Marcee Locke, Any Lab Test Now Owner, Wichita, KS

Over 300 franchise brands participated in an independent study conducted by Franchise Business Review (FBR) between July 2019 and February 2021. Each franchise brand requested their franchisees fill out an FBR satisfaction survey that asked 33 benchmark questions about their experience and satisfaction regarding critical areas of their franchise systems, including training and support, operations, franchisor/franchisee relations, and financial opportunity. After collecting more than 31,000 franchisee responses, Franchise Business Review (FBR) awarded Any Lab Test Now® as a Top Recession-Proof Business for 2021.

With an honor this high, our corporate team wanted to get a home team insider’s perspective on the real-time value of exactly what recession-proof meant through the eyes of one of our very own Franchisees. Marcee Locke, owner of Any Lab Test Now of Wichita, KS shared her story with us about what it was like to open her franchise location in the middle of the economic downturn of 2020. For Marcee and her husband Nick, their story of success started with a personal need they turned into a local community solution. As they moved through the process of becoming entrepreneurs, they pushed beyond overwhelming fears and instead chose to step into their dream opportunity with the courage and resolve to succeed despite the challenges they faced during the height of the pandemic. As you can imagine their story is inspiring, motivating, and most of all, a tribute to how important it is to support independent businesses that provide health and wellness services to their local communities.

Personal Needs Turned into Community Solutions

At the onset of our conversation, we asked Marcee if she had always wanted to own a business in the healthcare industry and she said:

“My husband and I, Nick, had always wanted to start our own business that we felt was new to Wichita. Then, one day I was looking for some lab testing, and I wasn’t able to find any pricing online, I wasn’t able to go anywhere without a doctor’s order. Even though I had insurance, I had no way of knowing what I was going to pay. And that was really frustrating for me, because I’m a firm believer in pricing transparency.

I just thought, you know, there has to be a better way. I did some research trying to figure out, is there a better way, and, you know, it turns out there is, and it’s called Any Lab Test Now.

I noticed that there weren’t any locations in Kansas, but that there were a lot of locations all across the country. So, I thought, wow, this could really be my opportunity to bring something unique to Wichita. We just fell in love with the concept. It was really easy for us to feel passionate about the idea of bringing affordable, and convenient access to lab testing for all of Wichita.”

Good Old-Fashioned Customer Service Wins Their Hearts

Next, we asked, what made her, and her husband choose Any Lab Test Now® as their business model and she shared:

“Any Lab Test Now jumped to the front immediately with the variety of services that they offer the focus on customer service.

I love good customer service, and it’s so rare these days, that I just felt like I really wanted something where customer service would be a huge competitive advantage for us, because I knew that I could provide that. We also wanted to find something that that would really make a difference to people. Ultimately, that focus on good customer service was really appealing to me because the whole company is all about that customer experience.”

Starting a Business in the Middle of a Recession

As we talked with Marcee, we asked her or her husband had ever felt scared about taking the plunge to open their franchise location and she replied:

“My husband and I had countless conversations and asked ourselves is this crazy? We didn’t want to let the excitement of the concept cloud the reality of the situation that we’re in the middle of the pandemic, but, you know, ultimately, with the scenarios that we ran, we felt confident in the overall demand for these services were for the long-term.

We were willing to take the risk up front. We didn’t want to let something short-term like a pandemic, stop us from moving forward with our dream opportunity.

I remember it was really scary and terrifying in fact. It was the number one thing that almost stopped us to be honest. I’m really happy we had the courage to move forward despite the pandemic, and if I could go back, I would 100% do it again!”

Finding Success with a Healthcare Business Model

Marcee and Nick Locke Grand Opening, Any Lab Test Now, Wichita, KS

Marcee also shared how their location was performing, so it was natural to ask her if she felt confident long-term success was in their future and she responded:

“Our first few months have beat my expectations.

COVID has increased the attention we have for our health and that’s a good thing. People are like, wow, you know, life is short, I need to really take care of this one body that I’ve been given. So, I think we have a new focus on health.

People are so used to dealing with insurance and dealing with having no idea what they’re going to pay for their lab work. So many people are shocked that we provide the doctor’s order, they’re like, wait, so my doctor doesn’t have to send me.

We educate people so they know, we do provide this. You can literally walk through our door and get tested for pretty much anything you want.”

