America’s Best Franchises (ABF) Brand Insight —
Most wellness franchises build around a single modality — cryotherapy, infrared sauna, or float therapy — forcing clients to visit multiple locations for complementary services. Zivel consolidates eight premium recovery and performance services under one membership, creating a client experience that single-service competitors structurally cannot match. The machine-based delivery model reduces staffing to four employees and keeps operational complexity low — a combination that makes semi-absentee ownership genuinely viable from the start.
At a Glance:
- Minimum Liquid Capital Required — $100,000. Liquid capital means readily available cash or cash-equivalent assets accessible without borrowing, selling a primary residence, or relying on future income.
- Ownership Model — Semi-absentee. Franchisee can hire a manager to run daily operations while providing strategic oversight and guidance.
- Location Type — Retail wellness studio. Small footprint, simplified construction, and quick build-out timeline.
- Time Commitment — Flexible. Once operational with staffing in place, majority of management and oversight can be completed off-site.
- Experience Required — None in wellness or recovery. Business acumen, leadership, and community-building orientation are the core requirements.
Top 5 Reasons to Invest
- Eight premium services under one membership — no single-modality competitor
- Machine-based model — only 4 employees required to operate
- One-third the cost of comparable wellness franchise concepts
- Semi-absentee viable — majority of oversight completable off-site
- 0% ad fund — no mandatory advertising contribution required
About Zivel
Founded in 2020 and franchising since 2023, Zivel is the first non-medical all-in-one performance and recovery wellness franchise. Headquartered in Nashville, Tennessee, Zivel operates 19 franchised locations with additional units under construction and in development across the United States. The concept delivers eight premium services — cryotherapy, float therapy, infrared sauna, oxygen therapy, compression therapy, CryoSlimming, CryoToning, and CryoFacial — under one roof through a machine-based operational model that requires minimal staffing.
The membership-driven revenue model creates predictable recurring income across multiple service categories simultaneously. With a total investment of $327,400–$429,000 — approximately one-third the cost of comparable wellness franchises — Zivel is designed for multi-unit regional development, allowing investors to build a portfolio of recovery studios at the price most competitors charge for a single location.
Why Franchise With ZIVEL?
- Eight-service model captures float therapy, cryotherapy, infrared sauna, oxygen, compression, and aesthetic recovery clients under one membership — broadening the addressable market far beyond any single-modality competitor.
- Machine-based service delivery eliminates the labor-intensive staffing requirements of traditional spa models — four employees operate a full Zivel studio versus the 10–15 required by comparable wellness concepts.
- $327,400–$429,000 total investment is approximately one-third the cost of comparable franchises — at the price of one competitor location, qualified investors can develop an entire regional territory of Zivel studios.
- Zero advertising fund contribution — no mandatory ad spend deducted from revenue, allowing franchisees to direct marketing dollars based on their own local market strategy.
- Master franchise opportunities available — qualified candidates can secure regional development rights and build a portfolio with the support of Zivel’s operational infrastructure.
ABF Advisory Perspective
ABF Market Analysis —
Consumer demand for performance and recovery services has moved well beyond elite athletes into mainstream wellness spending. Cryotherapy, infrared sauna, float therapy, and body contouring are now sought by everyday health-conscious consumers who prioritize preventative care, stress recovery, and aesthetic results. The brands that consolidate these services under one membership — rather than forcing consumers to visit multiple locations — capture higher lifetime value and stronger retention than single-modality concepts that compete for the same client with a narrower offering.
ABF Timing Insight —
Zivel is expanding nationally with 19 open locations and additional units under construction as of early 2026. The combination of machine-based operations, minimal staffing, semi-absentee ownership, and an investment at one-third the cost of comparable wellness franchises creates a unit economics profile that is difficult to find elsewhere in the recovery studio category. SBA approval and a $9,500 veteran discount broaden the qualified candidate pool further. Candidates who move now secure the strongest available territories before the brand’s national recognition drives competition for prime markets.
Training & Support
- Comprehensive pre-opening training — online, video, and operational instruction covering all eight service modalities, technology systems, and business management before the studio opens.
- On-site training support — hands-on guidance during the opening period ensuring franchisees and their teams are fully prepared to deliver the Zivel service experience from day one.
