1851

During a Peloton ride one day, Columbus, Ohio, entrepreneur&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/kurtprosser/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=columbus-entrepreneur-sweathouz-franchise-story-2730745" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Kurt Prosser</a> tuned into a podcast featuring&nbsp;<a href="https://sweathouz.com/franchise/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=columbus-entrepreneur-sweathouz-franchise-story-2730745" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">SweatHouz</a> founder Jamie Weeks. As he listened to Weeks describe the benefits of infrared sauna and cold plunge therapy, Prosser was immediately drawn in by the idea of combining health, recovery and wellness into a business.Curious to learn more, he flew to Atlanta to meet the&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/sweathouz/info">SWTHZ</a> team and try it out firsthand. After one session, he felt the difference — better sleep, faster recovery and improved energy. That experience confirmed what he already suspected: This was something special.Now, Prosser is bringing that same passion to Columbus. With his first SWTHZ location open in Pickerington and more on the way, he’s helping others experience the same physical and mental reset that inspired him to join the brand.1851 Franchise sat down with Prosser to discuss his journey into franchising and plans for the future. Here’s what he had to say:&nbsp;1851 Franchise: Frame your personal story for us. What do you want us to know?Kurt Prosser:&nbsp;The short version is that I had a digital marketing agency that I sold and was looking for my next thing. I was an avid Peloton bike rider. While I was riding the bike, I was listening to a podcast with SWTHZ founder Jamie Weeks. He was sharing how infrared sauna, cold plunge and conscious therapy were helpful to his overall health, how he felt better and how he’s going to start franchising this new brand, SWTHZ. I flew to Atlanta to meet the team and try it out, and I immediately fell in love with contrast therapy. The way I felt after that first sauna and cold plunge was amazing. It made my legs less sore. It made my bike riding better. I felt like I could ride farther. I had less soreness in my knees. I slept better. I knew I needed to invest.1851: What did you do before franchising?&nbsp;Prosser:&nbsp;I was previously a civil engineer. I attended Ohio State to pursue my MBA, and during my time in the program, I decided to start a digital marketing agency to assist small to mid-sized e-commerce stores. I started it in 2013, grew it and then sold it in 2021. It was an e-commerce agency that focused on Google Ads.1851: What was your perception of franchising prior to becoming a franchisee, and what do you want people to know about franchising now that you are in it?Prosser:&nbsp;There are two types of franchises; there are emerging and established franchises. SWTHZ is a new, emerging brand. For me, what I knew about the space and what I learned was that an emerging brand still has a lot to figure out. They often pivot, change and tweak as they continue to grow. I knew what I needed to do was find a team that I really believed in and was impressed with. The team at SWTHZ is passionate about this industry and health and wellness. They have passion and excitement that extends not only to what SWTHZ can achieve in the community, but also to the operations and execution portion of SWTHZ. Keeping it simple, keeping it lean, keeping it easily executable and scalable — those are some of the things that they would throw out in those early meetings that I was like, "Okay, this is the type of brand that I can get behind.”&nbsp;1851:&nbsp;What made you pick this brand? What excites you most about this company?Prosser:&nbsp;For me, it was the team and the product. There are other franchises like SWTHZ that offer saunas and cold showers. I looked at them. However, as I mentioned, it was the team at SWTHZ that ultimately sold me. That was what I was most excited about — their passion and their ability to execute this model.&nbsp;I was concerned that with a franchise, I would be boxed into this corner and made to follow the script. But at SWTHZ, the team says, “Oh that's a great idea, run with it. Let’s try it.” I am fortunate to be a part of an emerging brand that has given me the flexibility to jump in and sort of figure stuff out with them alongside them.&nbsp;&nbsp;1851:&nbsp;What do you hope to achieve with your business? What are your plans for growth?&nbsp;Prosser:&nbsp;I’m super excited to grow locally. We opened the Worthington studio in April 2024, the Grandview studio in October 2024, and will open the Pickerington studio in December.&nbsp; We have&nbsp;three more locations that we're working on for 2026 and 2027. We hope to have 10 locations throughout Columbus as quickly as possible. One thing I'm most excited about is that, with 10 studios, we can now have synergies among each studio and do things to really educate the community.1851:&nbsp;Is there anything else about your story you want us to know?Prosser:&nbsp;We’ve assembled a great team here in Columbus. Our regional manager is a former Orangetheory regional manager with years of experience at Orangetheory and Mount Carmel Hospital. Our studio managers in Worthington, Grandview, and Pickerington also have years of experience working at Orangetheory and Club Pilates. We’re building a strong, passionate team that really understands the history of boutique fitness in Columbus. That experience helps us shape what SWTHZ can become in this market.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&nbsp;<a href="https://sweathouz.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=columbus-entrepreneur-sweathouz-franchise-story-2730745" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">https://sweathouz.com/</a>.

