Kenny Peterson and Business Partner Team Up With ANY LAB TEST NOW®

ANY LAB TEST NOW®, is proud to announce the newest addition to their family of franchisees.  Retired NFL player and successful entrepreneur with strong ties to the region, Kenny Peterson and his business partner, Nicole Flores, have been awarded three territories in Northeast Ohio. Kenny and Nicole are planning to open the first of three ANY LAB TEST NOW locations later this year in their hometown of Canton, Ohio.

“We are excited to start this new journey with ANY LAB TEST NOW,” explains Peterson. “Nicole and I both have years of experience in the healthcare industry and franchising, and we are looking forward to helping our neighbors take control of their health by providing them direct access to affordable lab testing.”

The ANY LAB TEST NOW concept dates back nearly 30 years. The company was the first to offer consumers walk-in access to lab tests at its flagship location in Atlanta. Today, there are more than 190 locations across the nation and each one, including the future locations in Northeast Ohio, provides thousands of tests without an appointment.

“Our future ANY LAB TEST NOW franchises will fill a huge void in this part of the state,” says Flores, a veteran business leader with a master’s degree in healthcare finance. “Our customers will be able to stop by at their convenience and learn about affordable lab testing. No matter if it is a test to help someone manage a chronic condition like diabetes or a drug test needed for a job applicant at a local business, every test comes with a transparent price, so there are no surprise bills at the end of the process.”

Peterson and Flores are planning to open their first ANY LAB TEST NOW by early November 2021. The second and third locations will follow with grand openings in the Akron area next year.

“We are ecstatic to have Kenny and Nicole join our team, and we look forward to helping them expand their business portfolio in Northeast Ohio,” says Terri McCulloch, Vice President of Business Development of ANY LAB TEST NOW. “The combination of their entrepreneurial track record and ANY LAB TEST NOW’s proven business model is a perfect match.”

Ranked #1 in Laboratory Services, ANY LAB TEST NOW Is Recognized By Entrepreneur With Its 2021 Best Of the Best Franchises Award.

Any Lab Test Now is honored to be named to Entrepreneur’s 2021 Best Of The Best Franchises award.  To receive this prestigious recognition, the franchise must be listed on Entrepreneur’s Franchise 500 list and be first in their industry category.

Since 2007, Any Lab Test Now has partnered with major, high-quality laboratories throughout the U.S. to provide affordable and comprehensive lab testing services directly to the public. These lab testing services are offered in a diverse variety of categories that most commonly include clinical, DNA, and drug & alcohol testing. With over 190+ locations, Any Lab Test Now is the largest lab testing franchise in the U.S. and operates as a retail storefront, offering consumers an empowering value proposition — the ability to take control of their health and wellness choices.

“This is a proud moment for our entire team and family of franchisees to be ranked #1 in our industry category, Laboratory Services,” says Clarissa Bradstock, CEO of Any Lab Test Now. “Our franchisees continue to empower and support local communities nationwide with direct access to lab services and maintained our role as an essential business throughout 2020.  This award validates the strength of our business model as a successful business opportunity in the retail healthcare field.”

Any Lab Test Now initially ranked in the highly competitive Franchise 500 list this year, which evaluated franchises on more than 150 data points in the areas of costs and fees, size and growth, franchisee support, brand strength, and financial strength and stability.

Terri McCulloch, VP of Business Development, shares “We find it exhilarating to be at the center of healthcare consumerism, providing direct access to lab testing services where we offer significant value to local communities, individual consumers, and businesses. This esteemed award is a very special recognition and shines a light on the challenging work our franchisees committed themselves to in making lab testing easily accessible throughout the pandemic. We’re excited to share this accomplishment with our franchisees who are a much-needed health care resource to their local consumer base.”

The Best of the Best 2021 award means Any Lab Test Now is honored with being #1 in their industry category and further validates their successful direct-to-consumer lab testing business model.

Any Lab Test Now is honored to be named to Entrepreneur’s 2019 Best of the Best Franchises under the Laboratory Services category.

What does “best” mean to our brand?  Our home office personnel strive day in and day out to support franchise owners.  Support ranges from quickly responding to questions; sales and marketing assistance; negotiating lab prices; to a robust Medical Assistant Brand Certification program and training portal.

It means living our Core Values.  We sometimes have to turn away vendors, clients and even prospective franchisees because they just don’t quite meet our core beliefs and expectations.  All of us must be our best day in and day out, to amplify our brand experience.  We take great care of customers who hate needles, are dealing with an emotional personal or medical issue, or are protecting their teen by testing them for drugs or nicotine.

