Director of Chiropractic and Compliance of the nation’s fastest-growing chiropractic franchise explains why The Joint is a best-bet investment

Chiropractic care is a needed business that helps more than 31 million Americans living with back pain. This is where The Joint Chiropractic, the fastest-growing chiropractic franchise in the nation, outshines the competition. Founded in 1999, The Joint excels at helping entrepreneurs prosper in a business that makes access to convenient, affordable and chiropractic care obtainable for millions. 

With more than 500 locations across the country, our thriving chiropractic franchise is growing due to our unique ability to introduce millions of Americans to chiropractic care, but also because of our easy-to-understand business model, as well as our low barriers to ownership, making us a best-bet investment. 

And the industry has taken notice. Recently, Entrepreneur magazine ranked our dynamic chiropractic franchise on their prestigious Franchise 500 list. This is the fifth consecutive year that The Joint has made the list. The best part? There’s plenty of room to grow in the booming $15 billion chiropractic industry. This is why The Joint is seeking savvy entrepreneurs and chiropractors looking to convert their existing business to join our franchise as we continue to expand across the nation.

In this interview, Dr. Steven Knauf, Executive Director of Chiropractic and Compliance with The Joint Chiropractic, shares everything from how our chiropractic business model is designed to help our franchisees maximize profitability, to why franchising is more attractive than ever and what makes The Joint Chiropractic a best-bet investment. 

How has The Joint being an essential business helped its franchise owners through this unfortunate time?

Dr. Knauf: A lot of businesses have felt the huge impact of losing revenue, having to close, and terminate or furlough employees and we’ve not experienced that. We haven’t because we are an essential business. That means throughout the entire COVID-19 pandemic, we have been able to remain open and available to provide our services and care to the patients who really need us.

It really limited the impact on our business because what we saw clearly demonstrated throughout this time is that chiropractic care is highly valued by patients who need it. That is really what has contributed to the strength and stability of our overall model. 

The Joint’s ability to provide affordable and convenient chiropractic care is really a true differentiator, especially at a time like this because patients need your services whether there is a pandemic happening or not. Would you agree?

DS: Certainly. I think the best thing to do is to look at it from the consumer standpoint. They themselves might have been those employees who were let go, furloughed, or have to work from home full-time. For myself, I even did it for a bit. I was working off of my kid’s desk because I didn’t have a proper work setup at home. You experience a lot of different kinds of stress just going through this situation, including financial stress. So being able to offer an option for patients to still access the care that they need is really important, even though their financial situation may have changed. 

How does chiropractic care help people who are stuck at home, stressed out, and may not be moving as much as they should be?  

Dr. Knauf: In conversing with some people, the pandemic is creating a more sedentary lifestyle than what many of us are used to. It’s a longer time spent not moving and more time spent watching Netflix or some sort of screen. Additionally, you may not be eating well, especially if you have access to food delivery services, which is a contributor to how your body reacts and responds to stress.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What chiropractic does at its core is it allows your body to react to its environment. Your brain and your nervous system have to be able to sense all of the things you’re throwing at it and then it has to be able to react appropriately. Chiropractic care restores motion, allows your body to deal with stress and get back to the things you love to do. That’s why recovery is going to be important and that’s why we’re focusing on access to care as people are getting back into their normal routines because they’re going to need it. 

Even before the pandemic The Joint was introducing chiropractic care to millions of people who hadn’t tried it before. Now that the economy is reopening, do you think that the focus on health and wellness is going to increase going forward? 

Dr. Knauf: I think we’re already trending that way — even without COVID-19 hitting. I think society was really starting to embrace health and wellness more than it had traditionally, which is a growing trend that was supporting our brand’s growth. However, what’s highlighted in this current situation is the value of health and wellness, and how resilient it can make your body if you’ve adopted these measures.

So I have to believe that our patients who have been with us prior to this have weathered the storm much better than those who hadn’t seen chiropractors or hadn’t valued health and wellness before this. As we move forward, I think we’re going to see a lot of consumers being educated by concepts like ours. Maybe you didn’t take advantage of us, or didn’t understand what we’re about, but this situation has alerted us to how valuable our health and wellness is, which is why now is the time to start taking it seriously. The best thing is that it’s not too late — you can get into a routine, start taking better care of yourself and get on a better track for overall health and wellness. 

In the coming month, The Joint is offering free adjustments to people who haven’t tried it before. After coming out of months of being sedentary, being stressed out and not knowing what to expect, do you think a lot of people are going to need the services The Joint provides?

Dr. Knauf: Absolutely. I think there’s going to be a lot of awareness. I think most people have some kind of ache or pain happening that they didn’t have prior to this situation. So it’s our responsibility to educate them on the options that they have for getting back on track. Moreover, it’s really a responsibility of ours as a leader within the profession to provide this offer. There is no larger clinic system of chiropractic in the world that is able to provide a service to people that they need, especially in a time like this. It’s an obligation for us because we have to be there to serve our communities and get them back on track. 