Community-Driven Passion Fills Hearts with Joy

While we were talking with Marcee, we also inquired on what she felt her business value was to her local community and she replied:

“I didn’t have any healthcare background at all and before starting this I worked in corporate America for about 11 years.

Now, my days are filled with people who come in and say, “oh, my goodness, I’m so glad that you guys are open, I have been wanting to get tested for years.”

Some people who don’t have insurance, they haven’t been to the doctor in years, they haven’t been tested for a single thing, not even a standard CDC or CMP.  When I hear them say, “I finally have an affordable option where I can just come in and get some key things checked”, that’s the most rewarding thing for me is to just give people that accessible way of finally getting the lab work that they’ve wanted done forever. That really keeps me going as far as the passion for just helping people.

When people leave, and they say, “wow, that was really fast”, or, “wow, that was such a great experience”, that’s providing a service that people truly value. It doesn’t really get more fulfilling than that!”

Business Thrives When You Wake Up and Love What You Do

As we started to come to the end of our conversation we went out on a limb and asked Marcee, what are the top three things you love about owning an Any Lab Test Now franchise location and she responded:

“Number one, it’s the focus on health. At the end of the day, if somebody has $100, and that’s their total disposable income, if you have an option to go get your hair done, or go buy some clothes, most people are going to pick your health with their limited disposable income that they do have. Health is very important to people.

Number two, I think is accessibility. We do schedule appointments walk-ins are welcome. We also have convenient hours so people can come after work or over their lunch hour and we’re also open on Saturdays. We’re open when people need us.

Number three, we are really focused on the safety and health and well-being of our customers. Just that focus on actually helping and caring about our customers and that huge emphasis on customer experience is what makes it recession-proof.”

Empowering a Community with a Service-Based Business

At the end of our discussion, we asked Marcee to share how she felt about having a business model that is in-service to others and she said:

“One of the trademarked slogans by Any Lab Test Now, is Take Control of Your Health®—that’s exactly what this business allows you to do.

The true service to me is accessible health care for people want to monitor their health. They want other options. They want transparency and price. I think that the ease of accessibility to people who may not have had access to this before is the true service to the community. We make it easy for people because they’re in and out in 10 to 15 minutes. I think our true service is accessible health care.”

A big thank you to Marcee for taking the time out of her busy schedule to share her story and perspective of what it was like to open her franchise location in 2020!

If you’re looking around at what business opportunities are open to you, please reach out to us directly. We’re more than happy to provide you with information and answer questions. Learning about the available opportunities in your local area is the first step in discovering how you can find success with an Any Lab Test Now® franchise business.

Does working for a parent sound like the ticket to success, or a punishment? Any Lab Test Now’s mother and daughter duo in Arizona prove working together to run two retail lab testing locations is a great way to achieve financial success, career satisfaction and family harmony.

Jeri Frandsen started her career with Any Lab Test Now, one of the fastest-growing healthcare franchises in the nation, when she opened her first location in Scottsdale, Arizona, in 2008 with several partners. Following the successful launch of the first unit, the group opened a second storefront in Glendale, Arizona, in 2010. Record sales enabled Frandsen to buy her partners out and add her daughter, Angela Garrett, to her team.

Bringing her daughter onboard was a family tradition and a practical choice. Frandsen began her own career as a real estate broker at her father’s firm. More than 60 percent of businesses are family-owned, according to Family Enterprises USA, a family business advocate in Washington, D.C. In fact, 78 percent of new jobs in the United States are created from family-owned firms, and family businesses have higher employee retention rates than their counterparts.

“Angie started working for me as an intern. Today she is my business partner and manager of the Scottsdale location,” Frandsen said. “She is motivated. I know she is here for the long term.”

Garrett knew she wanted a career in the medical field from a young age. When she was planning her career path, Garrett discussed her options with her mother. Frandsen promised Garrett a position with Any Lab Test Now if she completed her phlebotomy license. “I grew up with my mom and grandpa working together. Working with my mom was a natural fit,” Garrett added.

Frandsen worked at her father’s real estate business for a number of years before taking a job at an occupational health clinic. Working at the clinic sparked her passion for medicine and fueled her knowledge of lab testing. Searching for warmer temperatures, Frandsen and her parents moved to Arizona, and Frandsen returned to real estate until the economy tanked in 2008. Knowing she was at a crossroads, Frandsen decided to give entrepreneurship a chance. “I always wanted to own my own business. There are high margins in lab testing, and I was familiar with the concept from my time working as a manager at the medical clinic,” Frandsen said.