Being named “Best” is a true honor, and encourages us to continue to do what we do every day.

This is the first year ANY LAB TEST NOW® participated in the hugely popular SXSW event in Austin, TX.  We shared our brand experience at both the Wellness Expo and the Trade Show, which gave us many opportunities to talk to our customers, and those who were unfamiliar with our brand.

Here are a few things we learned, reconfirmed, and allowed us to truly re-engage with our purpose:

People care about being their best through “well care” and “self-care.”

There was yoga, meditation in the Peace Box,  lettuce-growing subscription services and Kombucha.   Prevention without medications is growing among both young and old.  Emphasis on nutrition is also key.

People want to play a part in their overall healthcare strategy, and empowered to work alongside their physicians.

The internet has opened up a world of knowledge (some good, some bad).  Not all doctors we met approved of the direct access lab testing model because they felt it left too much room for unqualified interpretation.  Yet, many physicians came by and said “thank you” for being their when their patients were afraid of lab test costs, which could lead to non-compliant patients.

People want to know what they are going to pay at the time of service.

Many of those visiting our booth expressed receiving an unexpected lab testing bill, and felt a bit “stung.”  They liked our transparent prices, and knowing they could still use their HSA or FSA cards was a nice surprise.

People are starting to question medical and/or recreational marijuana, and its impact on employer drug testing. 

This is  definitely a trending topic.  Our friends at Quest Diagnostics recently told us that less than 1% of drug tests they have performed in the past year do not include THC.  Folks are still being tested.

Parents are concerned with teen drug use and vaping, and won’t hesitate to randomly test.

We had multiple parents come talk to us, and they are concerned with their teen’s health and safety.  One set of parents asked us about hosting information sessions on these issues to help them stay up-to-date.  This is a great idea – we love when we learn from our customers.

There is confusion about lab tests performed using online collection kits versus walking into Any Lab Test Now. 

These are two completely different business models and too much to write about here.  In fact, it sounds like another blog!   One quick fact – if you want your test results fast, just walk in and get your specimen collected at one of our stores.  You’ll probably have your test results back before you receive that kit.

Why isn’t Any Lab Test Now in California, New York, New Jersey, etc.? 

We met many, many people we are not yet able to serve.  Each state regulates its direct access lab testing laws, which determines whether or not we are able to serve those communities.  We appreciate these visitors’ interest.

We enjoyed the opportunity, and thanks to those that came and visited our booth, learned and shared.  Next event – American Association of Naturopathic Physicians!

There is always something to talk about and share within the communities served by ANY LAB TEST NOW®.   This is why corporate-driven public relations are a proactive part of our  marketing support program.

When health-related issues arise, it is important to communicate how our retail lab testing services may be a part of a solution.  In turn, it fulfills our purpose of helping people know there  are potential answers that they have access to on their own.  Consumer empowerment is many times key to  financial, emotional and physical health; therefore, sharing our expertise is an important part of that process

Recent news stories include:

• Concerns with teen vaping, and the option for parents to test for nicotine;
• The measles outbreak in the Pacific Northwest, and how individuals can test their immunity;
• Baby Boomers and the importance of Hepatitis C testing; and
• Lyme disease testing.

And, our marketing team doesn’t just leave you to wing the interview.  We are connected to former journalists within our PR agency that not only pitch the stories to local news stations, they also coach you on talk points, branding and how to engage on camera.

Are your ready for your appearance?  Start the franchise process with us!

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.

Swooshing down the slopes in the winter, zip-lining through the Costa Rican rainforest in the summer or catching air off the back of a boat on a weekend lake getaway, the Toney family packs in as many family adventures as they can. As the owners of six, soon-to-be seven, Any Lab Test Now franchise locations in Austin and Dallas, Texas, Sean and Sarah Toney are reaping the rewards of a successful medical lab testing business that all started with… a blind date.

“We knew ‘of’ each other because we passed each other in the hallways of hospitals and doctors’ offices going after the same accounts,” recalled Sarah of their initial meeting eighteen years ago. “So, I guess it wasn’t completely blind.”

At the time, both Austin-area natives worked in pharmaceutical sales for two competing companies when they were set up on a date by co-workers. It didn’t take long for the competitors to become a couple. Then, eight years and four kids later, to become co-owners and one of the first franchisees at Any Lab Test Now, one of the country’s fastest-growing direct access lab testing companies.