As the largest provider of chiropractic care in the world, franchise owners and chiropractors with The Joint have the advantage of being part of a franchise system that works hard to ensure they have all of the necessary resources they need to make it through these times. What’s your take on that?

Dr. Knauf: What’s important is that everyone stays safe through this entire time period. Safety and support has to be top of mind and we’ve really embraced that safety and support, to keep us directionally focused on how we’re going to get through this. I’m incredibly honored that our doctors have taken up the call to continue to serve and deliver the care from the profession they chose to join. It’s important to us that we provide our staff and their patients all of the tools of support that we can so they can practice safely within our clinics. 

Even through this pandemic, The Joint has continued to grow, add new franchise owners and open new clinics. How does that make you feel to be a part of a brand that is not only resilient, but also helps entrepreneurs open a business that is necessary to their communities?

Dr. Knauf:  It’s an amazing feeling to be a part of a company that is able to grow through the services that we provide in such a trying time like this. I’ve conversed with many chiropractors around the profession — whether it’s associations, people from school, other colleagues, private practice owners — and that’s not the story for every chiropractor out there.

Unfortunately, chiropractors are losing their business, just like other small businesses are. And it’s incredibly sad to see that they didn’t have access to robust support for their business to make it through a situation like this. What’s heartening is that there is a proven business model with proven systems for chiropractors where they can receive the necessary tools and support, which will help them not only weather difficult situations, but also continue to grow in them. 

Ready to bring the fastest-growing chiropractic franchise to your community?

If you’re thinking about opening your own The Joint Chiropractic Franchise, explore our research pages here! We offer a wealth of information for potential franchise owners, including the history of The Joint Chiropractic, along with average revenue and startup costs to help you envision yourself within our nationwide clinics.

If you are ready to take the first step in your journey to owning your own franchise, fill out our franchise information form, and a member of our team will be in contact soon to discuss any next steps.

The fast-growing chiropractic franchise celebrates multiple new openings and plans for strong growth going forward

The Joint Chiropractic, the fast-growing chiropractic franchise in the nation, celebrates multiple new openings as it aggressively expands throughout the U.S. 

In the first quarter of the year, The Joint opened 16 new franchise clinics and the growth continues with five more openings in May. 

Adding to the momentum, The Joint also sold 30 new franchise licenses through the end of April. The mix of licenses speaks to the health of the brand as a whole, as 16 are to new owners, while 14 are to existing owners who are scaling up to multi-unit ownership. In addition, The Joint also sold one new Regional Developer Area agreement for Iowa, Nebraska and South Dakota. 

Founded 20 years ago, The Joint has set itself apart from the competition in the $15 billion chiropractic industry by making access to care more affordable, accessible and convenient than ever before. With more than 500 locations nationwide, our growing chiropractic franchise is a meaningful business that meets an incredible demand for holistic pain management.

Eric Simon, Vice President of Franchise Sales & Development with The Joint, attributes the uptick to the brand’s proven business model. 

“It has been a privilege to work alongside and support The Joint franchisees,” Simon says. “Their ability to adapt to the changing environment has given our brand the capability to not only withstand the pandemic, but also begin the rebound process much quicker than other systems. As an essential business, potential franchisees watched in real time how our brand continued to serve the millions of people dealing with pain, and how our business model continues to prove we are recession-resilient. As a result, we continue to sell franchises at a fast pace.”

The Joint is one of the most affordable franchises to own and boasts strong profit potential

The Joint has become the fastest-growing chiropractic franchise in the nation not only because of our unique ability to introduce millions of Americans to chiropractic care and easy-to-understand business model, but also due to our low barriers to ownership. 

Our thriving chiropractic care franchise is one of the most affordable opportunities in the booming $15 billion chiropractic care industry. The initial investment to begin operations on a new chiropractic franchise ranges from $182,697 to $368,497.

Because our buildout costs are substantially lower than other brands in the healthcare segment, our chiropractic care franchise offers a quicker ramp-up time, which allows for a potentially faster return on investment. In addition, the franchise fee for your first chiropractic care franchise is $39,900.

“The Joint is really connecting with entrepreneurs and chiropractors who are seeking a proven business model that can dramatically improve lives,” Simon notes. “We’re incredibly proud that our franchise owners continue to see more people than traditional chiropractic clinics by a large margin, and our continued nationwide growth is a reflection of both the profit potential of this business and our ability to connect with consumers in growing numbers. For entrepreneurs, The Joint is a brand that you invest in if you want to make an impact.”

More importantly, you don’t need to be a chiropractor to invest in The Joint Chiropractic franchise. The majority of our franchise owners never had any experience in the chiropractic field or the medical industry before franchising with us. Our simple, proven business model is the reason why entrepreneurs can succeed with our chiropractic franchise. Furthermore, it’s the reason why we can meet patients’ needs at low prices, as well as provide quality service without requiring standard insurance. 

