This article was originally published on Franchising.com on August 20, 2026.
August 20, 2026 // Franchising.com // VIO Med Spa has signed a franchise agreement to open its first location in the Richmond market.
Planned for 1058 Steam Ave. in Midlothian, the location will mark the brand’s entry into one of Virginia’s fastest-growing metro areas. Richmond’s growing population and rising demand for aesthetic and wellness services make the market a natural next step in VIO’s continued expansion.
“Our evaluation process identified Richmond as one of our top target markets, and this agreement brings together that opportunity with the right operators to capitalize on it,” said Ryan Rao, Chief Development Officer at VIO Med Spa. “The greater Richmond area offers a compelling combination of strong consumer demand, attractive demographics and room to build a meaningful regional presence over time.”
The Richmond project is led by longtime friends and business partners Hari Patel and Meet Patel. Shortly after college, the pair left their corporate careers in finance and banking to pursue multi-unit franchising, opening their first Tropical Smoothie Cafe in 2022 at just 22 years old. Since then, they have grown their portfolio to include seven Tropical Smoothie Cafe locations and a Spitz Mediterranean restaurant. VIO Med Spa marks their first venture into the medical aesthetics industry.
“When Meet and I evaluate a new business opportunity, we look just as closely at the systems and support behind the brand as we do the industry itself,” said Hari Patel. “As we looked to enter the medical aesthetics space, VIO stood out for its strong structure and the tremendous support provided by its team. We look forward to opening our first location and bringing high-quality, physician-guided medical aesthetics services to the Richmond community.”
The Richmond agreement builds on VIO Med Spa’s development momentum with more than 15 new franchise agreements signed in 2026, including a recent agreement in Atlanta, as the brand continues to expand in high-growth markets across the country.
Built on established clinical protocols and medical oversight, VIO Med Spa delivers a range of medical-grade aesthetic and wellness services including injectables, skin rejuvenation, laser treatments, and facials which are designed to prioritize safety, consistency, and results.
Named top in the ranking in Entrepreneur Magazine’s Franchise 500 in 2026, VIO Med Spa has reported performance data for 2025 in its Franchise Disclosure Document. The data reflect performance across operating locations.
Franchise opportunities are described for partners with backgrounds in hospitality, fitness, healthcare-adjacent, QSR, and other service-driven industries.
SOURCE VIO Med Spa®
