Physical Therapy Industry Veteran Growing with FYZICAL Therapy & Balance Centers

Craig Zettergren has been a physical therapist since he graduated from the University of Connecticut in 1988. After years of growing his own practice, he’s changed pace and become a regional director with FYZICAL Therapy & Balance Centers, the nation’s fastest-growing physical therapy franchise with more than 400 locations.

As one of 450 McKenzie Institute International diplomats, Zettergren’s knowledge in manual physical therapy, spinal treatment and entrepreneurship has allowed him to become a rising star with FYZICAL Therapy & Balance Centers. Zettergren knows what it takes to be successful and plans to help grow the brand in the coming year.

1851 Franchise: Tell me your story – what did you do before franchising?

Craig Zettergren: I grew up in New Britain, Connecticut and live just outside of New Britain now in Wallingford. I went to the University of Connecticut and graduated in 1988 with a Bachelor of science in physical therapy. After graduating, I went on to practice at a number of private practices. I felt like I needed more knowledge than I had, so I pursued a master's program at Quinnipiac University in New Haven, where I received my Master of Science degree in orthopedic physical therapy. That experience was a grind. I worked during the day and attended classes at night. 

I continued to work in private practices until 1997, when I landed a job in Bristol, Connecticut, as Bristol Hospital’s Director of Outpatient Rehabilitation Services. I stayed there for five years, then branched off on my own in 2003 and founded the Physical Therapy Center of Bristol LLC. Three years later, I opened an office in Southington. The business was performing very well. I returned and received my MBA from Troy University, which allowed me to better understand the business side of our practice. One of my dreams was to become a diplomat at the McKenzie Institute International, which focuses on the mechanical diagnosis of therapy. I completed the diploma program with the McKenzie Institute International in 2010, and I’m one of 450 Diplomats in the McKenzie society. I am also a member of the American Physical Therapy Association, Local Chambers of Commerce, private networking groups and Rotary. 

1851: How did you initially find out about franchising, and why did you choose FYZICAL Therapy & Balance Centers?

Zettergren: It was around 2014-2015 when hospitals in the region started coming in and buying primary care practices. At that time, I was receiving promotional material from FYZICAL Therapy & Balance Centers. I went to a discovery day in 2015 in Philadelphia, and I could tell the brand aligned with my values the right way. They knew the direction the industry was heading and provided a well-thought-out exit strategy. I joined as a franchisee in 2015 and started rebranding our offices and adding balance equipment to our clinics so we could expand our clientele base. 

1851: How did you decide you wanted to pursue this opportunity?

Zettergren: I knew we were very strong as a spine clinic and post-surgical clinic, but we were not strong in the vestibular or balance market. The research the FYZICAL Therapy & Balance Center team presented to us gave us a strong breakdown of what our clientele base could look like by adding their services to our existing services. I saw the value and realized that you do have to change with the times when it comes to growing your clinic.

1851: What excited you most about the potential?

Zettergren: What excites me the most is the opportunity to collaborate with people working together for the same goal. Being at my own private practice for 12-13 years, I always felt like you weren’t able to call upon your colleagues or other clinics in the area for advice purely because you’re in direct competition with them. To have a network of teammates at FYZICAL Therapy & Balance Centers is very rewarding. 

1851: What are your dreams with the business? What does the future look like?

Zettergren: Anytime FYZICAL Therapy & Balance Centers lands in a particular area due to acquisition, we want to grow around that area. As a result, the brand is in growth mode in the Northeast and also in every region at this point in time. We have 33 corporate clinics and 390 franchisees. I would anticipate by the end of 2021, our corporate clinic model will be twice as large as it is today. It’s a matter of having the right people and the right resources that will allow us to onboard those clinics into corporate clinic locations. 

As the Northeast Regional Director, I oversee three corporate clinics in Connecticut — in Bristol, Southington and Wallingford. I recently added two clinics in Traverse City, Michigan.

1851: What types of success have you seen?

Zettergren: We have won franchise of the year and business development of the year. We received a call from FYZICAL Therapy & Balance Centers corporate as they were looking to expand corporate holdings. I was able to sell my Bristol, Southington and Wallingford locations back to the corporate office. The deal was supposed to close at the end of March 2020, but COVID-19 put that on hold. The deal became official in July of 2020. 

1851: What do you do in your free time?

Zettergren: I enjoy spending family time with my wife and four kids. I also like riding my bike, playing golf and playing the guitar.