Dr. Eric Jenkins spends his nights caring for critically ill patients and his days overseeing a growing franchise portfolio. The St. Louis area physician works overnight shifts in the intensive care unit at St. Luke’s Hospital in Chesterfield, Missouri, while also managing eight MassageLuXe spa locations across the United States. His schedule often begins at the end of a 12 hour hospital shift, followed by time at the gym, family responsibilities, and several hours devoted to overseeing his businesses.
Jenkins did not originally plan to become a franchise owner. Although he built a career in medicine, he also developed an early interest in business. As a child, he spent hours playing the Rich Dad Cashflow board game with his brother, an experience that sparked curiosity about financial independence and entrepreneurship. “I always wanted to have a backup plan for my career,” Jenkins said, explaining that diversifying his professional path felt like a practical long term strategy.
His introduction to the spa industry came after he sought treatment for a back injury at a MassageLuXe location. Impressed by the brand’s membership based business model, Jenkins began exploring the idea of ownership. In 2014 he opened his first location in Fort Myers, Florida. An early partnership did not work out as planned, forcing him to take a more active role in running the business. Within months he turned the struggling spa around and began expanding into additional locations.
Today Jenkins owns seven MassageLuXe spas in Florida and another in Pennsylvania. Managing locations across several states requires a structured leadership approach. He relies on a director of operations and regional managers to oversee daily activity while he focuses on strategy, performance monitoring, and long term growth. The system allows him to operate a multi-unit franchise portfolio while continuing his work as a physician.
Jenkins encourages other entrepreneurs to think beyond geographic limitations when evaluating franchise opportunities. “If the best location is elsewhere, find a way to make it work,” he said. “If you limit yourself to your own geography, you won’t be a successful entrepreneur.” As he continues to improve underperforming locations and reduce debt across his portfolio, Jenkins represents a growing group of professionals who see franchising as a pathway to both financial stability and entrepreneurial freedom.