Ready to bring the fastest-growing chiropractic franchise to your community?

If you’re thinking about opening your own The Joint Chiropractic Franchise, explore our research pages here! We offer a wealth of information for potential franchise owners, including the history of The Joint Chiropractic, along with average revenue and startup costs to help you envision yourself within our nationwide clinics.

If you are ready to take the first step in your journey to owning your own franchise, fill out our franchise information form, and a member of our team will be in contact soon to discuss any next steps.

How a military veteran took the skills he developed in the services and put them to work in his multi-unit chiropractic franchise

When Barrett McNabb decided to go into business for himself after leaving the military, he knew that if he applied what he learned during his time in the service, he could be successful in a chiropractic franchise.

The only question he had to answer was what type of business he would open. During his time in the service, his wife sustained back injuries after an automobile accident. As part of the settlement, she received a few treatments at a chiropractic clinic to help her recover – and it worked. At this time, the couple was stationed in Morocco, where McNabb was a Foreign Area Officer, and on multiple occasions, they flew back to the United States so that she could visit the chiropractor. 

 

Once the couple moved back to Texas, the treatments continued. This is how they came upon The Joint Chiropractic, the business that would ultimately allow McNabb to realize his dreams of becoming a successful entrepreneur.

Starting a franchise with The Joint Chiropractic

“I remember it vividly – I was brushing my teeth,” McNabb says. “My wife came in and said there’s a place called The Joint that offers four visits for $49 – could she try it? With a deal like that, I said go for it! She loved the experience, and one day, I asked if I could go in with her. I was immediately struck by how simple and efficient the business model was. I asked my wife, ‘Is this something we could do?’ She was totally on board, and we went from there.”

McNabb opened his first clinic with The Joint in the Houston metropolitan area soon after. But he wasn’t alone. As a leader in the military, McNabb knew that his success was predicated on getting the support of his family behind him. His wife is a Certified Public Accountant, and her significant skills would come in handy to help manage the backend of the business. McNabb also asked his mother, a highly experienced sales rep in Big Pharma who also had an MBA to join him. He knew that her ability to speak the language of business would prove to be essential as the business grew.

“I told my mother, who was getting ready to retire – I can’t retire, neither can you,” McNabb says, laughing. “I wanted to have my family working with me, as we have unique skills in different areas, and I knew that we would share the same goals. It’s been incredible to have them with me in this business, and I couldn’t have done it without them.”

McNabb details how the military prepared him for business ownership

Today, McNabb owns four clinics with The Joint Chiropractic, as well as two acupuncture businesses. He credits his ability to scale up to multi-unit ownership with the skills he acquired in the military. He’s currently writing a book on how the military prepares soldiers to become entrepreneurs by preparing them to be battle-ready. 

For example, his approach to marketing his business is the same as the way the military trains soldiers to patrol an area during wartime. As a retired military officer in the 82nd Airborne Division, who had served in both Iraq and Afghanistan, McNabb understands marketing in a way that few do – but that many can benefit from.

“As a soldier, we find the enemy on the battlefield, define the operating environment, describe the battlefield effects, analyze the threat, and identify the course of action,” McNabb says. “If you change the word enemy to customer, which is unfair to the customer (laughter), you can really come up with a winning marketing strategy in your territory. This is what we’ve done, and it’s really paid off. The book I’m writing now will explain how I’ve been effective at translating the skills I’ve learned in the military into a life in business.”

Growing in business through chiropractic care

McNabb’s business savvy is paying off in a big way. Only two years after he opened his first clinic in 2015, he was named The Franchisee of The Year by The Joint. His ability to develop a strong culture in his clinics where every employee shares the same goals, as well as his ability to delegate duties amongst his wife, mother, managers, and chiropractors has allowed him to continue to scale. McNabb recently bought the rights to two additional territories in Houston, and he’s always looking for opportunities to continue to grow.

“I hope to keep expanding,” He says. “The future is just so bright. Only 10% of the population has even experienced chiropractic care.”

McNabb’s success in business is an enormous achievement from an already highly accomplished individual. By joining a brand that allows him to deepen his leadership skills and emphasize teamwork, the sky’s the limit for McNabb.

“When I left the army, I was homesick,” he says. “I didn’t know if I was going to find an organization that was going to satisfy the level of camaraderie that I had in the army but I found that in The Joint. I love being a part of this brand and I love what we’re able to do to help people.”

Ready to bring the fastest-growing chiropractic franchise to your community?

If you’re thinking about opening your own The Joint Chiropractic Franchise, explore our research pages here! We offer a wealth of information for potential franchise owners, including the history of The Joint Chiropractic, along with average revenue and startup costs to help you envision yourself within our nationwide clinics.

If you are ready to take the first step in your journey to owning your own franchise, fill out our franchise information form, and a member of our team will be in contact soon to discuss any next steps.