In 2020, QC Kinetix had no franchise locations in operation. However, by the close of 2021, franchise partners had successfully launched 59 clinics, in addition to 11 corporate-owned units, marking a significant growth in the regenerative medicine sector.
According to CEO Justin Crowell, this rapid expansion highlights both the growing consumer demand for non-surgical pain relief solutions and the strong interest from franchise investors and operators in the medical industry.
QC Kinetix, endorsed by Pro Football Hall of Famer Emmitt Smith, offers innovative treatments for musculoskeletal and joint pain caused by injuries, arthritis, or chronic conditions. “come to us after being told they need a steroid injection, physical therapy or even surgery,” stated CEO Justin Crowell.
“We use natural biologics from them,” explained Crowell. “We are taking either blood or stem cells from the patient and distilling the cells … and injecting it into the joint.”
QC Kinetix aims to establish the term “natural biologics,” Crowell later noted, as their treatment options extend beyond stem cell therapy to include advanced solutions like platelet-rich plasma injections for conditions such as meniscus tears.
Over the past decade, the application of natural biological tissues in medical treatments has seen significant progress. The Mayo Clinic’s Center for Regenerative Medicine, founded in 2011, “Regenerative medicine goes beyond disease management to search for and discover therapies that support the body in repairing, regenerating and restoring itself to a state of well-being. … regenerative medicine therapies prompt the body to enact a self-healing response.”
In 2017, Justin Crowell, alongside Tyler Vail and Dr. Richard Schaffer, launched the first QC Kinetix clinic in Charleston, South Carolina. Having previously collaborated at a medical clinic, the trio recognized the potential of regenerative medicine and decided to establish their own business dedicated to this innovative field. Vail, a certified physician assistant, now serves as the company’s president, while Schaffer holds the position of chief medical officer. Their expansion efforts led to the start of franchising in 2020.
Operating on a retail medicine model, QC Kinetix functions as a cash-based business, with its clinics providing services independently of insurance providers.
“The average patients spends $10,000 for a treatment plan,” Crowell stated. “It’s not always for everybody, not everybody believes in it and not everybody can afford it … it’s a unique business model, but it works for us.”
The model has also been successful for Shane Fay and his business partner, Rich Hicks. They currently operate three QC Kinetix clinics in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, with a lease secured for a fourth. Committed to expanding to 17 locations, Fay described the venture as “a dream come true.”
“We are absolutely just crushing it in this market,” Fay shared. A dedicated CrossFit athlete with a strong passion for health and wellness, he previously led sales teams for startup software companies. Upon discovering QC Kinetix, he was drawn to its innovative approach and strong reputation within the medical field.
“And I feel strongly that this path, this restorative, regenerative path, is something most people truly want,” he emphasized, highlighting what he described as a “a personal concierge approach to medicine.”
His team consists of a full-time medical director and three physician assistants, providing patients with comprehensive care. He noted that patients are “are blown away” by the level of access they have to a dedicated team of medical professionals.
While Fay did not disclose exact sales figures, he shared that his Fort Worth and Dallas clinics broke sales records upon opening. In December 2021, one location “did more in one month than any corporate or franchised QC Kinetix ever.”
According to Item 19 of the franchise disclosure document, gross revenue for five corporate clinics operating from January 1 to December 31, 2020, ranged between $1.06 million and $1.5 million. Additionally, an analysis of revenue from January 1 to March 31, 2021, revealed that 11 company-owned clinics generated an average of $296,769.
QC Kinetix saw its systemwide sales grow from $8 million in 2020, generated by nine corporate clinics, to $27 million in 2021, driven by the expansion of franchise locations, according to Crowell.
QC Kinetix clinics operate just one day per week, Crowell noted. Each designated market area is assigned to a single franchisee, who, as they expand with multiple locations, decides which clinics operate on different days. He further explained that treatment schedules are managed by the medical staff, who rotate between clinics based on market demand.
“A busy day for us is to see 10 new patients … At $10,000 a pop, that’s a good day,” Crowell stated. He added that as locations expand their services, they may extend their operating hours to additional days.
According to Crowell, “95 percent,” of franchisees come from non-medical backgrounds. They employ licensed healthcare professionals to manage patient care. Given the differences in state laws and regulations governing non-surgical regenerative medicine, Crowell emphasized the importance of franchisees educating themselves and consulting an attorney with expertise in medical law.
Fay echoed this sentiment, noting that prospective franchisees frequently reach out to him for insights into the business model. “I encourage due diligence and research behind the outcomes and procedures and the efficacy of what we do,” he advised.
QC Kinetix clinics generally occupy spaces ranging from 1,700 to 2,500 square feet within Class A office or medical buildings. The initial investment required falls between $159,030 and $300,230.