Single Mom Announces Massage Franchise Now Open in Costa Rica
Michele Merhib, occupational therapist registered (OTR) and certified massage therapist (CMT), is the founder of an International franchise selling over 50 locations in the U.S. This single mom of two teenagers has reached a level of success most only dream about, after recently announcing the opening of her first therapeutic massage franchise in Costs Rica and selling the master franchise rights in Ireland.
Born in New York and moving to Oklahoma as a teenager, Michele went on to receive her Bachelor Degree in Business Administration from the University of Central Oklahoma in 1984. Michele became a Registered Occupational Therapist (OTR) after graduating from the University of Oklahoma with a Bachelor of Science in Occupational Therapy in 1993. Michele began as a staff therapist working in hospitals, health care centers and providing home health care to individual clients.
Michele quickly moved into management of a rehabilitation department combining her business skills, occupational therapy skills and natural leadership ability–little did she know that these skills combined with her massage therapy training would lead her to International success beyond her wildest dreams.Living month-to-month and raising two teenagers, Michele was in search of greater income opportunities and more flexibility in life. While Michele was busy raising her teenagers and managing a rehabilitation department, she sought out massage therapy to bring some balance and stress reduction to her own life. Michele’s massage therapist wanted to retire and encouraged Michele to buy her business. This was a small massage practice with over 100 regular clients inside a country club in Aurora, Colorado.
Broke and scraping together enough money for a down payment for the massage business’ asking price, Michele got excited about the possibilities, and became a certified massage therapist in July of 2000. She says learning the craft of massage came easily to her as a result of her previous training.
Today, as the founder of elements therapeutic massage, Michele’s organization has 51 locations with the first international location now open in Costa Rica. They have also recently sold a master franchise territory in Ireland.
“Locating the right franchisee for a location is one thing, but being able to support that new business owner, help them set up properly, negotiate the best lease and have enough clients at their grand opening are entirely different topics. FTFC has done an amazing job in getting the elements therapeutic massage franchise model started that I have no doubt we can support 4000 locations worldwide, helping countless millions of people live a better quality of life through therapeutic massage.”
Photo from Stock.xchng.
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