- All-in-one scheduling and billing system — branded Zivel app eliminates complex software management and streamlines booking, payments, and client communication from a single platform.
- Site selection and lease negotiation assistance — Zivel’s team assists franchisees in identifying and securing small-footprint retail locations with favorable real estate and lease terms.
- Ongoing operational support — continued coaching and guidance from the Zivel team throughout the franchise relationship covering KPI tracking, marketing execution, and multi-unit expansion strategy.
Franchise Owners that Thrive at ZIVEL
ZIVEL seeks entrepreneurial operators passionate about wellness and performance optimization while building scalable multi-unit businesses.
- Multi-unit minded investors who want to build a regional portfolio at one-third the cost of competing wellness franchise concepts.
- Semi-absentee operators comfortable overseeing a manager-led studio while maintaining other professional commitments.
- Health and wellness enthusiasts who want to build a business aligned with a proactive, performance-driven lifestyle.
- Veterans — VetFran participant offering $9,500 off the franchise fee for qualifying U.S. military veterans.
- Entrepreneurs from fitness, hospitality, sales, or small business backgrounds seeking a scalable recurring-revenue wellness model.
Who This Franchise Is NOT For
- Anyone expecting fully passive ownership from day one — Zivel supports semi-absentee ownership with a manager in place, but strategic oversight, KPI monitoring, and team accountability remain owner responsibilities.
- Anyone seeking quick returns or short-term income — building a recurring membership base and establishing community presence in the wellness category takes consistent local marketing effort and time to compound.
- Candidates who cannot meet the minimum liquid capital requirement of $100,000 and net worth of $350,000 — required for consideration and set by the franchisor.
- Anyone seeking to operate in California, Virginia, Maryland, Michigan, Illinois, Nebraska, New York, or Washington — Zivel is not franchising in these states in 2026 or 2027.
- Individuals who prefer behind-the-scenes roles without community engagement — membership conversion, local partnership development, and community visibility are essential to building a sustainable Zivel studio regardless of ownership model.
Franchisor Authority Disclosure
America’s Best Franchises provides guidance and introductions. Final approval criteria, financial thresholds, and territory decisions are determined exclusively by the franchisor.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What are the eight services offered at a Zivel studio?
A. Every Zivel location offers float therapy, cryotherapy, infrared sauna, oxygen therapy, compression therapy, CryoSlimming, CryoToning, and CryoFacial. All services are delivered through machines — no medical or clinical licensing is required in most markets — allowing a small team of four employees to operate a full-capacity studio efficiently.
Q. How does the machine-based model reduce staffing requirements?
A. Zivel’s service delivery is powered by machines rather than licensed practitioners. This means one employee handles operations and one handles management, marketing, and sales — four total employees versus the 10–15 required by labor-intensive traditional spa and wellness concepts. Lower staffing directly reduces overhead and improves unit economics.
Q. How does Zivel’s investment compare to other wellness franchises?
A. At $327,400–$429,000 total investment, Zivel costs approximately one-third of comparable wellness franchises that require $1,000,000–$1,250,000 per location. This means at the price of a single competitor location, a qualified investor can develop multiple Zivel studios and build a regional territory rather than a single unit.
Q. Is semi-absentee ownership truly viable with Zivel?
A. Yes. Once the studio is operational and staffing is complete, the majority of management and oversight can be handled off-site. Franchisees track KPIs, review performance metrics, and provide strategic guidance while a qualified studio manager runs daily operations. Many Zivel owners run the business as a supplemental income source alongside other professional commitments.
Q. What states are currently available for Zivel development?
A. Zivel is actively developing franchises in all U.S. states except California, Virginia, Maryland, Michigan, Illinois, Nebraska, New York, and Washington in 2026 and 2027. Contact the franchisor directly for current territory availability in your specific market.
Next Steps
By submitting this form, you confirm that you meet the minimum liquid capital requirement of $100,000 and minimum net worth of $350,000 established by the franchisor.
Complete the form below to request a qualification review and discuss territory availability for Zivel.
This profile represents general franchise information. Individual results may vary. Refer to the Franchise Disclosure Document for complete details.