New Lindora Franchisee Uses Tech Start-Up Experience to Transform Wellness

Jeff Wagner, a new Lindora franchisee in Illinois, comes from a career defined by a profound commitment to innovation and leadership in the tech and business sectors. Over the span of 30 years, he has held various leadership roles, founded a SaaS company, and led multiple start-ups. In his most recent role, he specialized in helping early-stage start-ups achieve growth, honing his skills in building scalable business models. This extensive experience naturally led him to explore franchising, where he could apply his operational and strategic expertise to new ventures.

The decision to franchise with Lindora, the weight loss and wellbeing franchise, was a perfect match for Wagner. “Franchising with Lindora presented the perfect blend of an established brand and innovative growth potential,” he said. “The idea of helping people improve their health and well-being through medically guided programs really resonated with what I wanted to do personally and professionally.”

Looking ahead, Wagner has ambitious plans for his Lindora franchises. He aspires to establish his locations as the go-to destinations for health, wellness and weight loss in his areas. Beyond the initial three locations, he envisions expanding into other states, driven by Lindora's continuous innovation in wellness services, such as hormone replacement therapy, laser sculpting and IV hydration. 

“Throughout my career, I’ve used technology to create a positive impact on people's lives.”
said Wagner. “I love that I get to do the same thing now with Lindora.”

1851 Franchise spoke with Wagner to learn more about his background, his journey to the brand, and his plans for the future. 

1851 Franchise: Frame your personal story for us. What did you do before franchising, and how did you decide franchising made sense for you?

Jeff Wagner: My career was in the tech and business innovation arena. I spent over 30 years in various leadership roles. I founded a SaaS company, led multiple start-ups, etc. In my most recent role, I was helping early-stage start-ups with growth. That really sharpened my skills in building scalable business models. The decision to venture into franchising felt very natural to me. I was looking for new opportunities to apply my operational and strategic knowledge to new ventures.

Franchising with Lindora presented the perfect blend of an established brand and innovative growth potential. The idea of helping people improve their health and well-being really resonated with what I wanted to do personally and professionally. Being one of the first franchisees outside of California really appealed to me — it has the excitement of a startup.

1851: What made you pick this brand? What excites you most about this company?

Wagner: For the last two years, I’ve been looking at many different franchise brands. I wanted something professional, and Lindora checked all those boxes for me. They have a long-term reputation for high-quality, medically supervised weight loss programs that can help people live happier, healthier and longer lives. It's not just about losing weight, it's about a better life overall. The customer support the brand provides to clients is exceptional.

Being one of the first franchisees outside of California, I purchased three locations because of the support and professionalism of the brand. I’ve also been involved in many start-ups, and this has the feeling of a new venture in a new market. Bringing an amazing program to Illinois can have a very positive impact on our communities in Wheaton and Naperville. 

The support from Lindora and the Xponential team has been amazing so far. From the beginning, they’ve been there at every step. This is a learning experience for me as well because I’ve never owned a franchise. Their training programs are top-notch. They are providing all the tools and guidance to get the franchise up and running, and there is constant communication with the teams.

1851: What do you hope to achieve with your business? What are your plans for growth? 

Wagner: I officially signed at the end of March for three locations and am in the process of securing my first location. My goal is to become the go-to spot for health, wellness, and weight loss in the areas I’m serving. I want to help clients reach their goals and adopt a healthier lifestyle through our medically guided programs. They will think of Lindora when they think of a healthier life.

I’d love to open more than three locations in the future and expand into other states.

Lindora continues to innovate with new products and services, most recently adding hormone replacement therapy, new laser sculpting medical equipment, IV hydration, and adopting the best weight-loss drugs. 

1851: What is the one thing about your story you want us to know?

Wagner: Whether it's through technology or now with Lindora, my goal has always been to create a positive impact on people’s lives. Lindora will now allow me to have an even greater positive impact.

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

Wagner:  I’d say make sure you thoroughly research and choose a franchise that aligns with your values and what you’re passionate about. Thoroughly understand the economics, including fees, startup costs and working capital requirements. Take full advantage of the support and knowledge your franchisor offers. 

For more information on franchising with Lindora, visit: https://www.lindora.com/.

About Lindora 

Founded in 1971 in Southern California, Lindora is a leading provider of medically guided weight management programs and wellness solutions. Lindora guides people in creating sustainable lifestyle choices in nutrition, exercise and medicine through programs with personalized in-studio care. Lindora offers a suite of services that support metabolic health, including weight loss and management programs, weight loss medications including (GLP-1), hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and other services. Lindora is headquartered in Irvine, California, and is backed by Xponential Fitness, a leading global franchisor of boutique health and wellness brands.