New Year’s may be in the middle of winter, but spring is the season of new beginnings.
Often, many people use this time of year to clean their homes after being shut in for the winter. However, a lot of people also use this time to take steps to improve their health and/or physical appearance following a winter season that typically features more indulgence and less activity than other seasons of the year.
It's not uncommon for people to join fitness clubs, try out new hair styles, or take other steps that help them show off the best them possible.
Below are the top 10 health, fitness, and beauty franchises from this year's Top 100 Global Franchises Ranking. There are a perfect 10 not only because they help people achieve their appearance goals, but they also provide a pathway to a business ownership for hundreds of thousands of entrepreneurs around the world.
When it comes to general nutrition and wellness, GNC (7) has been a leader of the pack for nearly 80 years. In fact, it’s part of the name – GNC stands for General Nutrition Corporation. Supplements and vitamins aren’t the only thing GNC sells. The retailer also sells natural cosmetics and other health management items.
Another general nutrition and wellness franchise in this year’s Top 100 is Spain-based Naturhouse (41). Unlike GNC, Naturhouse not only provides products, it also provides advice for its clients. Many Naturhouse franchisees are health professionals like pharmacists, dieticians, nutritionists, biologists, and nursing staff.
With summer coming, many use the spring to get their body in better shape in preparation for pool parties and beach trips. Fitness clubs Anytime Fitness (23), Curves (64), Gold's Gym (65), and Snap Fitness (66) made the list for their ability to offer similar services but cater their offerings to a large enough subset of the general population to be internationally successful.
For people looking for a more temporary change to their appearance there are franchises such as cosmetic and hair salons that provide those services.
French franchise Yves Rocher (63) has been in operation over 50 years and offers a wide range of botanical beauty care products for women. Also in the 2014 ranking, is an American counterpart to Yves Rocher, cosmetic retailer Merle Norman (97). Merle Norman has been offering several beauty care products along with free instruction in the use of its products for over 80 years.
Great Clips (49) and Supercuts (92) are the two hair salons that made the cut this year. Both provide affordable hair care services to men, women and children.
The Top 100 Global Franchises Ranking is an annual look at the top operating franchises in the world. To be eligible, franchises must have units in operation in at least two countries. The full Top 100 Ranking can be viewed here. To see the Top 100 Report with an overview of all the franchises plus trends and things to watch, click here.