1851 Franchisee Spotlight with photo of Kurt Prosser & SweatHouz logo

Columbus Entrepreneur Finds His Next Venture with SweatHouz

1851 Franchise

After selling his digital marketing agency, Kurt Prosser discovered SweatHouz while listening to a podcast — and immediately knew he’d found his next venture.

A Podcast, a Peloton Ride and a Life-Changing Idea Sparked This Columbus, Ohio, Entrepreneur’s Next Big Move

columbus-entrepreneur-sweathouz-franchise-story

Pet Wants

Investing in Pet Wants: What Makes This Franchise Opportunity Different?

investing-in-pet-wants-franchise-opportunity

Griswold

Griswold - Journal Record Agg - Dec 2025 - 1851 Franchise

Sisters Bring Global Humanitarian Experience Home to Oklahoma City With New Griswold Franchise

sisters-bring-global-experience-to-okc-home-care

SweatHouz

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

carrie-ratz-sweathouz-franchise-journey

Pigtails & Crewcuts

Pigtails & Crewcuts kids salon, St. Louis, Missouri expansion

Pigtails & Crewcuts Targets St. Louis for Growth, Seeking Family-Focused Entrepreneurs To Lead Expansion

pigtails-crewcuts-st-louis-franchise-expansion

Griswold Franchise - Agg - Lakewood Colorado - 1851 Franchise

Griswold Expands to Lakewood, Colorado, Bringing Nonmedical Home Care to Local Seniors

griswold-home-care-lakewood-golden-expansion

Buying a Franchise Masterclass

 Franchise Opportunities

Get Support Buying a Franchise

How to Buy a Franchise White Paper

How to Buy a Franchise

How to Sell Franchises

How to Grow a Franchise

Find a Franchise Supplier

1851 Franchise Opportunities

Franchisor News

Franchisor Power Rankings

FranCamp Mastermind Summit

Franchise Development Website Builder

Franchise Resources

Website Awards

Power Rankings

About 1851

Advertise on 1851

Contact 1851 Editorial

Terms of Use

1851 Login

GROWTH CLUB LOGIN

facebook

instagram

twitter

linkedin

youtube

Domino's Franchise - North Pole - Dec 2025 - 1851 Franchise

Domino’s Pizza Brings Delivery Cheer to North Pole, Alaska

dominos-pizza-franchise-north-pole-alaska

California Pizza Kitchen’s Sale Is the Latest in the Era of PE-Backed Turnarounds in Franchising

california-pizza-kitchens-sale-is-the-latest-in-the-era-of-pe-backed-turnarounds-in-franchising

Buying a fitness franchise, people exercising

Boutique vs. Big Box Gym Franchises: Which Offers Best ROI in the $7 Billion Fitness Market?

buy-fitness-franchise-boutique-big-box-comparison

Pieology Pizza Enters Chapter 11 Following Costly Bid To Save Struggling Stores

pieology-pizza-files-chapter-11-bankruptcy

CNBC: McDonald’s Will Assess if Franchisees Are Offering Value for Customers Under New Standards

mcdonalds-franchise-standards-value-metric

1851 Franchisee Spotlight graphic with photo of Eli Cohen, Layne's Chicken Fingers logo

C5 Restaurants Grows its Texas Footprint with 40 Layne’s Chicken Fingers Locations Planned Statewide

eli-cohen-laynes-chicken-fingers-texas

image of michael panos and michel panos, owners of mellow mushroom in Atlanta

What Makes Mellow Mushroom a Strong Franchise Investment? Insights From the Panos Family’s Metro Atlanta Portfolio

mellow-mushroom-franchise-panos-restaurant-group-metro-atlanta

image of jerome hanway from right at home Las Cruces, New Mexico 1851 franchise franchisee spotlight

Jerome Hanway Is Building His Right at Home Franchise Around His Mission To Serve

right-at-home-franchise-las-cruces-jerome-hanway

image of stephen westerman and matthew westerman, owners Fort Walton Beach Two men and a junk truck

Twin Brothers Move From Managers to Owners with New TWO MEN AND A JUNK TRUCK Franchise on the Gulf Coast

twin-brothers-two-men-and-a-junk-truck-fort-walton-beach

Photo of group of dogs standing together in day care facility

Top Pet Boarding and Day Care Franchise Opportunities for 2025

top-pet-boarding-daycare-franchises

Do You Qualify? A Look at the Chick-fil-A Franchise Requirements

do-you-qualify-a-look-at-the-chick-fil-a-franchise-requirements

Scenthound Franchise Costs, Fees, Profit and Data for 2025

scenthound-franchise-costs-fees-profit-and-data

The Top 15 Pet Supplies and Retail Franchises for 2025

the-top-15-pet-supplies-and-retail-franchises

Christmas Decor Franchise Costs, Fees, Profit and Data for 2025

christmas-decor-franchise-costs-fees-profit-and-data

Men In Kilts Franchise Costs, Fees, Profit and Data for 2025

A Podcast, a Peloton Ride and a Life-Changing Idea Sparked This Columbus, Ohio, Entrepreneur’s Next Big Move

MORE STORIES LIKE THIS