Ep 62: From Shutdown to a National Franchise with Amber Briggle
Want the video version of this episode? Check it out on YouTube.
What does it really take to go from shutdown to a thriving national franchise?
In this episode, Shauna Lynn sits down with Amber Briggle, the accidental CEO behind Soma Massage Therapy and now the founder of a rapidly growing franchise model that’s shaking up the wellness industry. After losing nearly everything during the COVID-19 shutdown, Amber didn’t just rebuild - she reinvented, expanding her once home-based practice into a million-dollar, multi-location brand poised for national growth.
You’ll hear how she leads with compassion, redefines industry norms (hint: no tipping required), and builds wealth by putting people first. This episode is packed with real talk about scaling through crisis, leading a mission-driven team, and turning hard-won lessons into a replicable, sustainable business model.
If you’ve ever wondered how to build something bigger from the ashes - or how to franchise a business the right way - this one’s for you.
Subscribe to The Real Women Real Business Podcast on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast platform to join Shauna Lynn every week for empowering discussions and practical advice on navigating the entrepreneurial journey with health and wellness in mind.
Timestamps:
(00:01) – Meet Amber Briggle and how a massage school choice changed her life
(05:12) – From spare bedroom to booked solid: her first big business pivot
(14:45) – Rebuilding after COVID: losing staff, losing space, but not giving up
(24:30) – Why she ditched tipping and redefined massage culture
(38:10) – Turning chaos into a franchise model with purpose and values
Resources:
Set up a free Introductory Business Planning Session with Shauna Lynn: AboutShaunaLynn.com/plan
Learn more about the show: AboutShaunaLynn.com/podcast
Soma Massage Therapy:
Learn More About Soma Massage Therapy: https://mysomamassage.com/
Follow Soma Massage Therapy on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/somadenton
Follow Soma Massage Therapy on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mysomamassage/
Follow Soma Massage Therapy on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCWEx4h8Hns6PW8vVTjMwswg
About Amber:
Amber Briggle is the CEO of B-Well Enterprises, and the founder and owner of Soma Massage Therapy: a multi-award-winning business and the nation's most exciting new franchise opportunity! Amber became a massage therapist in 2004 and began Soma Massage Therapy in 2011. Through tenacity and determination she has literally built (and rebuilt, thanks to the pandemic!) a thriving massage therapy business and a promising new franchise brand.
Amber graduated massage school in 2004, moved around the world, and finally settled in the Dallas area in 2009. Within a short time, she had more massage clients than her hands could handle in a day, and she was regularly booked for weeks, if not months, in advance. For a while, Amber would refer those clients to other therapists in the area who had more availability in their schedules, but it wasn’t long before she realized that business would be more reliable and stable by referring those clients to another therapist “in house” instead. And an idea, and eventually a business, was born.