SweatHouz

<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/brenna3/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=sweathouz-franchise-north-bethesda-dorsey-2730866" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Brenna</a> and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-dorsey-9b5362336/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=sweathouz-franchise-north-bethesda-dorsey-2730866" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Kevin Dorsey</a> opened their first&nbsp;<a href="https://sweathouz.com/franchise/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=sweathouz-franchise-north-bethesda-dorsey-2730866" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">SweatHouz</a> in North Bethesda, Maryland, in April and committed to three licenses on day one. The plan balances a lean operating model, private-suite recovery and a support network they can reach by phone, text or Slack when it counts.With two daughters — and a son on the way — the Dorseys took a hard look at how their work and time lined up with family life. “I used to work in real estate and Kevin still works for the Government,” Brenna said. “After our second daughter was born, we sat down at the kitchen table and had that talk: What does life look like going forward after having both of them?”&nbsp;An unexpected listing for a local Pure Barre studio sent them down the research path. They didn’t win that deal, but Brenna credits the experience for eventually leading them to&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/sweathouz/info">SWTHZ</a>. “Everything happens for a reason, and during that process we realized franchising makes sense,” she said.<h2>Why Recovery and Why SWTHZ</h2>COVID-era labor shortages pushed them toward concepts that don’t require big teams. “One of the biggest things people said was that during COVID, staffing was the hardest issue for any business. We looked at low staff requirements,” Brenna said.SWTHZ’s combination of infrared sauna and cold plunge aligned with Kevin’s background as a college and professional football player. “Once we came across cold plunging, it was becoming mainstream. He’s a testament to ice baths and cold plunges from his football career,” Brenna said.The timing was right as well. SWTHZ was in the process of moving from its early layout — separate infrared saunas and a shared plunge — to all-in-one private suites. “No one had done that,” Brenna said. “It was a game changer. A lot of our clients say, ‘I would never get in a cold plunge with a stranger.’”<h2>The System Behind the Studio</h2>The Dorseys wanted a culture where owners problem-solve together and leadership is reachable without layers, and they found it with SWTHZ.&nbsp;“The franchisee group is smaller. It’s not a massive, thousand-owner network,” Brenna said. “We have a franchisee Slack where everyone throws ideas out. If someone’s struggling with a shower handle or an installation, it’s a quick message. Everyone’s in constant communication.”That access extends to the top. “We can call the CEO. Everyone has everyone’s cell phone number,” she said. “It’s not like we have to schedule a meeting. If I need to call [CEO] Mike [Tan], I can shoot him a text.”During discovery, the couple also tested whether they genuinely wanted what they’d be selling. The cold plunge was already a part of Kevin’s routine; Brenna came around to it after opening but had been all-in on heat for years. “I was a big believer in the infrared sauna,” she said. “I used it after the birth of my first daughter, and that’s when I started working it into my routine. Infrared sauna compared to standard sauna is a game changer,” she said.A meet-the-team day in Atlanta locked in the fit. “We were sold. We loved them all, and here we are,” Brenna said. “It wasn’t formal or daunting. It felt like I could talk to anyone about anything, from marketing down to construction.”<h2>Building Close to Home, Planning for More</h2>North Bethesda works for the business and the family. The studio is five minutes from home, and the proximity makes the inevitable fixes manageable. Brenna says their two daughters are already a part of the routine. “They’re a big part of SweatHouz,” she said “They call it&nbsp;their SweatHouz.”With the first studio stabilized, their focus has shifted to a second location. “We’re still working on the lease,” Brenna said. “We haven’t signed it yet, but hoping — as long as permitting takes — we can get it open by the second quarter of 2026.”It adds up to a simple playbook: private, consistent sessions for guests; a franchise network that trades answers quickly; and ownership that fits the rhythm of home. “All good things,” Brenna said. “I can’t complain.”<h2>What It Takes to Keep Going</h2>For the Dorseys, the hard part isn’t launch day; it’s the quiet maintenance that follows — keeping standards tight when a pump fails, keeping energy high on slow afternoons and keeping perspective when plans slip a week. That’s the filter they use when people ask how to make it work.“First and foremost, believe in the product. Be a full-blown believer in the business you’re opening,” Brenna said. “Aside from that, with business ownership there are no days off. Just be prepared for any and everything, quite literally.”To find out more information on costs to buy this franchise, please visit&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/sweathouz">https://1851franchise.com/sweathouz</a>.

