FYZICAL isn’t your typical therapy clinic. Unlike other therapy clinics, patients receive a specific program designed uniquely for them. FYZICAL provides them the freedom to live life on their own terms.
For Jim Abrams, co-founder of the FYZICAL franchise, this isn’t just a business — this is personal. Five years ago, his father suffered a stroke that took him off his feet, and Abrams says if he would have known then what he knows now about the breadth of physical therapy capabilities, his father could have gotten back on his feet.
That motivation has served well in building a successful franchise. In a recent interview with Abrams, he discusses with us the secrets to his success and shares advice for aspiring entrepreneurs.
What’s special about the franchise?
FYZICAL is the most distinct model for the new age of healthcare. Historically, the expectation was to only see and care for a particular injury with a physical therapy patient. At FYZICAL, we not only care for a particular injury, but we make them aware of other challenges they may have.
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We can do this because FYZICAL has a national network of physical therapists that can gain information and best practices in a non-competitive environment. We have experts that have spent their careers focused on specific areas including balance expert, Brian Werner, MS, PT; sports-injury expert, Scott Pensivy, PT, LAT, ATC; spinal expert, Rogan Taylor; and chief nutrition expert, Rhonda Deems, PhD. We also utilize science and state-of-the-art technology and equipment that allows our network of physical therapists to identify what would best serve patients.
What is the idea behind the franchise?
FYZICAL provides the freedom to live life on your own terms. The idea behind FYZICAL was based on my own circumstances with reconstructive knee surgery and ongoing hip pain. Physicians said I needed a new knew and hip. I knew if I went through hip surgery, I’d most likely have to repeat the process later in life.
Instead, I found physical therapy to strengthen my hip. Now I don’t need any medicine. I sleep well and have only occasional pain. A caring physical therapist looked beyond what the doctor prescribed, and I began to understand that physical therapists are the experts on muscle and skeletal issues.
The idea behind FYZICAL is that we not only answer patients’ needs but we work towards the goal of shifting to preventative and wellness healthcare. With past businesses, we shifted from episodic work to moving toward forming lifetime relationships with the customer. I see the same thing with the human body, and today there is not a great deal of focus on prevention.
How does it compare to its competition?
FYZICAL is the prescription for physical therapy. We have a business model that’s focused on the wellness of the individual, the ability to communicate effectively among professional physical therapists and a focus on the wellness and future of the patient.
It begins with a new business model that’s focused on the wellness of the individual. The average physical therapy practice receives a patient referral from the doctor and only fixes the patient in a certain number of visits. We developed BodyQ, a comprehensive evaluation that measures the overall health and wellness of the muscles, joints and neurological systems to help prevent injuries and address health issues. Through BodyQ, physical therapists can build an individualized plan to help the patient work towards living and loving their life.
As a franchise organization, we are able to employ a network of experts at the national level that discover the best treatments for patients. Through a non-competitive network, we’re able to share information and the best techniques through our channels quickly.
Additionally, physical therapists have been focused on declining insurance reimbursements, which leads to less time with the patient. At FYZICAL, we are focused on the patient’s well-being and healthcare prevention.
Where do you see the franchise in five years?
In five years, I see FYZICAL with 400-500 centers across the U.S. with medically based fitness. When a physical therapy private practice owner becomes a FYZICAL franchisee, the first thing we do is help them learn to manage their business. Second, we help them grow their business to move into the future. Finally, our goal is to expand into absolute wellbeing with medically based fitness programs.
Today, the choices are very small. You can only go to a big box fitness center where you don’t have ability to see a doctor of physical therapy who can help with the entire wellbeing of the body.
At FYZICAL and through our BodyQ, we can do an analysis on a person’s muscular and skeletal make-up and lay out an exercise program that helps people achieve their goals. Knowing and understanding the limitations of the body leads to a lower risk of injury.
What motivates you to keep going?
I’ve always enjoyed building businesses that serve people and answer problems that they may have. My father suffered a stroke five years ago that has literally taken him off his feet. I didn’t fully understand physical therapy then, and if I would have known what I know now about the breadth of physical therapy capabilities, he could have gotten back on his feet.
I also really like what I’m doing. Throughout my career, I’ve seen people achieve what they didn’t know was possible. That’s what physical therapists are able to do.
Finally, I love what we do. I’ve always been in service and I love seeing the excitement and enthusiasm of physical therapists. Before FYZICAL, they didn’t know their future success or the idea that they would have the freedom to live life on their own terms.
If you were to start again, what would you do differently?
I would have taken a more proactive stance in investing and owning FYZICAL centers. This would have allowed me to be a better leader and help potential franchisees better understand and illustrate what we’re doing.
Now, I’m currently invested in FYZICAL clinics, which allows me to show potential franchisees how our model works and introduce them to the team of physical therapists that care for the patient’s well-being.
Please tell us your secret to success…
I came to business with a different view. I was an accounting teacher, and I took advantage of this background early in my career. With FYZICAL, we use Praxis 10, which is the business science that’s proven to drive success within service businesses. Over the years with different business endeavors, I’ve been answering the 10 questions from Praxis 10, which has lead to success.
What is one thing that really excites you?
The one thing that really excites me is success of people. I’ve seen so many franchisees and senior-level employees become successful. It’s rewarding to know I’ve had an influence on franchisees’ and employees’ lives and their businesses. Business has always been about the benefit I can bring franchisees and employees. I know if I do these things really well, they will get rewarded.
Any final words for aspiring entrepreneurs?
Know what it is important to you. You have to be able to understand yourself to take on a business and seek success.
Where can people find out more about FYZICAL?
Visit the website here.
Where can people find FYZICAL on social media?
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