New Location Fuels Sales, Cuts Costs

Despite recording high sales at the Scottsdale storefront, Frandsen decided to move the location of her business to lower her monthly rent bill. The old storefront was in a strip mall, anchored by a grocery store. The new location is in a quieter shopping plaza across the street, where it is easier for her customers to park, and rent is low. “Our new location saves approximately $2,500 in rent each month. It’s easier for our customers to find and easier to access. The first month at the new location, we had record sales,” Frandsen said.

The mother and daughter are ramping up their presence on social media to help boost sales. Consistent posting on Facebook and LinkedIn is helping generate results. Garrett said they recently started collecting email addresses from customers and plan to distribute an email newsletter to drive repeat business.

Sparkling Service Drives Repeat Business

 Excelling in customer service generates repeat business and high ratings from satisfied customers. Both of the pair’s units focus on customer satisfaction. They pride themselves on being knowledgeable about all of the tests they offer. They make sure to answer every phone call and provide customers with a clean, professional atmosphere. “Our customers want answers fast. Giving them the opportunity to come in and order their own lab work without a doctor’s prescription is a good thing,” Garrett said. “We treat our customers like family.”

Recently, a young mother came in for lab tests to help understand why her child was suffering from nausea, digestive issues and irritability. Frandsen and Garrett recommended a Food Sensitivity and Intolerance Test. To soothe the grouchy baby, the mother was feeding it comfort foods, like almond milk, blue Gatorade and French fries. Results from the test revealed the child was intolerant to almonds, blue dye and potatoes. The mother made changes to the child’s comfort foods and saw immediate improvements, Frandsen said.

Reliable Staff Fosters Work-Life Balance

 One perk of entrepreneurship Garrett did not anticipate was flexibility. Garrett has two children, ages 2 and 10. She is able to coordinate her schedule with her coworker to make sure they can attend school functions and cover sick days. Offering work-life balance is important for employee retention and training. Frandsen makes new staff wait nearly a month before they answer phones to ensure they are able to answer customer questions professionally. To limit turnover, Frandsen strives to keep her employees motivated and pay a competitive wage. “Our products and services are so vast, there’s a huge learning curve for a new employee,” Frandsen said. “Hiring long-term employees helps make our business successful.”

Learn more about finding a rewarding and flexible career in direct access lab testing. Visit Any Lab Test Now to find out more information today.

Allison Kapalka’s optimism, knowledge and perspective has allowed her Any Lab Test Now location in Lititz, Pennsylvania, to flourish in the heart of the Amish community.

While working as a franchise broker for Choice Biz Solutions, Kapalka made the decision to test out her entrepreneurial skills in 2008 and open an Any Lab Test Now unit in Lititz, Pennsylvania. “While I was working as an outside sales representative for Any Lab Test Now, I sold myself on the concept,” Kapalka said. “I love the retail lab-testing concept. I’ve had issues getting physicians to agree on tests I need. If I was having difficulty getting adequate healthcare, I knew other people must have similar problems.”

Amish Traditions and Values Boost Sales

Any Lab Test Now allows customers to take charge of their health, appealing to the numerous members of the Amish in the Lancaster County area. The Amish immigrated to Lancaster County in the early 1700s to escape persecution in Europe. The close-knit, conservative Christian religion focuses on family, work and humility, reflected in their plain clothes and prohibition of personal photography. Most Amish communities believe it is important to avoid influences from the modern world and are reluctant to adopt a variety of conveniences, including electricity and cars.

The Amish are particularly concerned about living a healthy lifestyle, including consuming less salt and eating primarily homegrown foods. Tobacco and alcohol consumption are low and most Amish community members practice natural healing methods, relying on medical doctors only when serious ailments arise. The Amish also lack health insurance, which makes the cost of visiting a doctor prohibitive.

“Members of the Amish community know it’s a lot less expensive to prevent an illness than to treat someone who is sick,” Kapalka said. “They employ a lot of treatment techniques outside of mainstream medicine, including chiropractors and naturopaths. It’s normal for the Amish to reserve pharmaceuticals for more serious situations, rather than just to treat a cold or diabetes.”

