Founded over 23 years ago, the Massage Envy brand quickly became one of the most trusted names in wellness and has helped shape the massage therapy industry into what it is today.
A core component of the Massage Envy brand’s continued success lies in the people behind each locally owned franchise. The owners, therapists, and team members who interact with clients every day are the true backbone of the brand. What unites them all? A genuine passion for people and a deep commitment to improving the lives of others.
That same passion has been at the heart of Massage Envy since its founding in March 2002, when Shawn Haycock, co-founder and current Executive Director of Massage and Industry Relations for Massage Envy, created the brand not only to serve clients but also to empower and support fellow massage therapists.
“I knew massage therapists were looking for work, and I knew there was nowhere to go. It was still high end-resorts, chiropractors, or most people were just private practice and self-employed,” Shawn shared. “So I said, ‘we need to open our own place because there’s a lot of massage therapists out there who need a place to work, and we need to figure out how to do it so it’s affordable and people can get massages on a regular basis, not just when they are out on vacations or holiday.”
Soon after the launch of the first location, the brand grew rapidly and became an official franchise company in January of 2003.
“We opened the second location in July of 2002, then two more fairly soon after, before Christmas of 2002,” stated Haycock. “By 2005 there were roughly 65 franchised locations.”
Today, even with Massage Envy’s national reach and brand recognition, it remains a collective of locally owned small businesses driven by a shared purpose. Each franchisee is committed to making a difference in their community—prioritizing the wellbeing of both their clients and the passionate service providers who make it all possible.
“Our team really cares about one another and our clients. We make sure everyone who comes through our doors is treated like family. It starts with love from our owner and manager and continues on down the line,” expressed Adam S., Lead Massage Therapist at the Massage Envy Sea Girt franchised location.
In addition to the support and camaraderie, many massage therapists report their franchised location also offers perks such as:
- Good earnings potential
- Flexible schedules for a better life/work balance
- 401K match
- Employer-paid healthcare including medical, dental, and vision plans
- Paid time off
- Free services and product discounts
- Employee referral programs
- Sign-on bonuses and more
Massage therapists at franchised locations also have access to in-depth training from industry leaders and more than 20 free continuing education courses each year. A variety of courses are offered, including ones that the Massage Envy brand has helped develop on subjects such as body mechanics and injury prevention. Depending on services available at each franchised location, additional courses that may be available include topics such as prenatal massage, oncology massage, Saltability, Thermabliss, hot stone, and more.
Kat O., a Licensed Massage Therapist for more than 10 years at the Massage Envy franchised location in Fairlawn, Ohio, shared: “In the first six months with Massage Envy, I learned more than the year and a half at the other five spas that I had been at, and I had people that were willing to teach me.”
Along with locally offered benefits and continuing education, massage therapists at franchised locations have access to additional national benefits that include:
- An awards program recognizing Therapist of the Year
- Front desk teams to help keep schedules full and treatment rooms ready
- All supplies provided, including exclusive massage mediums formulated
with therapists and clients in mind - An Employee Assistance Program
- A Self-Care Program and more
Peter P., a Licensed Massage Therapist with more than 30 years of experience, has worked over 14 years at the Massage Envy Downtown/SODO franchised location in Orlando, Florida, and said: “It’s so easy to come to work, have a full schedule, not have to worry about getting online and finding appointments, doing your own marketing, doing your own laundry, providing your own products. I come to work every day in an environment that I enjoy, with people that I enjoy, with clients that I look forward to seeing, and I go home at the end of that, and it’s done.”
Whether you’re a recent graduate or an experienced professional, a career at a Massage Envy franchised location can help you grow your career and provide you with the support you need to focus on doing more of what you love.
“My personal goal when we started the company was to open a place that massage therapists and clients could call home,” Shawn Haycock expresses. “I always wanted to have a place where massage therapists could go during whatever phase of their career they’re in.”
To learn more about joining the team at a Massage Envy franchise location and to view current openings, visit MassageEnvy.com/Careers.
Neither ME SPE Franchising, LLC (“MEF”) nor any of its affiliates employs any positions within a franchised location, and each individual franchised location is not acting as an agent for MEF or any of its affiliates. Each Massage Envy location is independently owned and operated by a franchisee, and the franchisee is the sole employer for all positions at the franchised location. All services are performed by franchised locations. Hiring criteria, benefits, compensation, and employee experience are set by each franchisee and vary by location. ©2025 ME SPE Franchising, LLC
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