What Urban Float does

Urban Float is a privately held operator of multi-modality wellness centers anchored on sensory-deprivation float therapy. The company runs six Pacific Northwest locations across Seattle, Tacoma (University Place), and Vancouver, Washington, with additional franchise or licensed-operator presence in Ohio, Texas, and Delaware. Its service catalog pairs the core 60-minute float session in Epsom-salt pods with six complementary modalities: full-spectrum infrared sauna with chromotherapy and So Sound vibrational audio, dual-wavelength (640 nm and 840 nm) red light LED therapy, FDA-approved BEMER pulsed electromagnetic field therapy, NormaTec pneumatic compression, halotherapy via halogenerator, and Roxiva light-and-sound entrainment.

The core technology centers on float pods filled with roughly 200 gallons of purified water and over 1,200 pounds of medical-grade Epsom salt heated to skin temperature (93.5°F), cycled through a multi-stage filtration system with industrial filters, UV sterilization, and hydrogen peroxide that the company reports removes 99.99% of contaminants. Each location also houses privacy-built infrared cabins, LED red light panels calibrated to specified nanometer frequencies, and branded PEMF, compression, salt, and audiovisual devices. Online booking and gift certificate sales are handled through the Zenoti webstore platform, with no proprietary software layer disclosed.

Urban Float generates revenue through a layered direct-to-consumer pricing structure: per-session float fees, prepaid multi-session packages (such as the $99 three-pack and $179 first-timer offering), monthly memberships providing recurring billing, gift certificate sales across holiday and seasonal windows, and ancillary fees for the six add-on modalities. Customer segments are predominantly individual consumers, including health-conscious adults seeking pain and stress relief, mental health and anxiety/PTSD sufferers, athletes and fitness enthusiasts, working professionals managing burnout, respiratory health seekers using halotherapy, and couples and pregnant women using floating for wellness. Distribution is entirely retail-physical across operated storefronts, supplemented by referral and gift certificate driven word-of-mouth acquisition. The company was co-founded by CEO Scott Swerland and COO Joe Beaudry and gained national visibility through a March 2019 pitch on ABC's Shark Tank; no completed Shark Tank deal or external institutional funding is documented in the available sources.

Name

Urban Float

Legal name

Urban Float

Website

https://urbanfloat.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2013

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Urban Float operates a multi-location Pacific Northwest wellness center chain offering sensory-deprivation float therapy alongside infrared sauna, red light therapy, halotherapy, BEMER PEMF, compression, and Roxiva services, serving health-conscious adults, athletes, and stress-relief consumers across Washington State and licensed-operator markets.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Float Therapy and Wellness Spa Services

NAICS

Amusement Parks and Arcades (7131)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro primary industry

Float Therapy (Sensory Deprivation Tanks) (HSADAKAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Salt Therapy (Halotherapy) (HSADAKAJ), Hydrotherapy & Thermal Spa Services (Sauna/Steam/Hot Tubs) (HSALAFAF), Spa & Massage Services (Day Spas, Massage Studios, Treatment Packages) (THAJAHAC)

Keywords

• Float therapy services
• Infrared sauna sessions
• Red light therapy
• Sensory deprivation pods
• Wellness spa memberships

Headquarters

HQ city

Vancouver

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Float Therapy Sessions: Core revenue from 60-minute float therapy sessions in sensory deprivation pods. Clients pay per session or purchase multi-session packages. Sessions include private float suite with shower facilities.
2. Monthly Memberships: Affordable monthly membership programs encouraging consistent self-care and regular visits. Membership model provides recurring revenue and customer retention.
3. Multi-Session Packages: Prepaid packages including Welcome Back 3-Pack ($99), 2-float package ($79), and first-timer packages (3 floats for $179). Packages provide upfront revenue and incentivize repeat visits.
4. Additional Wellness Services: Revenue from complementary services including infrared sauna, red light therapy, halotherapy, BEMER therapy, compression therapy, and Roxiva light/sound therapy sessions.
5. Gift Certificates and Cards: Digital and physical gift certificates sold for float sessions and packages, providing revenue uplift especially during holiday periods.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Urban Float operates multi-modality wellness centers offering sensory deprivation float therapy in Epsom salt pods as the core service, supplemented by infrared sauna, red light therapy, halotherapy, BEMER PEMF therapy, NormaTec compression therapy, and Roxiva light and sound therapy. Customers purchase individual sessions, multi-session packages, or recurring monthly memberships at physical retail locations.

Product overview

Urban Float is a multi-modality wellness center offering a core float therapy service (sensory deprivation in Epsom salt tanks) complemented by six additional therapeutic modules: infrared sauna therapy with chromotherapy and So Sound audio, red light therapy using dual-wavelength LED, halotherapy via halogenerator, BEMER pulsed electromagnetic field therapy, NormaTec compression therapy, and Roxiva light and sound therapy. Clients can select individual services or combine multiple therapies for comprehensive wellness sessions at their University Place, WA location.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Float Therapy
• Infrared Sauna
• Red Light Therapy
• Halotherapy (Salt Therapy)
• BEMER PEMF Therapy
• Compression Therapy
• Roxiva Light and Sound Therapy
• Monthly Membership

Quantifiable outcome

• Float tanks clinically shown to reduce pain and improve quality of sleep
• +5 more outcomes

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• True REST Float Spa: Largest US float spa chain operating multi-location sensory-deprivation centers with float pods and complementary wellness services; directly comparable to Urban Float in modality mix, retail format, and member-based pricing model.
• Floathouse: Multi-location urban float spa offering 60-minute float sessions in Epsom salt pods alongside infrared sauna and other recovery modalities; competes head-to-head with Urban Float in shared Pacific-style wellness center markets.
• Cloud 9 Float Spa: Float therapy center chain offering sensory deprivation pods plus infrared sauna and massage in a multi-modality spa format; closest direct competitor on service mix and target customer.
• Pure Aqua Float Center: Independent float therapy spa operator using Epsom salt sensory-deprivation tanks plus adjunct recovery services; mirrors Urban Float's core offering and direct-to-consumer booking model.
• The Float Spot: Independent float spa offering sensory deprivation tanks and complementary wellness services in a boutique spa setting; same core modality, similar geographic/membership positioning.

Emerging players

• HigherDOSE: Infrared sauna and red-light therapy brand offering both locations and home devices; partial overlap on Urban Float's adjunct modalities with a more retail-product-forward business model.
• Chill Cryotherapy: Multi-location cryotherapy and infrared sauna franchise providing recovery-oriented wellness services; comparable retail-wellness format overlapping on infrared sauna, compression, and red-light offerings.

Broad incumbents

• Hand & Stone Massage and Facial Spa: National day-spa franchise dominating the massage and facial segment with hundreds of locations; relevant as a broader incumbent wellness retail chain competing for the same discretionary consumer wallet.
• Elements Massage: Large-scale membership-based therapeutic massage franchise with national footprint; competes with Urban Float for recurring-wellness customers seeking stress/pain relief in a spa retail format.
• Massage Heights: Multi-location wellness franchise combining massage, skincare, and aromatherapy in a membership-driven spa model; broad incumbent peer competing for the same recurring-wellness segment.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/UrbanFloat

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Urban Float