When Kapalka opened her doors in 2008, the Amish community represented 75 percent of her Any Lab Test Now location’s customers. High-deductible insurance is forcing more Americans to educate themselves on healthy lifestyle options and pick and choose the tests they receive to cut costs. Outside of general lab tests, the Lititz unit’s top tests are for Lyme disease, nutrient testing and allergy testing.

Most of Kapalka’s Amish clientele learn about her storefront via word of mouth. However, she has had articles from satisfied customers written about her business in a local newspaper published by the Amish community. “The newspaper is kind of like their version of Facebook. Members of the community can write articles telling people about helpful services.”

One of Kapalka’s customers from the Amish community turned to Any Lab Test Now to find answers to ongoing muscle aches, pain and memory issues. Neighbors referred him to Any Lab Test Now for its superior reputation, after his first test for Lyme disease came back negative. Kapalka ordered a new Lyme disease test for this customer and his results came back positive. She referred him to a local Lyme disease specialist where he received the help he needed.

Another customer from the Amish community came in complaining of hair loss. She wanted to get her zinc levels tested to see if this was the source of the problem. Kapalka’s team was able to educate her on Any Lab Test Now’s test offerings. She opted to take the Cellular Nutritional Health test, which measures your body’s ability to absorb 32 vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and other essential nutrients. Her results indicated she had 12 nutrient deficiencies and Kapalka recommended she visit a local doctor to receive care.

Employee Knowledge and Workplace Satisfaction Enables Sales Growth

One of the keys to the success of her Any Lab Test Now unit is her employees. Kapalka’s two-person staff is highly informed about the storefront’s inventory of tests. Her team can advise customers who are coming in for one specific test on other options that may be useful to add to their lineup. “Any Lab Test Now doesn’t give medical advice, but being knowledgeable about our inventory and being able to discuss test options with customers is a great tool for generating repeat business,” Kapalka said.

Kapalka credits treating her employees well with their long tenure at her location. One of her loyal staff is preparing to retire, and Kapalka is beginning the difficult search for a new team member. “The initial hiring pool was disappointing. There are a lot of young people who have a hard time being trainable,” Kapalka said.

Amish Lifestyle Helps Kapalka’s Family Succeed

When her daughter, Mia, was diagnosed with autism, Kapalka decided she needed to make some changes on the homefront. She made the decision to homeschool her daughter and implement a nutrient-dense diet to help her family conquer the diagnosis. Healthful living and natural remedies always sparked Kapalka’s interest. At one point she was a vegan and practiced bodybuilding with her husband, Jim Reiff. Her daughter’s diagnosis prompted Kapalka to conduct extensive research to find a diet that suited her family’s needs. The Amish farmers in Lancaster County made the family’s transition to a nutrient-dense, organic, diet easy. Relying on simple, all-natural foods from her Amish neighbors has helped improve her family’s health.

Bolstered by the impact nutrition had on the health of her family prompted Kapalka to pursue her passion by getting certified as a health coach, and she is working to become a licensed naturopath. “Seeing Mia’s health improve tremendously from dietary changes encouraged me and inspired me to pursue integrative health.”

Learn more about a business model that encourages customers to take charge of their health. Visit Any Lab Test Now for more information today.

Kelli Hammack’s hard work, dedication and persistence has enabled her Any Lab Test Now location in Lubbock, Texas, to reshape healthcare in the college town and generate record-breaking sales.

Hammack started her career at Any Lab Test Now, one of the fastest growing healthcare franchises in the nation, as Manager in 2011.  Initially, she worked as the store’s sole employee Monday thru Saturday.  Although the long hours and heavy workload took a toll on Hammack, she jumped at the chance to buy the franchise when the unit’s owner opted to sell in 2015. “I loved my work at Any Lab Test Now, even though I was there from the time the store opened to when it closed every day. I thrive on that kind of work — that’s just how I roll,” Hammack said. “Owning my own store was terrifying, but I love dealing with people and helping people, so I went for it.”

Successful Marketing Drives Business

Working as a manager at the Lubbock location for four years gave her the skills and expertise to keep the business afloat, but Hammack is not a person to accept the status quo. She wanted her store to maintain its existing clientele and generate new business. “To grow my customer base, I hit the pavement,” Hammack said.

