Veteran-Turned-Businessman Pursues Semi-Absentee Franchise in Booming Wellness Market
- Air Force veteran Mike Terry invested in the Degree Wellness franchise in St. George, Utah, to build retirement income through a semi-absentee model.
- Drawn by the booming wellness market, Terry was attracted to the franchise’s proven business model and turnkey operations.
- Terry credits his military discipline and Degree Wellness’s strong support team for preparing him to succeed in business ownership.
In December, Mike Terry will open his Degree Wellness franchise in St. George, Utah. Terry, an Air Force veteran, already owns a telecom and information technology business but wanted to build up his savings without taking on a labor-intensive endeavor. His quest ended with an investment in the Degree Wellness franchise, which provides cold plunges, compression massages, cryotherapy, halotherapy, infrared saunas, light facials, oxygen therapy, red light therapy and vitamin therapies.
After serving with the 419th Fighter Wing at Hill Air Force Base, Utah, during the 1990s, Terry entered the tech industry. He worked in corporate roles for about 12 years before creating his own business. “I still run my agency, Agility Communications, as my primary source of income.”
With his family mostly grown now, Terry looked “for an investment that could help fuel retirement over the next decade. I’ve always had an entrepreneurial mindset. I explored everything from private equity to a range of franchise opportunities — storage, restoration, quick lube, home health and more. I was drawn to franchising because of its proven business model. My franchise consultant, Jamie Major, calls it a business in a box. Choose the right fit, follow the system, and success tends to follow.”
Booming Wellness Market
Terry was drawn to the booming wellness market. It reached $6.3 trillion in 2023 and is expected to hit $9 trillion by 2028, according to the Global Wellness Institute. With more people focused on health and self-care, wellness franchises like Degree Wellness are in high demand.
Terry saw an amazing opportunity, but he still had clear priorities for his next venture. “I wasn’t looking for another full-time job. I wanted an investment I could manage in about 20 hours a week, not something that would consume 60. My primary business still demands most of my attention, so I wanted a venture I could oversee strategically without being buried in daily operations.”
Major understood Terry’s needs and studied the St. George market in detail. “Jamie suggested options that would work in our market, which gave me a lot of confidence. He wasn’t just peddling the latest available franchises. He helped me make a smart business decision.”
Currently Terry is doing presales work such as marketing at grassroots events, calling and emailing potential customers from lead lists and meeting with the contractor and franchisor to discuss strategy. His Air Force background has been — and will continue to be — valuable as a franchisee. “The experience I got in the military was valuable from several perspectives. The military is very structured, demands discipline and upholds a high standard, which is critical in business,” Terry says. “My experience in the military also taught me I can do hard things. Running your own business takes discipline, perseverance and the ability to do hard things. I learned to persevere and to follow a plan.”
The Benefits of Franchising
Terry recommends franchising to entrepreneurial-minded military veterans. “I would tell them if you want to be a business owner and want to avoid reinventing the wheel yourself, look at franchising. Explore many different concepts and find something that fits your lifestyle and skill set. The support of a franchise is unique — like having a business coach guiding you through building your business.”
Terry gives the Degree Wellness franchise high marks for its assistance in the lead-up to his launch. “The Degree Wellness team is like a family, and they have been tremendously supportive, available and tied their own success to mine, which makes going to battle every day that much easier. They are amazing people, and they have my back! I have no doubt my franchise will be successful.”
Founded in 2018 and franchising since 2024, Degree Wellness studios operate with a cost-efficient payroll: Only one nurse or emergency medical technician is required on-site; other staff members need no special licensing. The franchise has opportunities available from coast to coast.
Visit the Degree Wellness franchise website for more information.