“The main reason we bought a franchise was to create more flexibility and more family time. That was big on my heart,” said Sean, who has enjoyed coaching his three sons’ sports teams for the last 14 years and who grew up with entrepreneurial parents himself.

Sarah echoes that sentiment, “It is one of the best things I could have asked for. It is such a gift to be home with my kids after school instead of constantly traveling. Owning and running our own business is much more satisfying and rewarding to me than anything I ever did in pharma.”

An Insider’s Advantage

However, the Toneys’ background in health care is ultimately what drew them to Any Lab Test Now. With more than 15 years in the health care industry and sales, including countless hours in doctors’ offices and having the same conversations over and over with nurses, they had a unique perspective. Namely, as insiders, they knew the health care system was broken.

THEY KNEW… people were waiting for hours on end to see doctors and to get an order for a lab test.

THEY KNEW… people were paying outrageous amounts for lab tests and often, never even got to see the results.

THEY KNEW… people weren’t getting their lab tests done because of the high cost.

THEY KNEW… patients were tangled up in a bureaucracy and had no control over their health.

“There was a gap in the system and patients were falling through that gap. When it becomes all about profit, there are problems. At Any Lab Test Now, we saw solutions,” said Sarah.

Sean made a trip to the company headquarters in Atlanta for “Discovery Day” to learn more about what was involved in becoming a franchisee. He discovered a business model which included a small retail footprint, low overhead, a small employee base, and turnkey support from the home office. Maybe most appealing to them, it was an emerging business opportunity in the health care field. It took insurance out of the equation, in favor of up-front payment, and helped patients take back control of their health.

Sean came home to Sarah and declared, “We’re going to open this business. It’s a great concept. I love it!”

Making It Happen

Although they felt in their gut it was a great opportunity, they did their due diligence and sought feedback from friends in the health care field. Doctors, nurses, and office managers all gave them great encouragement, “Yes, it’s a need. Go for it!”

“We knew it was going to disrupt the industry,” explained Sarah. “And that was a good thing because it was going to help patients and make the system better.”

They pulled the trigger and bought the rights for the Austin market — three stores in three years.

“We drained our life savings, that was the scariest part. But we were confident because we were familiar with the industry. We loved pioneering this idea,” said Sarah.

Initially, Sean and Sarah both kept their careers. By the second year, Sarah left pharma to dedicate her full attention to the business and by the third year, Sean followed suit.

“We saw the success grow the more we were there as owners. After seeing success the first two years, I wasn’t as scared. I knew we could grow to new markets,” said Sarah.

A fourth store in Austin and two (soon-to-be-three) more in Dallas followed.

High Growth Vision

One way Any Lab Test Now offers built-in high growth opportunities is with its diversity of services. While health care lab tests represent about 65 percent of those offered, there are also drug screenings for employers and DNA testing for the courts, which makes the business a bit recession-proof. The Toneys relied on that and added their personal vision for continued growth.

“Early on, we realized we were spending too much time on things that were hindering our growth. We knew if we wanted to be growth-oriented, we had to offer growth opportunities, so key employees would stay with our company. Today we employ a team of 18 people and more than half have been with us for more than five years,” boasted Sarah.

By offering full benefits and paying slightly above the industry standard, the Toneys have assembled a team of experienced and qualified people to run their locations day-to-day. Sean focuses on operations, IT, and the financials for the group. Sarah brings her health care knowledge to sales, marketing, and human resources.

“It was an easy transition for me because we still get to see our doctor friends and interact with them on a daily basis. They are a huge part of our revenue and referrals; and important for our growth,” said Sarah.

From their days in pharma, Sarah and Sean always knew health care was a good fit for them. Their passion for the patient experience has never wavered. Today, instead of calling on doctors and nurses to sell drugs, Sarah calls on them to sell a service. A service that makes their and their patients’ lives easier; a service that offers the Toneys’ financial success, flexibility and personal fulfillment.

Request more information on this lab testing franchise.

Clarissa Bradstock, CEO at Any Lab Test Now, a lab testing franchise that provides customers access to thousands of lab tests without having to go to their doctor first joins Enterprise Radio.

Listen to host Eric Dye & guest Clarissa Bradstock discuss the following:

• * What are the key factors driving customers to Any Lab Test Now locations around the country?
• * How is Any Lab Test Now focused on franchisee growth?
• * What are some of the key indicators of franchisee success?
• * How are customers staying engaged with the Any Lab Test Now brand?
• * What advice do you give emerging brand franchisor executives?