SweatHouz Franchise - SWTHZ - Brenna and Kevin Dorsey - North Bethesda, Maryland - 1851 Franchise

SweatHouz Franchise in North Bethesda: The Dorseys’ Private-Suite Recovery

1851 Franchise

First-time franchisees Brenna and Kevin Dorsey turned a kitchen-table conversation into a family-centered recovery business, backed by a hands-on franchisor and a peer network that moves fast.

This brand page has been paid for by SWEATHOUZ. Content within this page that is paid will showcase a Sponsored icon. This means the brand has engaged 1851 FRANCHISE to write the content. Content without the Sponsored Icon is aggregated media placements the brand earned. Questions can be sent to editorial@1851franchise.com

A Family Bet on Wellness: The Dorsey Duo’s Journey With SweatHouz in North Bethesda, Maryland

sweathouz-franchise-north-bethesda-dorsey

FRANCHISE INFORMATION

Own a Sweathouz

Beyond a Fad

The Healthiest Form of Recovery

What Sweathouz is all About

Top Reasons To Invest

Learn

Visit Website

SWEATHOUZ

Facebook

Instagram

LinkedIn

TikTok

YouTube

SOCIAL MEDIA

Why SweatHouz? 5 Reasons To Invest in the Category Leading Franchise Now

SweatHouz's Science-Backed Model, Private Suites and Strong Unit Economics are Defining the Future of Wellness

Science, Wellness, Growth: How SweatHouz CEO Mike Tan is Shaping the Future of Contrast Therapy Franchising

SWEATHOUZ MOST READ STORIES

1851 LOGIN

GROWTH CLUB LOGIN

ABOUT SWEATHOUZ

CONTACT SWEATHOUZ

facebook

instagram

twitter

linkedin

youtube

First Name

Last Name

Email

Phone

How did you hear about us?

What city do you live in?

What state do you live in?

Do you meet our financial qualifications? (Minimum of $500,000 in liquid capital and $1,000,000 in net worth)

By checking this box, I agree to receive SMS communications from SWTHZ regarding franchise opportunities, updates, and relevant information. Message and data rates may apply. Consent is not a condition of purchase. You can reply STOP to opt out at any time.

Opt-Out of Email: By checking this box, I wish to opt-out of receiving email communications from SWTHZ regarding franchise opportunities, updates, and relevant information. Consent is not a condition of purchase.

Terms + Conditions*: I agree to the Terms & Conditions as outlined in the Certification and Confidentiality Statement below. Please read and scroll all the way to the bottom to submit application.

OWN A STUDIO

Why This P.E. Expert Left Wall Street To Find a New Passion and Purpose with SweatHouz Franchise

why-this-pe-expert-left-wall-street-to-find-a-new-passion-and-purpose-with-sweathouz-franchise

SweatHouz - SWTHZ - Private Suite - Florida's Gulf Coast - 1851 Franchise

The Private-Suite Bet Driving SweatHouz Across Florida’s Gulf Coast

sweathouz-franchise-florida-gulf-coast-ethan-lewis-brian-massoll

From Finance to Wellness: Natalie Siewers’ Path to Leading SweatHouz in Northern Virginia

sweathouz-franchise-northern-virginia-natalie-siewers

SweatHouz SWTHZ Franchise - Hunter and Mallory Mitchem - Franchisee Feature - 1851 Franchise

A Family Bet on Wellness: The Dorsey Duo’s Journey With SweatHouz in North Bethesda, Maryland

MORE STORIES LIKE THIS