From Burnout to Breakthrough: How Ann Edwards Built a Wellness Empire

Ann Edwards transformed years of frustration in traditional healthcare into a visionary wellness brand that’s redefining how we heal—inside and out. At TherAnnu, she bridges clinical care with high-tech spa treatments, offering a powerful alternative to fragmented wellness. Her moment of transformation—claiming ownership of her unique model—marks her place in our Wantrepreneur to Entrepreneur Spotlight series. By empowering both clients and franchisees, Ann is building more than a business—she’s reshaping an industry, one personalized treatment at a time.

Hi, Ann Edwards! Thanks for joining us today. Tell us about your business. Who do you serve, how do you serve them, and what's the impact that your business and work makes?

At TherAnnu, we’re redefining what it means to feel well—physically, emotionally, and functionally. On the spa side, we serve individuals who are seeking more than just relaxation—they’re looking for real results. Whether it’s pain relief, stress recovery, skin renewal, or cellular wellness, we combine physical therapy, massage, skincare, and high-tech treatments like IV nutrient therapy, cryotherapy, and infrared into a seamless, personalized experience. We operate in a clean, non-toxic environment that supports healing in every sense of the word.

On the franchise side, we serve professionals—especially physical therapists, clinicians, and wellness-minded entrepreneurs—who want to own a business that aligns with their values. TherAnnu offers a proven, membership-based model that blends clinical care with spa-level service and cutting-edge wellness. We provide the systems, support, and brand credibility to help our franchisees succeed while making a real impact in their communities.

At its core, TherAnnu is about restoring balance—not just for clients, but for the professionals delivering care. Whether you're walking in the front door for a session or stepping into ownership, we're here to support transformation.

Tell us about the moment you finally felt like you went from wantrepreneur to entrepreneur.

For me, that moment didn’t come with a big investor or a perfect business plan—it came the day I stopped asking for permission to do things differently. I had been a physical therapist for years, following the traditional model, doing great work, but always feeling like something was missing—for both me and my patients. I knew people needed more than what insurance allowed, and I was tired of seeing the gap between what I could offer and what the system allowed me to do.

The real shift happened when I opened my first location and realized: this is mine. Every decision, every detail, every result—it all came back to me. It was terrifying, but also empowering. I wasn’t waiting for someone else to create the model I believed in. I was building it. That’s when I knew I was no longer dreaming about being an entrepreneur—I had become one.

Describe the moment or period in your life/career that motivated you to make the entrepreneurial leap.

The turning point came after years of working in traditional physical therapy settings, where I was doing meaningful work—but within a system that felt limiting. I was constantly running up against time constraints, insurance restrictions, and a model that prioritized productivity over real healing. I knew I could help people on a deeper level if I just had the freedom to treat the whole person, not just the diagnosis code.

At the same time, I saw how exhausted so many healthcare providers were—including myself. That’s when I started envisioning something different—a space where clinical care, restorative wellness, and innovative therapies could live together. A place where both clients and providers could thrive.

That vision—and the frustration of watching it not exist—was what pushed me to finally take the leap. I realized I wasn’t waiting for a better opportunity. I was going to create it.

Describe a tool, service, or software that has been a game-changer for your business. How does it contribute to your success?

One game-changing tool for us has been Boulevard, our client management and booking platform. In a business like TherAnnu—where we blend clinical services with spa and wellness—it’s essential to have a system that can handle memberships, retail, scheduling, and provider-specific services all in one place. Boulevard allows us to streamline the client experience from check-in to checkout, automate key processes, and make data-driven decisions based on real-time performance.

It’s also been a powerful support tool for our franchisees. Having a reliable, centralized system means they can focus on delivering a great client experience rather than getting bogged down in administrative tasks. It’s scalable, intuitive, and aligns perfectly with our high-touch, high-tech model—which ultimately drives retention, revenue, and brand consistency.

We know that success is very often a non-linear path. Tell us about a failure, pivot point, or lesson that changed your course or direction and helped to get you where you are today.

One of the biggest lessons came early on, when I tried to do everything myself—clinician, marketer, manager, bookkeeper—you name it. I believed that being "hands-on" meant being in control, but in reality, I was burning out and bottlenecking the business. It wasn’t sustainable.

The real pivot came when I finally accepted that building something scalable meant letting go of perfection and learning to delegate. I started investing in systems, building a team, and trusting others to carry the vision forward. That shift—from being the provider in the business to the entrepreneur leading the business—changed everything.

It’s also what shaped the TherAnnu franchise model. I knew if I had struggled with that transition, other talented providers would too—so we built a system that supports them from day one, so they don’t have to figure it out the hard way.

What unconventional strategy did you employ that significantly impacted your business?

One unconventional strategy was intentionally blending clinical care with spa and high-tech wellness under one brand. Most people told me to pick a lane—either stay in healthcare or move into spa—but I knew from experience that real results come when we treat the whole person. So instead of following the traditional models, I created one that integrates physical therapy, massage, skincare, and modalities like cryotherapy and IV therapy—all in one membership-based experience.

It was a risk to step outside industry norms, but it’s exactly what sets TherAnnu apart. People are tired of fragmented care. By bringing these worlds together, we’ve created something that’s not only effective—but also scalable, profitable, and deeply aligned with what people actually need.

What’s something you wish you knew sooner that you’d give as advice for aspiring or newer entrepreneurs?

I wish I had realized sooner that success isn’t about doing everything yourself—it’s about surrounding yourself with the right people and putting them in the right roles. For a long time, I held on too tightly, thinking that being hands-on was the same as being in control. But that only limited the growth of the business—and me as a leader.

The real momentum came when I started trusting others, delegating responsibilities, and building a team that believed in the vision as much as I did. You can’t scale alone. Having the right people in the right seats changes everything.

My advice: Invest in your team early. Let people shine in their strengths, and free yourself to focus on what only you can do.

Want to dive deeper into Ann Edwards work? Check out the links below!

• Find TherAnnu Franchising on Facebook
• Follow TherAnnu Franchising on Instagram: @therannu.franchising