CLICK HERE to access the discussion

Janice Blasinsky is not one to sit around and wait for things to happen. Not in health. Not in business. Not in life. If you caught a glimpse of the 59-year-old Title Boxing at 5:30 a.m. with her daughter/ business partner, you would start to get an idea of her zeal for taking action and making things happen.

Sitting in a doctor’s office in Cleveland, Ohio, back in 2008, Blasinsky recalls asking her doctor for a simple A1c sugar test. She has a family history of diabetes and while she wasn’t experiencing symptoms she wanted to check it out. Her doctor refused to order the lab test, stating her insurance wouldn’t pay for it. For her, that was a problem.

“I was so annoyed. I really didn’t like the fact I couldn’t make my own decisions about monitoring my health,” recalled Blasinsky.

As it happens, she was looking for new business opportunities around that time to add to her existing business – a medical evaluation and claims company. She remembers thumbing through a business magazine and saw a write up on Any Lab Test Now – a company that provides direct access clinical lab testing to consumers without a doctor’s order or insurance hassles; a company that allows people to take control of their own health.

“When I saw this franchise, I knew it was for me. The more I learned, the more I knew this would be a great fit for me and my daughter. With the way health care was moving, we loved the idea that anybody could walk in at any time and get a lab test of THEIR choice,” said Blasinsky.

Any Lab Test Now’s ranking by Inc 5000 as one of the nation’s fastest growing franchises, coupled with its low overhead, small retail footprint, and affordable initial investment sealed the deal. By 2009, Blasinsky and her daughter Angela Yaniga had signed on the dotted line to become an Any Lab Test Now franchisee. Yaniga began working for her mother when she was just 15 years old, transcribing and dictating doctor’s orders, and they have been a team ever since. Now they are business partners.

Our Happy Place

While Blasinsky works in the back office and takes care of accounting, Yaniga is out front handling sales and operations. Some mothers and daughters would have trouble working so closely but this duo has been in business together for 24 years now and have worked out all the kinks.

“When she was younger, I would sometimes have to say, ‘I’m not your mother today, we are co-workers.’ Now I look forward to coming in and seeing my daughter. We have a level of respect and trust with each other,” explained Blasinsky.

“It’s fantastic to sit next to your mother and work. We are very close, best friends. But it takes time,” adds Yaniga.

Both women agree that buying an Any Lab Test Now franchise has brought unexpected blessings to their lives. While they set out to provide lab testing choices with a high level of customer service in an inviting facility, they were pleasantly surprised by how grateful their clients were for their services.

There was the long-suffering patient who came in to get a lab test for Lyme’s disease after her doctor repeatedly refused to order it. She got a positive test result which she took back to her doctor to finally receive a diagnosis, treatment, and relief. She was ecstatic to get a good quality of life back!

“I get hugged daily. There is so much gratitude here. It’s our happy place,” shared Blasinsky. Every day we get an opportunity to help people change their lives and make a difference in our community.”

Sadly, Ohio, especially their community, is in the grip of not only an opioid epidemic, but it is also a hotbed for methamphetamine labs. Hundreds of children in the Cleveland-area suffer from the effects of methamphetamine exposure. Blasinsky and Yaniga’s franchise location works with county agencies and child and family services to offer exposure testing for children that no other lab offers, not even hospitals. They also offer confidential lab testing for parents who have a child who may be in drug trouble. They can get quick results that will help them get their kids on the right track before they end up with irreversible damage, physically, mentally, and legally. It is not over-stating it to say the work Blasinsky and Yaniga do at their Any Lab Test Now location is life-changing and life-saving.

“We offer everyone who walks in the door compassion and we treat them with respect. There is so much good work we are doing here. We give them answers, we save them money. It’s wonderful,” said Yaniga.

A Family Legacy

Nothing binds a family together quite like shared blood, sweat and tears that results in success. Blasinsky and Yaniga have achieved that with their Any Lab Test Now franchise (and their early morning boxing sessions). Their passion for their business and their hard work has been rewarded with personal, professional and financial success. They believe the fast-changing health care landscape will continue to make Any Lab Test Now a high growth business, as health insurance becomes more costly and burdensome, and consumers seek out opportunities to take control of their own health. Yaniga already has an eye to the future and hopes the business can be passed down through the generations and that her children, ages 9 and 6, will one day carry on the legacy of Any Lab Test Now as a community-oriented family business.

Any Lab Test Now Cleveland Ohio Storefront