Chiropractic, Fitness, Gyms & Franchises Unite: Thrive Clinic Brings Integrated Care Inside LA Fitness Locations

By Michael Dorausch, D.C.

I’m at the 2026 Parker Seminars in Las Vegas, walking the expo hall like I do every year, always on the lookout for fresh ideas that can help fellow chiropractors grow their practices and create better lifestyles. This year, one booth that caught my eye was Thrive Clinic Franchise. They’re placing full-service chiropractic + physical therapy + performance clinics directly inside LA Fitness gyms across the country.

I stopped by, chatted with the team, and had the chance to meet the co-founder and majority owner himself – Dr. Michael Ramar, DC. A fellow chiropractor and sports physician, Dr. Ramar built the original Thrive Clinic model (the flagship is operating right now in Shelby Township, Michigan, at the LA Fitness on 26 Mile Road). He’s passionate about merging clinical chiropractic excellence with the fitness world, and he’s making franchising accessible for other DCs who want to scale without the traditional headaches of building a standalone practice from scratch.

Here’s what I learned from the booth, the website, and my conversation with Dr. Ramar.

The Thrive Clinic Model: Chiropractic Meets Fitness in a Gym Setting

This isn’t your typical brick-and-mortar clinic. Thrive Clinic operates in a lean, shared-space footprint inside existing LA Fitness locations. You get:

• Immediate access to thousands of active, health-conscious gym members as a built-in patient base.
• Integrated services: evidence-based chiropractic adjustments, physical therapy, and performance medicine all under one roof.
• A focus on helping people “move better, recover faster, and live stronger” with tech-forward, data-driven systems.

The flagship location in Shelby Township demonstrates how the model operates inside an LA Fitness setting. As Dr. Ramar explained, the model is designed for clinical credibility and business efficiency. This is perfect for chiropractors who love patient care but want the scalability of a franchise system.

Franchise Costs: Surprisingly Attainable for Chiropractors

According to the site, the numbers are straightforward and much lower than opening a traditional clinic:

• Franchise Fee: $30,000
• Total Initial Investment: $75,500 – $99,800 (includes build-out, equipment, training, and initial inventory)
• Ongoing Royalties: 7% of gross sales + 2% marketing fund contribution
• No massive build-out, no street-front rent battles, and lower overhead thanks to the LA Fitness partnership.

Dr. Ramar emphasized that the shared-space model is designed with a lean cost structure compared to many traditional standalone clinic models.

Answers to the Questions a DC May Want to Know

Because I’m a chiropractor evaluating opportunities for myself and for the Planet Chiropractic audience, I asked Dr. Ramar the three key questions I always recommend when looking at any franchise:

Q: Can you share real revenue, patient volume, and profit numbers from the flagship?

A: His answer was exactly what I expected from a legitimate franchisor: “Franchise laws are very strict on this topic.” He can’t provide specific earnings claims outside the Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD). Fair enough – that’s the law, and it protects everyone. Once you’re in the qualification process and receive the FDD, you’ll get the verified Item 19 data.

Q: As a licensed DC, can I stay hands-on adjusting patients, or go more hands-off and hire associates?

A: Yes, you have full flexibility. Dr. Ramar confirmed that chiropractor owners can be as involved clinically as they want (adjusting patients themselves) or operate more as CEO/owner and hire associate DCs and PTs to run the day-to-day. The model supports both lifestyles, which is huge for those of us who want to adjust, teach, or eventually build a multi-unit operation.

Q: How do territories work and what locations are still available?

A: Existing franchisees get first right of refusal on additional LA Fitness locations in their markets. Territories are reviewed and protected during the application and discovery process. The team isn’t publishing a public map, but they’re actively expanding, and Dr. Ramar said qualified DCs can get details on available clubs right away.

Who This Opportunity Is Perfect For

This model is ideal if you’re a licensed DC who:

• Loves working with active, fitness-oriented patients (the LA Fitness crowd is already motivated and compliant).
• Wants lower overhead and built-in traffic instead of fighting insurance denials and marketing alone.
• Is ready to own a practice but values systems, training, and scalability over starting from zero.
• Wants the option to stay clinical or build a true business with associates.

It’s less ideal if you want complete clinical and operational autonomy (franchise standards apply), but for many mid-career DCs tired of the solo-practice grind, this could be a great model for you.

Thoughts from Parker Seminars 2026

I’m always excited when I see chiropractors like Dr. Michael Ramar taking innovative leaps – combining our profession with the massive fitness boom and making ownership more accessible than ever. Thrive Clinic isn’t just another franchise; it’s a smart bridge between chiropractic care and the gyms where people are already investing in their health.

Since the conference is over today, head to thriveclinicfranchise.com to request a brochure, and start the conversation if you’re interested. Tell them you heard about it from Planet Chiropractic.

I’m here to help introduce ideas that move our profession forward.

Stay thriving,
Dr. Michael Dorausch, D.C.
PlanetChiropractic.com