America is health-obsessed. Don't believe me? Turn on the
news, open the latest issue of Time magazine, glance at
billboards, and you'll be bombarded with stories, tips and ads
for the latest products, inventions and procedures that help
consumers do everything from lose weight to live longer.
Franchises aren't blind to this fixation. According to
Entrepreneur's Franchise 500, the number of health
franchise units grew by 62.8 percent between 2001's and
2002's rankings. Growth in all other categories was less than
11 percent.
Prospective franchisees can take advantage of the health craze
by doing everything from selling medical supplies to providing
immunizations to running weight loss clinics. And, with most of
these businesses targeting the treasured baby boomer demographic,
the prognosis for these franchises looks good.
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"Over the last decade or so, our society has been
relatively affluent, so people now have the luxury of moving on
from worrying about necessities to looking at enhancements like
fitness and alternative treatments," says Robert Field,
associate professor of health policy at the University of the
Sciences in Philadelphia.
LA Weight Loss Centers Inc. is one franchise taking advantage of
this emerging trend. Founded in 1989, the company offers a weight
control program that allows clients to eat real food and come in
for counseling sessions without an appointment.
Hal Levin, senior vice president of marketing for LA Weight Loss
Centers, sees his business affected by demographics and a greater
access to information. "There's a great public knowledge
of obesity, which translates into an increase in business for
anybody involved in the dieting [industry]," he says.
"Also, baby boomers now have the disposable income and are at
the age where they're watching weight a lot more than when they
were in their 20s and 30s."
Even a slumping economy hasn't stopped clients from visiting
LA Weight Loss Centers. With increased awareness of the effects of
obesity, customers regard diet programs as more than just another
enhancement. This business "has not been affected by the
economy, because weight loss is now a health issue. It's not a
matter of somebody waking up one day and saying, ‘I want to
look better'-it's about eating healthy," says Ray
Thoma, a 41-year-old LA Weight Loss Center franchisee in Omaha,
Nebraska.
Another franchise benefiting from increased access to health
information is Passport Health. Founded in 1994 by Fran Lessans,
the company began providing tourists with immunizations and
travel-related health information but has branched out into the
adult immunization market. "After September 11, we saw our flu
business escalate. People wanted get a flu vaccination so they
could differentiate between anthrax and the flu," Lessans
says. Business for Lessans quadrupled.
Even with the growth of its adult vaccine service, Passport
Health's main function is to provide immunizations and
information to world travelers. "It's a necessary
industry," says Karen Kluge, a 45-year-old franchisee in Boca
Raton, Florida, who reports that, after a temporary drop off, the
number of people traveling to exotic places was again on the rise,
resulting in a need for travel immunizations and education.
Servicing a completely different set of needs is Women's
Health Boutique, a retailer of women's medical supplies. The
company sells products for women dealing with breast cancer,
pregnancy and other health issues. While the franchise continues to
expand, David Handler, senior vice president of ICED, franchisor of
Women's Health Boutique, stresses that this opportunity
isn't for everyone. "We certainly understand not everyone
is cut out for this business. Dealing with sick people takes a very
special person," he says. "We have a strong group of
owners from a medical background, and they understand the
compassion that's required to do this every day."
All this focus on health is a good sign for franchisees and
their customers. "The [increasing popularity] of these
franchises indicates people are more and more interested in
spending money on their health," Field says. "In a lot of
ways, it's a very positive trend."
For our special listing on health-care franchises,
click here.