Franchise Times: Compassionate Therapy for Clients Is the Cornerstone of BeBalanced Hormone Weight Loss Centers’ Success

In a recent interview with Franchise Times, Kate Kelleher, owner of three Western Pennsylvania BeBalanced Hormone and Weight Loss Centers, describes how her personal experience with hormonal imbalance resonates with clients and helped drive a 76% growth in same-store sales over 2019.

“If you’re an owner-operator, being over 40 definitely works to your advantage because it resonates with the typical client. It’s what you have gone through personally,” Kelleher said.

Additionally, Kelleher discussed how retired teachers are an excellent fit as employees because they are able to educate clients and other staff, while also being sympathetic and patient with customer problems. In fact, Kelleher even considers middle-aged women when choosing locations.

“I was looking for locations where women over the age of 40 would be going,” Kelleher explained, mentioning restaurants, coffee shops and nail salons. “You’re looking for those kinds of co-tenants.” 

The initial cost to purchase a BeBalanced is $155,650-$208,450, and space needs are minimal — only 900 square feet. Another crucial factor to consider is foot traffic, as Kelleher’s stores are “on major thoroughfares where 25,000 to 30,000 cars pass per day.”

Kelleher said area demographics should never be discounted either. Clients’ household incomes are generally more than $80,000 a year.

While the pandemic shuttered many businesses, Kelleher was able to run her businesses with virtual visits, one employee per store and BeBalanced’s already built-in infrastructure that allows for its supplements to be sold online.

“The first week of the shutdown scared me,” Kelleher said. “But I knew that we were in a space where wellness was important and that stress levels were going through the roof. So I doubled down on advertising because it got cheap.” 

BeBalanced Hormone Weight Loss Centers is a Lancaster-based 25 unit franchise of non-medical, holistic centers providing natural solutions for PMS, menopause and stubborn weight gain. Founded in 2007 and franchising since 2015, BeBalanced has centers operating throughout Pennsylvania, Maryland, Texas, Minnesota, Florida, New York, Arizona and Virginia that are helping clients look and feel their best.

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