StretchMed: Fastest Growing Emerging Franchises 2026

StretchMed has officially earned a place on 1851 Franchise’s 2026 Fastest Growing Emerging Franchises list — a recognition that highlights brands shaping the future of franchising through innovation, momentum and strong demand. As interest from franchisees continues to climb, StretchMed is entering a pivotal phase of expansion.

StretchMed’s roots trace back to 2019, when founder and CEO Brian Cook launched the concept with a focus on personalized stretching and recovery techniques that could make wellness more accessible. The original franchisor was a Massachusetts corporation based in Natick, Massachusetts, incorporated in September 2019 and offering franchises beginning in October 2019. The current franchisor, StretchMed Franchise, LLC, was formed April 1, 2020, is based in San Juan, Puerto Rico, and has operated this style of business since November 2019; it began selling StretchMed franchises in December 2022.

What helps StretchMed stand out is the clarity of the service and the consistency of the method: one-on-one assisted stretching built around PNF (proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation) and static stretching, with sessions typically ending in percussion therapy to help accelerate recovery and muscle relaxation. The brand also leans into a “trained practitioner” story, emphasizing degreed therapists and an intensive 100-hour certification program that supports standardization across studios.

In 2025, the brand’s growth story looked like steady market expansion paired with a deepening pipeline. StretchMed entered the year with 31 studios open and operating as of Dec. 31, 2024, plus 26 franchises sold but not yet opened, and it projected 50 new franchised outlets and five new company-owned outlets in the next fiscal year. On the market-development side, the company continued to push into new communities, including a flagship studio opening in Carmel, Indiana, marking expansion into the Hoosier State.

The “why now” case is tied to demand signals the brand builds its messaging around: a large population dealing with chronic pain, desk-driven stiffness and a rising focus on recovery, mobility and feeling better day to day. For operators, the model’s appeal is that it sells a repeatable, appointment-based service with clear outcomes clients can feel, delivered in a calm, boutique studio setting rather than a traditional gym floor.

Looking past 2025, StretchMed’s direction is straightforward: keep opening units at a faster clip, supported by a sizable backlog of signed agreements and a development plan that anticipates a meaningful wave of new franchised openings. In practical terms, that points to continued expansion into additional markets and more studio openings behind the same standardized service experience: one-on-one assisted stretching, trained therapists and a consistent finish with percussion therapy.

For franchisees looking for a wellness concept built around repeat visits and clear, feel-it-right-away results, StretchMed is pushing into 2026 with a simple pitch: one-on-one assisted stretching, a standardized method and a service that fits today’s recovery-minded fitness customer.

Stay tuned throughout the rest of the month for 1851 Franchise's full Fastest Growing Emerging Franchises series to explore the other innovative brands making waves in the industry.