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Check Out This Hot Brand Debuting in the Top 100 in its First Year on the Franchise 500 The HOTWORX concept is growing fast.

Since its founding in 2017, things at HOTWORX have been, well, hot. Especially when it comes to growth. The company has more than 725 open units across the United States. Additionally, HOTWORX has international units located in Ireland, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, with the first Canadian unit set to open in Calgary, Alberta this year.
It's because of this that HOTWORX places so well on the 2025 Franchise 500, coming in at #95. It's their first year on the list and their first spot among the top 100 companies overall.
When Entrepreneur evaluates franchises for the Franchise 500, we look at more than 150 data points — including very visible ones like size and growth, but we also take a holistic view of the business, the industry it operates in, and the opportunities available to prospective franchisees. That includes things like franchisee support and training, brand strength and marketing, and more.
HOTWORX's accelerated growth over the last few years is the reason the company scores in the top 1% of all Franchise 500 companies for size and growth.
A hot concept that has caught on fast
If you've never heard of HOTWORX, here's a primer: The team created and patented a high-tech sauna that combines heat, infrared, and exercise—what they like to call "3D Training." The HOTWORX exercise program is virtually instructed for users to experience infrared heat absorption while completing a 30-minute isometric workout or 15-minute high intensity interval training (HIIT) session.
During a workout, infrared heat penetrates your body causing you to sweat and the isometric postures further accelerate detoxification by physically removing the toxins from your organs through muscle contraction, the company says. As a result of the addition of infrared energy, HOTWORX says its users continue to burn a significant amount of calories during the hour immediately following a workout.
HOTWORX franchisees benefit from the virtual instructor aspect of the business model because the minimal staff required to operate a studio yields a low labor cost compared to most businesses in the fitness industry and allows them to maximize their revenue potential.
"Each studio location is assigned a Franchise Performance Coach who is dedicated to helping our owners achieve their personal and professional goals through the HOTWORX business model," Jessica Matherne, HOTWORX's Vice President of Franchise Performance, explains.
Last year, the company says it achieved several important milestones that franchisees are excited about. Among them, HOTWORX opened its 700th location in October. The company also launched franchise recruitment efforts in Canada and awarded the first franchise licenses to new multi-unit franchisees in Alberta.
"This expansion is an exciting opportunity to bring the first ever 24-hour infrared fitness studio concept to new communities across the country of Canada, while also enhancing the overall strength and recognition of the HOTWORX brand for existing locations," says Kasie Banks, Executive Marketing Director at HOTWORX.
HOTWORX also released season 3 of the HOTWORX TV Show, highlighting its Virtual Instructor Competition—the annual event that is used to recruit fitness professionals with seven new instructors selected to lead the workout videos and serve as brand ambassadors.
"The increased popularity of infrared has contributed to the success of our franchise, with over 1,700 licenses awarded since first launching the franchise opportunity in 2017," says HOTWORX founder and CEO, Stephen P. Smith. "We are a goal-focused and deadline-driven franchise organization that is 100% committed to the success and profitability of our franchisees."
Click here to learn more about HOTWORX and their exciting franchise opportunities.