, she said, and hopes to have the first location up and running by the fall. Outlets will average about 1,200 square feet in highly visible retail locations.
The Joint provides chiropractic care as part of a patient's health and wellness program. There are no appointments, no X-rays and no start-up fees. Patients can choose to pay as they go or pay a monthly fee.
The Joint already operates 30 clinics in 11 states, including the first handful of locations in Texas that opened in the past two years in Austin, Red Oak, Denton and Mission.
Keith Hudson, owner of Houston-based Charter Franchise Services, said he's seen an uptick in health care companies creating franchises.
He recently set up a franchise for Phoenix-based Health Care Practice Partners LLC which offers franchise opportunities for its business concept that provides administrative services for medical practices.
"I think the aging of the Baby Boomers has more people interested in health care businesses," he said. "I also think that Obama-care is presenting opportunities for people looking to get into health care."