Franchise Expansion

Fort Worth – September 17, 2026 -- BODYBAR Pilates completed the largest reformer Pilates class on record in the United States, gathering 100 participants on 100 reformers in Frisco, Texas, and raising $10,000 for the Foundation for Women's Cancer.

Franchise stages record-setting class tied to two milestones

The 50-minute session, held Sunday, September 13, coincided with the 100th anniversary of Pilates and BODYBAR's own 100th studio opening. The event took place during BODYBAR's annual franchise conference at the Omni Frisco Hotel at The Star and included franchise owners, instructors and media from across the brand's network.

Kamille McCollum, BODYBAR's Chief Brand Officer, President and Co-Founder, led the class alongside a team of certified instructors. She said the event exceeded expectations and reflected the growth of both the Pilates discipline and the franchise's community.

Dallas – September 16, 2026 -- Water Wings Swim School opened its first franchised location in Cypress, Texas on September 5, marking the debut of a national expansion push that now spans 54 awarded franchise units across 16 states. The brand, part of youth enrichment platform Unleashed Brands, launched its franchise program in May 2025.

Cypress location kicks off six openings planned for 2026

The Cypress school, owned by multi-unit operators Arun and Kay Singh, is the first of six franchised Water Wings locations slated to open this year. A second location owned by Ali Robaei opens in Frisco, Texas on September 19, followed by additional schools in Arlington, TX; Billings, MT; Brighton, MI; and Marysville, WA before year-end.

Scottsdale, Ariz. – September 16, 2026 -- Sparkle Grooming Co. has raised $6 million in strategic growth financing led by Companion Fund, the venture capital vehicle managed by Digitalis Ventures in partnership with Mars Petcare, as the dog grooming franchise surpasses 600 licenses awarded to multi-unit partners in just 24 months.

Franchise pipeline expands to 600 licenses in two years

The Scottsdale-based company, which created what it calls the Quick-Service Pet Care (QSPC) category, currently operates 10 salons and plans to have at least 20 open by the end of 2026. More than 30 additional salon openings are planned for 2027, with the company continuing to court select multi-unit franchise partners in priority markets.

St. Louis – September 14, 2026 -- Esquire magazine has featured T.A.C.T. franchise owner David Lesaffre in a profile titled "The Trauma Cleaners," documenting his expansion into three franchise territories amid rising demand for professional biohazard and hoarding remediation services.

Franchisee builds three-location operation across two states

Lesaffre, operating alongside Leanne, expanded his T.A.C.T. franchise footprint to include T.A.C.T. 48, T.A.C.T. AZ, and T.A.C.T. Fort Worth, according to the company. The Esquire feature examines how the pair navigated high-stakes scenarios spanning biohazard recovery, vehicle decontamination, and large-scale hoarding management since completing training in St. Louis.

Richardson, Texas – September 14, 2026 -- Trey Thomas-Piazza, the first-ever franchisee of Service Experts, has been named a 2026 Franchisee of the Year by the International Franchise Association (IFA), marking a milestone for the residential HVAC company's year-old franchise system.

Service Experts launched franchising in 2025 after three decades as a corporate-owned business

Thomas-Piazza, who previously served as General Manager of the company's Tulsa market after years in maintenance, installation and operations leadership, became the system's inaugural franchisee when the program launched. His transition gave Service Experts an early test case for refining franchise infrastructure while maintaining continuity for employees, customers and vendor partners in the market he already managed.