The beauty, health and wellness industries earn hundreds of billions of dollars each year. Franchise opportunities abound in these industries and are an attractive option for anyone thinking about starting a health and beauty business. Health and beauty franchises offer numerous benefits to start-up entrepreneurs, including:

1. Brand recognition—Many health and beauty franchises are nationally known and the franchisor, be it beauty salon franchises, day spas, hair salons, tanning salons, fitness franchises or home health care franchises, have spent money on advertising and marketing to establish their brand.
2. Marketing assistance—Most franchise opportunities offer joint marketing and advertising opportunities—from store locators on their website to universal store promotions and sales.
3. Purchasing and operations assistance—By purchasing in bulk, retail health and beauty franchises are able to get products at better prices than independent small businesses.
4. Start up assistance—When you open a franchised health and beauty business, the franchisor offers assistance with store design, staff training and finding financing.
5. Protected territories—Many health and beauty franchises come with a guarantee or non-compete clause that prevents the franchisor from selling franchises to anyone else in your territory.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Business can be looking good with beauty salon franchises

Beauty salon franchises include hair salons, day spas and tanning salons. You don't have to be a celebrity stylist to own successful hair salons. In fact, you don't need to be a hairstylist at all. However, you will need to hire licensed cosmetologists to provide services for your clientele, and you will need to stay current on trends in haircuts and color.

I recommend: Franchising.com lists available franchise opportunities in categories including hair salons, day spas and tanning salons. In addition to general beauty salon franchises, Franchise Opportunities lists niche beauty salon franchises including PigTails & Crewcuts and Sweet & Sassy children’s hair salons.

Beauty may only be skin deep, but health franchises go further

Health franchises include beauty supply stores, laser treatment centers and massage business opportunities. Note that laser treatment centers need to be licensed as medical facilities and require medical staff. And if you want to open a massage business, you'll need to hire licensed massage therapists.

I recommend: Franchise Gator has a comprehensive list of available health franchise opportunities with information on investment requirements and company history, financials and information. Franchise 50 rates the top 50 franchises each year in a variety of categories including health and beauty. FranchiseForSale.com features several unique health and beauty franchises including Skinovative Laser Centers, Massage Heights, and Armstrong McCall Professional Beauty Supply.

Pump up your income with fitness franchises

Helping Americans get in shape can help you succeed in business. Fitness franchises have been around for decades and still rank as a strong performer among franchise opportunities.

I recommend: Check out current opportunities for fitness franchises, including Pilates Joe, LA Boxing, and Athletic Nation, a men’s personal training operation. Curves, one of the hottest ladies-only fitness franchises, has few territories available in the U.S., but you can still take advantage of this opportunity by buying an existing Curves franchise.

With diet franchises, your customers' loss is your gain

Each year, Americans spend billions of dollars on weight-loss products and services. And diet franchises that offer weight-loss programs and meal delivery services are seeing a chunk of that cash.

I recommend: At Franchise Expo and Gaebler Ventures, you can find a number of diet franchises that will give you entry into the billion-dollar weight loss industry. One of the most respected diet franchises in the industry is Jenny Craig, where you can submit an application to become a franchisee.

Home healthcare franchises are a booming market

The baby boomer generation is getting older and due to the rise of active adults (55 and older) and retirees, home healthcare franchises and other health franchises are some of the fastest growing franchise opportunities available.

I recommend: Franchise Solutions lists several home healthcare and active adult franchise opportunities that appeal to baby boomers including Always Best Care Senior Services, Right at Home, Relax The Back and Foot Solutions. Check US Franchise News for more senior care franchise opportunities.

Do your homework before you invest in franchise opportunities

Check to make sure your franchisor is accredited and offers fair and ethical franchise opportunities.

I recommend: The American Franchisee Association provides tools to help potential franchisees avoid problems and alerts you to bad contracts before you sign on the dotted line. The American Association of Franchisees & Dealers is a national non-profit trade association that provides the Fair Franchising Seal, accrediting franchisors that offer fair and ethical franchisee opportunities.

Turn existing businesses into health and beauty franchises

If you've built a successful health and beauty business and want to branch out, consider becoming a franchisor before you opt to open more locations on your own. With health and beauty franchises, you can expand faster and reach a wider audience, plus you'll earn money on the franchises you sell.

I recommend: Frandocs provides consulting services, documents and operations manuals to help turn existing businesses into health and beauty franchises. Franchise Profiles is an online library and resource center that provides sample forms and software to businesses who are starting as franchisors. McGrow Consulting specializes in helping successful small business owners to become franchisors. FranSource International provides franchise consulting services including website development, branding, staff training and franchise sales to businesses who are entering the initial franchise sales process.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Before investing in any franchise opportunities, read the franchisor's Uniform Franchise Offering Circular (UFOC). This legal document includes information and disclosures, such as deposit agreements, non-compete clauses, compliance certification, site selection guidelines and other information.
• •  Before you invest in health and beauty franchises, ask the franchisor what support and training are provided for start-up, ongoing operations and marketing.
• •  Most states require additional certification for health and beauty salon franchises. Make sure your franchisor can assist you in finding out all laws that are applicable. You'll also need to make sure that your staff is certified in the state in which your franchise is licensed.