Unhappy with television advertising, Hammack implemented a marketing campaign with sweet treats as the star. She took small bags of candy with her card attached to area businesses. She visited doctor’s offices, car dealerships, lawyers and local restaurants, among other places. Shortly after hitting the pavement, Hammack’s business tripled. “My marketing approach offers no stress, no pressure. I’m not the type of person who gets in people’s faces,” Hammack said. “If you want to sit in the office and let people come to you, that’s fine, but if you want to make a successful business, you have to put yourself out there.”

Contrary to popular belief, it is common for doctor’s offices, when they learn about Hammack’s business, to send cash-pay patients to Any Lab Test Now for blood work. “You’d be surprised how many doctors will send cash-pay patients. If a doctor cares about their cash-pay patients, they tell them about our services because their regular labs can’t offer tests at our low prices.”

Hammack also took advantage of the unit’s location in a college town. She was able to make a key contact in Texas Tech University’s athletic department, resulting in the school sending all of its athletes to her location for required sports medical tests, like sickle-cell anemia. College students respond to Any Lab Test Now’s business model because it offers easy, no appointment required testing without a doctor’s prescription. “STD testing is an essential offering in any college town,” Hammack said. “College students value privacy and affordable pricing. If necessary, they can take their results to a doctor.”

Hiring Strategy Ensures Employee Satisfaction

 Working from open to close was in Hammack’s wheelhouse, but she knew she would be unable to open future locations if she didn’t find a workable hiring solution. To find reliable employees, Hammack relies on an internship strategy started by the former owner of her location. Hammack’s storefront offers five-week internships to local students who attend Vista College. Rules for the interns are strict, and they require supervision. But, when each student’s five-week tenure ends, Hammack can be certain she’s offering a capable and reliable person a job. “I don’t hire from the street. I train the interns myself for five weeks. If I like them, I’ll hire them on the spot when their internship ends,” Hammack said.

Growth Mindset Fuels Success

 Having a reliable hiring strategy allowed Hammack and her co-owner and husband, Scott Hammack, to aim for expansion. Recognizing the value of a location in a college town, the pair made the decision to add a new location in the home of Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas. Their College Station unit is slated to open in March 2020. Hammack and her husband also purchased the Kingwood, Texas, territory for expansion. Hammack’s reliable staff enabled the pair to relocate to 11 acres in Buna, Texas. “I’m nine hours from Lubbock, three hours from College Station and three hours from Kingwood,” Hammack said. “Having confidence in my staff has allowed me to live on the farm I never knew I wanted.”

Family Fuels Growth

Having help from her husband propelled Hammack’s daughter to join the Any Lab Test Now staff. Hammack’s daughter, Amber Lawson, is currently training at the Lubbock store and will work full time at the new College Station unit when it opens. To give her daughter the opportunity to build a solid career at Any Lab Test Now required Hammack to take over full-time care of her two grandchildren, ages 5 and 7. Many grandmothers might balk at the responsibility, but Hammack thrives in the busy atmosphere. “I’m the busiest I’ve ever been my entire life,” Hammack said. “I’m taking care of my grandchildren and my husband while managing the business. But I can work from home and I love it.”

Combining Franchising and Farming to Maintain Balance

Hammack lives on her farm in Buna with her husband and granddaughters. When she is not making calls to manage her Any Lab Test Now business, Hammack is outside running her farm. The busy family’s farm boasts 26 chickens, 14 rabbits, three dogs and an impressive garden. “We garden and tinker and love it,” Hammack said. “I’m originally from New York and when my husband moved me down here, I didn’t think it was for me. But I love it.”

Learn more about finding a unique business model that promotes innovation. Visit Any Lab Test Now to find out more information today.

Alex Lamkin is a young entrepreneur and father of five who figured out before the age of 30 that it is possible to find a career that offers financial independence and flexibility. He  discovered a solid financial future, with a schedule that allows him to spend time with his children, as a franchisee for Any Lab Test Now, a retail lab testing company that offers its customers direct access to thousands of tests.

Lamkin was introduced to Any Lab Test Now’s unique concept by Bill Loe, the owner of APPS Paramedical of Minnesota, where he worked as a life insurance physical examiner. When Loe opened his Any Lab Test Now storefront in Plymouth, Minnesota, he relied on Lamkin’s outgoing personality, energy and skill every step of the way. Lamkin started working at Loe’s Any Lab Test Now location as a phlebotomist and office manager, eventually moving to sales and operations.

