Helping Others ‘Step Into Wellness’ Drives Carrie Ratz’s Journey From Finance to SweatHouz Franchise Ownership

Following her time in finance and accounting, Carrie Ratz needed a change.

Working as a CPA and Banking Director, Ratz found it increasingly difficult to balance work while raising three children. Tired of the grind, she began to prioritize the simple idea of helping people. But the spark that lit her franchising fire came from an unexpected place. Ratz’s husband, Peter, built a homemade cold plunge in the couple’s garage, and eventually she gave it a shot.

“I remember I had a meeting at one point in New York. It was 5 a.m. I was exhausted, hadn’t slept at all, and my husband said, ‘Why don’t you just try the plunge? Try it one time.’ So, I did. I went into his homemade cold plunge in the garage. And, honestly, it just changed the trajectory of my day. I was so much more alert, awake and alive. I felt great all day. From that point on, I was hooked,” Ratz said. “I’d been looking at franchising, and all of a sudden, I thought, ‘Why can’t we do something like this?’”

While it was life-changing in the moment, Carrie’s cold plunge experience would wind up having an even more profound impact later, a flashpoint that helped her make a career pivot to entrepreneurship alongside her husband. She was in search of three career elements: greater autonomy, work-life balance and the ability to make an impact within her community. A  SweatHouz (SWTHZ), the rapidly expanding contrast-therapy franchise known for its private infrared sauna, cold-plunge and vitamin C shower suites, checked each box.

Prepping the opening of their new SWTHZ location in Media, Pennsylvania, the Ratzes are excited to bring contrast therapy to their local Philadelphia area community, delivering a stress-free escape.

“Obviously, it’s a business. But what’s more important to me is helping people,” Carrie said. “You’ll never have two days that are exactly alike.”

1851 Franchise sat down with Carrie to discuss her transition into the health and wellness sector as she begins her franchising journey with SWTHZ. Here’s what she had to say:

1851 Franchise: Can you frame your personal story for us? What do you want people to know about your journey?

Carrie Ratz: I started my career in finance and accounting. I was a CPA and worked for a lot of the big banks. Honestly, I just got to a point in my career where I was no longer passionate about it.

It was a lot. And I also have three kids. Doing that while raising three kids just wasn’t working for me. So, I started doing some research and got interested in franchising. I was actually very close to signing with Nothing Bundt Cakes but, but right before we did, I found out I was pregnant with number three and decided the timing just wasn’t right.

So, I kept looking. Simultaneously, my husband — he’s ex-military — got into cold plunging. He made a cold plunge in our garage, and he loved it. I remember I had a meeting at one point in New York. It was 5 a.m. I was exhausted, hadn’t slept at all, and my husband said, “Why don’t you just try the plunge? Try it one time.”

So, I did. I went into his homemade cold plunge in the garage. And, honestly, it just changed the trajectory of my day. I was so much more alert, awake and alive. I felt great all day. From that point on, I was hooked.

I’d been looking at franchising, and all of a sudden, I thought, “Why can’t we do something like this?” I started doing more research and met the team at SWTHZ. It was an easy decision. Working with them has been phenomenal. They know what they’re doing and they provide great support. They’re really great partners.

1851: What did you do before franchising and how did you decide that franchising made sense for you?

Carrie: I’ve always had an interest in business. I went the accounting path, worked for EY — part of the Big Four — for several years and then went into banking. I was with Barclays and Capital One.

I’ve always had an eye for numbers and enjoy building financial models and things like that. I thought about how I could use that in franchising and owning my own business. I’ve actually been able to leverage a lot of what I did back then — building models, creating spreadsheets — and it’s definitely been an asset.

My husband, being in the military, has that leadership personality and can execute. Franchising gives you the playbook, and then you execute it. So, together, it’s been a great transition for us.

1851: What was your perception of franchising prior to becoming a franchisee and what do you want people to know about it now that you’re in it?

Carrie: I’ve always liked the idea of franchising. If you’ve never done it before, there’s so much you don’t know. There’s a lot that goes into it that’s kind of a black box. But when you have a strong franchise partner, they really hold your hand through a lot of it.

It would have been a lot more difficult to do this without the support of a franchisor.

1851: What made you pick the SWTHZ brand and what excites you most about the company?

Carrie: It’s cool. It’s hip. But it’s also science-backed.

It’s based in Atlanta. And we met with Jamie Weeks, who, at the time, was the CEO and founder. He welcomed us and said, “I believe in you guys.” We met the rest of the corporate team, and they were all really great — people we wanted to work with. That’s what won us over. It just made sense.

1851: What are you hoping to achieve with the business? Do you have a plan for growth?

Carrie: Obviously, it’s a business. But what’s more important to me is helping people. We have several clients who’ve had phenomenal results from contrast therapy.

One is a doctor whose blood pressure is now lower than it’s been in 20 years. Another is a young woman who suffered from severe arthritis, and she’s been able to get off her medication entirely because of coming to SWTHZ daily.

Seeing people get better and step into wellness has been huge for me. That’s what drives me. We own a territory with the rights to open 3 studios and would love to own more because I really believe in this brand and how it helps people.

1851: What advice do you have for other people thinking about becoming franchise owners?

Carrie: Understand that every day is going to be different. You’ll never have two days that are exactly alike.

Building a team is huge. Creating a strong culture within your team has really helped us grow and succeed. Build a strong team and understand that every day is an adventure.

ABOUT SWEATHOUZ:

SweatHouz is a first-of-its-kind wellness concept offering private contrast therapy experiences with infrared sauna, cold plunge and Vitamin C showers in luxury, technology-forward suites. Designed for recovery, longevity and convenience, SWTHZ uses smart engineering and a membership-based model to make high-performance wellness accessible and effortless. With franchise opportunities available in select markets, SWTHZ is redefining the recovery space — one studio at a time. For more information, visit https://sweathouz.com/.