Franchise Journey: From Zaxby's to SweatHouz, Franchisee Ben Little on Health And Growth

North Carolina-based entrepreneurs Ben Little and Richard Gower built their franchising careers in the quick-service world as successful multi-unit Zaxby’s franchisees. Now, they are channeling that experience into the booming health and wellness sector as owners with SweatHouz. Founded in 2019 and launched as a franchise three years later, SWTHZ has grown to more than 70 locations across the country.

SWTHZ focuses on contrast therapy, alternating between hot and cold treatments through infrared sauna and cold plunge experiences. Guests relax in private suites equipped with Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and television, creating a stress-free escape designed to lift mood and clear the mind.

For Little and Gower, the new venture strengthens their partnership and gives them more autonomy as they concentrate on operations, building a strong team and overseeing construction. They see SWTHZ as the next step in a shared franchising journey grounded in aligned values and a belief in the long-term potential of the wellness space.

For Little, it is also personal. A SWTHZ Discovery Day proved transformative, quickly turning him into a believer in contrast therapy and its benefits. The brand gives him an opportunity to support his team while bringing an experience to the community that, in his view, can make people happier and healthier.

1851 Franchise sat down with Little to discuss his transition into the health and wellness sector and his franchising journey with SWTHZ. Here’s what he had to say:

1851 Franchise: Can you frame your personal story for us? What do you want people to know about your journey?

Ben Little: Sure. Richard and I are also Zaxby's franchisees, so we've been in franchising for quite some time.

We had looked at other brands for a while and never really found anything that got us excited. We went through quick service restaurants — and I know now I don't want to do QSR for a second brand. I wanted something with low employee headcount, relatively easy buildout, simple operations, recurring revenue preferably and something that added to the net health and wellness of society.

SWTHZ checked all those boxes. The original founder, Jamie Weeks, went on the same podcast I was on, the episode after me. I listened to his interview and that's how I found SWTHZ. Richard and I signed up for Discovery Day, went down and the rest is history.

1851: What did you do before franchising and how did it make sense to pursue this path?

Little: With Zaxby's, it's a family business. My dad is still one of my partners and we have one other partner as well. Richard worked for the corporate office at Zaxby's and my dad recruited him to join our group. That's how we're all connected.

The appeal of franchising is that if the franchisor is doing its job correctly, you can pick the battles you want to fight and focus on your strengths. We’re strong in operations, people development, site selection and construction. If the SWTHZ franchisor is doing their job, we don’t have to worry about marketing and other areas we're not experts in. So far, so good.

1851: What was your perception of franchising before becoming a franchisee and what do you want people to know about franchising?

Little: If you're getting into it to be an absentee owner or fall for one of those sales pitches that you just pop something open and check the mailbox once a month, you're in for a rude awakening.

No matter the brand, it requires active involvement. Eventually, at a certain scale, it becomes about providing opportunities for your people and teams. That's what Richard and I aim to do with SWTHZ.

1851: What made you pick SWTHZ, and what excites you most about the company?

Little: Many things. At Discovery Day, I had never done an infrared sauna or cold plunge, so I was skeptical. After my first contrast therapy session, I distinctly remember how my body and mental state felt afterward. It made me a believer.

We're big believers in the health and wellness benefits of contrast therapy, infrared sauna and cold plunge — not just physically but mentally. Many members come just for mental health. Some use it as a weekly reset with a partner. It's an hour for themselves, disconnected from the world.

We wanted to contribute to making the general population happier and healthier. Seeing members leave feeling great every day, and hearing how contrast therapy impacts their lives, has been rewarding.

1851: What do you hope to achieve with the business and what's the plan for growth?

Little: Scaling to multiple units requires organization, delegation and recruiting future talent for our internal teams.

We have seven more units planned after the three already underway. It's hard to look past a year from now but we hope to do more after that. Our first location recently celebrated its one-year anniversary.

1851: What advice do you have for those considering franchise ownership?

Little: It's really hard work, but gratifying. I respect anyone willing to bet on themselves, regardless of brand or concept.

Entrepreneurs and capitalism are what makes America the best country in the world. And seeing the positive impact on people's lives is incredibly rewarding.

SweatHouz is a first-of-its-kind wellness concept offering private contrast therapy experiences with infrared sauna, cold plunge and Vitamin C showers in luxury, technology-forward suites. Designed for recovery, longevity and convenience, SWTHZ uses smart engineering and a membership-based model to make high-performance wellness accessible and effortless. With franchise opportunities available in select markets, SWTHZ is redefining the recovery space — one studio at a time. For more information, visit