During his early years with Any Lab Test Now, Lamkin was able to learn the business from the ground up,and appreciate the value of entrepreneurship.  At the same time as Lamkin was building his career under Loe, the young phlebotomist was growing his own family on the home front. When Loe was ready to retire in 2014, Lamkin was not yet 30 years old. He had two young children and his wife, Melissa, was expecting twins. Despite the hurdles of owning and operating a business with a young family, Lamkin understood the value of the Any Lab Test Now concept. The couple made the decision to come up with the financing to take over Loe’s location.

“When I signed on to take over the business it was more than just about me. I knew a lot was relying on me to be successful. It was not easy. Initially, I would eat, work, feed the babies and sleep,” Lamkin said. “I was able to rely on Any Lab Test Now for support, and my wife and I were confident the initial investment would pay out in the long term.” 

Lamkin is working hard to give customers the power to answer critical medical questions. “Any Lab Test Now offers a unique business model with a retail storefront that puts an emphasis on customer service,” Lamkin said. “I like being able to help customers take control of their own health.”

Lamkin’s Minnesota storefront is generating impressive sales results in the rapidly expanding healthcare market. His storefront is projected to earn $500,000 in systemwide revenue this year. Since taking over the business, Lamkin has increased sales by $50,000 each year and has been able to take time to appreciate his success. “A lot of companies sell tests online, but customers are forced to go to a third-party site to get blood drawn. Any Lab Test Now is a one-stop-shop. We put a face on the business — having a brick and mortar storefront is invaluable.”

Lamkin credits his attention to customer service for his location’s achievements. When he trains new employees, Lamkin stresses the importance of learning customer names and treating them with respect. “It’s essential to remember we are providing a retail health care service, which is a different mindset than most clinical settings. At Any Lab Test Now, the customer is always right,” Lamkin said.

Having a flexible schedule is essential for this father of five. Lamkin met his wife during college and the couple married in 2007. “It’s nice to be home as often as possible to help my wife. Flexible hours keep our family running. I don’t know how we would manage it if I had to work a rigid 9 to 5 schedule,” he added.

Despite a full family life and successful storefront, Lamkin is negotiating a lease for a second Any Lab Test Now location in the Minneapolis area. Startup costs for an Any Lab Test Now location range from $133,600 to $214,600 for the total investment, the company revealed.

“Any Lab Test Now credits the success of its brand to its franchisees who provide high-quality customer service to consumers and businesses throughout the country,” said Clarissa Bradstock, CEO of Any Lab Test Now. “Alex Lamkin’s dedication to his customers and his growth mindset are the qualities we strive to see in all of our franchisees.”

The entrepreneur picked the location for his new unit in a busy shopping plaza, based on foot traffic and nearby businesses. “The new location will be a draw for health-conscious consumers,” says Lamkin. “High-deductible health insurance plans are forcing patients to take control of their health. Any Lab Test Now offers our customers upfront prices and tests without prescriptions. People realize they need to shop around to get the most out of their money.”

When Lamkin is not building his career in the retail lab-testing business or enjoying time with his family, he fuels his soul by heading outdoors. Spending time outside fishing for northern pike or muskie helps him focus and refreshes his passion for customer service. “I always wanted to own my own business, I just didn’t think I’d do it before I was 30,” Lamkin added.

Learn more about finding a fulfilling career in the rapidly expanding healthcare market. Visit Any Lab Test Now to find out more information today.

Tom and Carrie Powers – Tulsa, Oklahoma

Customer service has always been Carrie Powers’ calling card. In fact, it was the handwritten thank you notes she sent as manager of a Coach retail store that resulted in a customer becoming her husband! Now going on 20 years of marriage, Carrie and Tom are setting the standard for Any Lab Test Now franchisees by serving as a training site to help others achieve the success they have in just two short years as franchise owners.  

“We get busier every day; our numbers are really good. We give really good customer service and a great experience,” says Carrie, who takes special pride in their growing bank of 5-star reviews (178 and counting).

But she admits that, initially, Tom had to convince her to jump on board. After a long career in medical sales for large corporations, Tom was ready to trade in mergers, acquisitions, and weekly business trips for nightly dinners with his wife and three kids and a business to call his own. From the beginning, he knew he wanted a lab business because he saw the need in the healthcare industry. But Carrie was an HGTV girl and was more interested in house flipping. That is, until she took the time to learn more about what Any Lab Test Now provides and the way insurance works. The clincher was when they visited a store in Dallas and saw firsthand what the day-to-day looked like.

