Health & Wellness Specialist

The 15 hottest Health and wellness franchises of 2026. From boutique fitness and recovery concepts to med spas and longevity brands, these franchise systems are taking advantage of one of the fastest-growing sectors in franchising. 0:00 / 5:04 Health and wellness has evolved from a consumer trend into one of the most resilient and dynamic categories in franchising. Today's consumers are investing more than ever in their physical health, mental well-being, recovery, aesthetics and longevity, creating opportunities for franchise brands that help people feel and perform at their best. The category has expanded well beyond the traditional gym. Modern health and wellness franchising now includes boutique fitness studios, sports performance facilities, assisted stretching concepts, medical spas, recovery therapies, IV hydration, red light therapy, massage and facial services and personalized wellness experiences. Together, these businesses are redefining what consumers expect from preventive health and self-care. And on the franchisee side, the sector offers several key benefits. Many concepts generate recurring revenue through memberships, for example, while others benefit from repeat visits and higher customer lifetime value. Operators can also capitalize on multiple demographic segments, from athletes and fitness enthusiasts to busy professionals, aging adults and consumers seeking aesthetic or recovery treatments. In this issue, 1851 Franchise is highlighting the brands leading the charge across health, fitness, recovery and wellness. Over the coming weeks, Scoop Soldiers Franchise'll publish individual profiles exploring what makes each concept stand out, how their business models are scaling and why they represent some of the strongest franchise opportunities in one of franchising's fastest-growing industries. The 15 hottest Health and wellness franchises. Planet Fitness - The global fitness giant opened 181 new clubs in 2025, bringing its footprint to 2,896 locations while earning recognition on Entrepreneur's list of the fastest-growing franchise brands. Club Pilates - Boutique fitness continues its remarkable momentum, highlighted by Xponential Fitness' largest development agreement ever: a 127-studio expansion with Riser Fitness over the next five years. Burn Boot Camp - The community-focused group fitness concept signed 51 franchise agreements and opened 36 new gyms in 2025, with more than 60% of new agreements coming from existing franchisees. Hand & Stone Massage and Facial Spa - One of the largest names in wellness services continues to grow, signing nine franchise agreements and opening five new spas during the first quarter of 2026 while operating more than 650 locations across the United States and Canada. FACE FOUNDRIÉ - The facial bar concept continues building momentum with nine development agreements covering 13 future locations during the first quarter of 2026, alongside five new openings and additional expansion planned throughout the year. JETSET Pilates - JETSET reported a 546% increase in memberships during 2025 and now operates 36 studios with more than 100 additional locations in development. StretchMed - Assisted stretching continues to emerge as a high-growth wellness category. StretchMed entered 2026 recognized among the fastest-growing emerging franchises, with 31 studios operating and another 26 franchises sold for future development. iCRYO - Focused on recovery, cryotherapy and longevity services, iCRYO was named to the Inc. 5000 list of America's Fastest-Growing Private Companies for the third consecutive year, underscoring sustained demand for recovery-focused wellness concepts. beem Light Sauna - Red light therapy continues gaining mainstream adoption, and beem Light Sauna has positioned itself for national expansion with more than 60 locations in development while maintaining a disciplined growth strategy. Restore Hyper Wellness - One of the category's most recognizable brands, Restore Hyper Wellness earned the No. 1 ranking in Entrepreneur's Miscellaneous Personal-Care Businesses category in the 2025 Franchise 500, reflecting its leadership in preventive wellness and recovery services. StretchLab - Assisted stretching has become one of franchising's breakout categories. StretchLab added 316 locations between 2021 and 2023, representing 209.3% unit growth, while systemwide sales climbed from $50 million to $200 million, earning the concept the No. 2 spot on Franchise Times' Fast & Serious ranking. Stay tuned throughout the coming weeks as 1851 Franchise takes a closer look at each of these brands, exploring their growth strategies, franchise models, unit economics and competitive advantages.

The Covery Health unveils Covery 2.0 as it eyes national franchise expansion With new c-suite hires. Veterans from Gold's Gym and iCRYO join The Covery Health's rebranded medical wellness concept as it prepares to scale into big-box gyms and launch a 50-state virtual platform. The Covery is entering a new era as the brand unveils Covery 2.0, a medical-forward model designed to meet the rapidly growing demand for health optimization, longevity and preventative wellness. As part of this evolution, the company is also rebranding to "The Covery Health," accompanied by a refreshed look, updated logo, and a clearer focus on medical services and outcomes. Originally founded as a recovery and wellness concept, The Covery Health is pivoting toward a stronger medical foundation with services such as hormone optimization (TRT/HRT), GLP-1 metabolic programs, peptides, IV therapy, and other physician-guided treatments. They are also getting ready to release their new 2.0 virtual platform, available in all 50 states. The shift reflects broader consumer trends toward proactive health care, performance optimization and longevity-focused services. To support this strategic transition, the company has strengthened its leadership team with two respected industry veterans. Joel Tallman has joined the team as SVP of operations and strategic partnerships, bringing decades of experience scaling global fitness brands and optimizing multi-unit systems. Tallman previously served as the SVP of franchising and global operations of Gold's Gym. The company has also appointed Bob Thomas, the former vice president of franchise sales at iCRYO, as SVP of franchising, where he will help drive franchise development and national expansion. With new leadership, a refined medical model for both the stand alone brick and mortar as well as plug and play for big box gyms, and the launch of The Covery Health brand, the company is positioning itself at the intersection of fitness, medicine and longevity - an emerging category reshaping the future of the wellness industry.