With the American Medical Association classifying obesity as a disease, it is more important than ever to fight against the epidemic. Medi-Weightloss® provides a clinically researched, science-driven program that allows patients to lose weight and maintain a healthy lifestyle. When you become a franchisee, not only will you be changing the lives of others, you improve your own.
Michael Krassner, a multi-unit franchisee from Connecticut, explains his journey with Medi-Weightloss®.
Q: Tell us about your background.
A: I was born in Boston, MA and spent most of my life in Dover, NH. I attended the University of New Hampshire and graduated with a BA in Communications. In 2000, I became an entrepreneur, moving to CT to open a health club and eventually become a multi-unit Planet Fitness franchisee. I sold my business in 2013 and by 2015 I became a Medi-Weightloss® franchisee.
Q: Why was Medi-Weightloss® right for you?
A: After selling my health clubs I spent a year and a half researching new business opportunities. I looked into start-ups as well as several franchise offerings in various industries, i.e., pet care, food, cell phone repair, mobile self-storage, etc. When I heard about Medi-Weightloss®, I initially passed right over it as I did not want to be just another one of the “typical” weight loss companies. Eventually, I began to re-examine the idea. I participated in a Discovery Day at the Medi-Weightloss® corporate office in Tampa, FL.
Upon visiting Medi-Weightloss®, I learned there was much more to their program. The Medi-Weightloss® Program has a strong focus on preventive medicine providing nutritional and behavioral counseling as well as the education needed to create a lifestyle change. The program is based on eating real foods, and that was a big selling point for me.
Another key component in the decision process was the Medi-Weightloss® clinical research and development team which provides ongoing resources for franchisees and patients through their studies and findings. This team differentiates Medi-Weightloss® from their competitors. They are constantly changing and improving pieces of the program to not only help patients lose weight but keep the weight off long term. The program is always evolving and improving, keeping Medi-Weightloss® ahead of their competitors.
Q: How long has your location been open?
A: I opened my first location in May, 2015. My second location opened in October, 2017.
Q: What type of research did you do prior to opening?
A: Prior to opening I researched the healthcare laws in my state. I attended the Medi-Weightloss® System Standards Training (SST) in Tampa, FL. The SST is very extensive, and includes teaching the program, products, EMR, clinical aspects, marketing, recognizing the key performance indicators (KPI) and reporting. In addition, I spoke with some existing franchise owners about the operations and financial performance of their locations.
Q: What type of support do you receive?
A: I have been a Medi-Weightloss® franchise owner for 3 ½ years and feel that I have developed a good working relationship with the corporate office. The help that I need or questions I have are often provided by my franchise consultant and include, offering operation, EMR system support as well as financial performance reviews. In addition, Medi-Weightloss® has a marketing team that provides local marketing and national branding support. At times my practitioners will contact the Medi-Weightloss® clinical affairs department when they have questions about the program or products.
Q: Describe an instance where offering the Medi-Weightloss® Program changed a patient’s life?
A: This is a tough question because there have been many instances when a patient has approached me to share their story on how Medi-Weightloss® has changed their life. Just recently I had an older gentleman approach me. He shook my hand and thanked me. The gentleman explained he had tried many programs in the past but this was the only one that worked for him. Prior to starting the Medi-Weightloss® Program his doctor informed him that his A1C was in the pre-diabetic range. He started the program in February, 2018 and within the first month he lost over 20 pounds. His doctor was absolutely amazed and asked how he lost weight. As of October, he has lost 50.8 pounds. His A1C dropped significantly and his blood pressure came down as well. He cited that in addition to the program, the support and motivation from my staff helped him tremendously. He smiled while telling me that his life had changed from the day he started our program.
Q: How did that make you feel, to know you were making a positive impact on a patient’s health and life?
A: It is extremely gratifying and rewarding knowing that our team helped in making such a change in someone’s life. We helped prevent this man from becoming diabetic and all the complications and risks that come along with not only that disease, but his other co-morbidities as well.
Q: Has being a Medi-Weightloss® franchisee lived up to your expectations regarding revenue generation?
A: My first Medi-Weightloss® franchise location exceeded my financial expectation and my second location is on track to do the same.
Q: How has accepting insurance in your Medi-Weightloss® location impacted your business and patients?
A: Insurance was a game changer, essentially tripling my gross revenue. It opened the door to a larger population and demographic. We went from being a program that only a certain percentage of the population could afford to a preventive medicine that most people with an insurance plan can now afford.
Medi-Weightloss® and all of its franchisees understand that the weight loss industry continues to grow as Americans become more conscious of their health. In addition to being ranked among the top Franchise 500 Companies, the nationally recognized weight loss franchise offers a lucrative, stable business option. In fact, the top one-third of Medi-Weightloss® franchisees reported generating over $1.2 million in gross revenue in 2017†. Upon opening a location, you’ll be provided with all the tools and resources needed to succeed and make a difference in the lives of others. Are you ready to join in the fight against obesity?
To learn more about investing in the leading medical weight loss franchise, call 813.579.5630 or visit MediWeightlossFranchising.com.
† Not an offer to sell a franchise. Top tier revenue is the average of the top 1/3 of reporting franchises. The average gross revenue for all reporting franchises in 2017 was $705,882.58; see Item 19 of our Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) for details regarding our financial performance representations. © 2012-2018 Medi IP, LLC. All Rights Reserved.