“I thought, ‘Oh, we can totally do this. And we can do it really well and make it a great customer experience.’ I’m in,” she declared. And now their Tulsa store is a training site for other franchisees.

In addition to creating a great atmosphere with furniture, color, and signage, Carrie handles operations and focuses on what she does best — provide great customer service, and Tom focuses on what he does best — sales and marketing. Together, they work to offer a welcoming, non-judgmental experience for their clients, even if it means coming in after hours.

Now the Powers, named Tennis Family of the Year for Oklahoma by the US Tennis Association, have more time to play tennis together.

Best Advice: Stay in your lane. Pick your battles. Give each other time to do your own thing so you don’t get resentful. You both need time for yourself.

Mark and Julie Frost – Springfield, Missouri   

Their hometown of Springfield, Missouri, may not be big (pop. 167,376) but that hasn’t stopped Mark and Julie Frost from building one of the Top 5 performing stores in the Any Lab Test Now family. When you treat people like family, you can count on 70 percent of your customers being repeat business.

When the Frost’s cashed out a 401K more than 10 years ago to invest as the 10th franchisee of Any Lab Test Now, some might have called it risky. But after 30 years traveling all 50 states as part of the pharmaceutical industry, Mark had grown weary of corporate America, had plenty of contacts with hospitals and doctors, and could see the appeal for direct access lab tests, exclaiming to Julie, “We have to do this!”

In the last 10 years, the market has created an even greater demand for direct access lab services, and the Frosts haven’t looked back. Three years ago, Julie left her teaching job to run the front desk while Mark works in the back, often seeing 50–60 customers a day. They have chosen to run the store completely on their own, although all four of their children have spent time helping, making it a true family business.

The Frost’s run a tight ship, right down to Mark being able to rattle off their overhead price per minute daily ($1.18). But that goal-oriented nature keeps them on track for success with an eye toward the future when they plan to enjoy more time off.

“The most rewarding thing is to see how far we have come in building this, that we can compete in sales with stores in big cities, and that we are considered family by our customers,” said Mark. “Success is our mindset.”

Best Advice: Set daily goals together. Look for the good and find a way to keep it fun. Whatever you choose in life, it has to be fun or it’s not worth doing.

All of our power couples agree one of the best things about owning an Any Lab Test Now with their spouse, is that together they are doing important work that is making a real difference in their customers’ lives.

Glory Gallucci owns the Durham, Raleigh and soon-to-open Cary, NC ANY LAB TEST NOW® store locations, and was recently named one of Franchise Business Review’s 2019 Franchisee Rockstars.  FBR looked at over 300 franchise brands and thousands of nominations before announcing the honorees.

Glory Gallucci is the Any Lab Test Now franchise owner for store locations in Raleigh, Durham and Cary, NC.

Glory was awarded her first franchise location in June, 2008 for the Durham store location.  In 2014, she opened her second location in Raleigh and is opening her third store in Cary in 2019.  If you want to know one reason Glory deserves this honor, just look at her stores’ Google Reviews – 84 Google Reviews for Raleigh with an average of 4.9 stars, and 63 reviews for Durham with an average of 4.8.  The comments tell you that Glory hires well, then trains and empowers her employees; she knows it is all about providing an exceptional customer experience.

Glory is also a good neighbor to other franchise owners.  She works with other franchisees  instead of treating them like competition, and moves to problem-solving mode when needed, even when something does not go as planned with a corporate-driven initiative.  The home office respects Glory’s input.  She is open and willing to help other owners during their small business development journey.  Let’s give Glory a well-deserved hand, and read her interview here.

For the fourth consecutive year, ANY LAB TEST NOW®  has earned a spot on Entrepreneur magazine’s Franchise 500® list, one of the world’s most admired business rankings. This year, ANY LAB TEST NOW is ranked #423 on 2019’s distinguished list. Recognized by entrepreneurs and franchisors as a top competitive tool of measurement, the Franchise 500 ranking recognizes ANY LAB TEST NOW for its exceptional performance in areas including financial strength and stability as well as growth rate and brand power.

“We are thrilled to have secured another spot on Entrepreneur magazine’s annual Franchise 500 list,” says Clarissa Bradstock, CEO of ANY LAB TEST NOW. “Our continued recognition is rooted in the quality of our brand and the passion of our hard-working franchisees who provide thousands of standard lab tests to consumers and businesses across the country,” Bradstock adds.

ANY LAB TEST NOW currently has 171 locations nationwide, and the direct access lab testing company is a consistent leader in the retail health care industry. “The ANY LAB TEST NOW business model is a proven winner for entrepreneurs who are seeking a structured system with a solid success rate,” says Terri McCulloch, Vice President of Business Development of ANY LAB TEST NOW. “Our model is attractive to many investors because it requires low start-up costs and offers multiple, diverse sales opportunities, from direct to consumer. to businesses and even government entities.  We have been empowering consumers for years, which is even more important today given healthcare trends and higher out-of-pocket expenses associated with high-deductible insurance.” says McCulloch.

Over its 40-year existence, the Franchise 500 has become both a dominant competitive measure for franchisors and a primary research tool for potential franchisees. ANY LAB TEST NOW’s position on the ranking is a testament to its strength as a franchise opportunity.

When Doug Conquest, along with his wife Paola, arrived in the States from England, the couple was intrigued by the freedom and opportunity that existed in the U.S. medical system. Unlike the nationalized health care system in the U.K., they could see specialists if they wanted and get lab tests done without seeing a doctor first. Still, Doug’s first experience with health care in America wasn’t a good one. He went for a lab test and found himself in a run-down building, where the blood draw was painful, and the $400 bill that arrived later was a total shock.

“It was a terrible experience, and I refused to go back,” Doug said.

Then he discovered Any Lab Test Now — a direct access lab company. He walked into a clean and inviting office, had his blood drawn quickly and painlessly and paid his (reasonably-priced) bill before he left. Doug was so impressed with his experience he went home and started looking through the Any Lab Test Now website. Unsolicited, he sent in a request for more information about the franchise opportunity and immediately got a response; there were locations close to him available.

“It was opportunity-driven,” explains Doug of his road to franchise ownership. Although he had discovered the clinic by chance, the more he learned about the business model of the nation’s fastest-growing medical lab testing franchise, the more drawn he was to own one himself.

The Perfect Franchise Fit

Doug and his wife were looking for a high-growth business opportunity that wouldn’t require them to give up their day jobs as engineers in the Texas oil industry. He manages 65-thousand barrels of oil production a day and works long hours. The Conquests love their jobs but were also interested in building something of their own. They want the best of both worlds and saw owning a franchise as the best way to do that.

“We are busy and were looking for something with a proven track record and support systems in place that make it easier to start and offer a higher probability for success,” said Doug.

The small retail footprint, low start-up costs, minimal staffing and equipment needs, and support from every level of the home office — including marketing and training — make an Any Lab Test Now franchise a great fit for the Conquests’ lifestyle. The transparency and integrity of the business model that Doug had experienced firsthand as a customer cinched the deal.

“That gave us a lot of confidence to move forward,” said Doug. “Of all the franchise models we looked at — and there were quite a few — we didn’t see anything else that would be such a good fit.”

Doug and Paola built their first location, with the support of the home office, in February of 2017, south of Houston in Sugar Land. Then an opportunity to buy a second existing location in the Houston area presented itself four months later, and a third location four months after that. The Conquests are not ones to pass up an opportunity, and the franchise had proven itself to be a good fit. Becoming multi-unit owners was an easy decision.

The Conquests make it a priority to surround themselves with good people. They have hired a general manager, plus medical assistants, to run the day-to-day operations of all three locations and they meet for monthly business meetings to make sure goals and service standards are on track. This team approach allows Doug and Paola to focus on business development and continued growth of the franchise, while keeping their day jobs. Their plan is to ultimately own up to 10 Any Lab Test Now franchise locations.

Improving the American Health Care System

Now that these small-business owners have become accustomed to the access to medical services Americans enjoy, they are doing their part to make sure consumers know they have options when it comes to getting lab tests done, and that their Any Lab Test Now clinics provide the best option. The feedback they get from clients confirms they are offering a best-in-class patient experience for a direct lab testing service (including thousands of clinical, DNA and toxicology tests) that is needed and appreciated.

“I chat with customers and they are so grateful. I was surprised at how good that makes me feel,” Doug admits. “I think we make the American health care system better because we put more control into patients’ hands.”

That feeling of achievement provides an unexpected return on investment — and more opportunity.