Leaving the corporate world to run your own business can be both exciting and daunting. If you’re exploring franchise opportunities, Benjamin Franklin Plumbing is a well-known name that might be on your list. It’s a prominent franchise in the plumbing sector offering home and commercial services with a strong brand reputation. But how does this opportunity stack up against a cleaning business franchise like Assett Franchise in terms of stability, scalability, and long-term potential? In this comprehensive review, we’ll break down the Benjamin Franklin Plumbing franchise—covering what it offers, the costs involved, and how its industry compares to commercial cleaning. We’ll also look at how Assett Franchise (a commercial cleaning franchise led by Matt Pencarinha) provides a “cleaner” alternative for aspiring business owners.
What Is the Benjamin Franklin Plumbing Franchise Opportunity?
Company Overview and Industry
Benjamin Franklin Plumbing is a plumbing service franchise known for its emphasis on punctual, professional service. It was founded in 2000 and began franchising in 2001. Over the past two decades, the company has grown into a national network of independently owned plumbing businesses. Today, there are over 360 Benjamin Franklin Plumbing locations across the United States, making it one of the larger home services franchises in the country. (Entrepreneur Magazine’s Franchise 500 list for 2025 ranked it #288, reflecting its established presence.)
The franchise operates under the umbrella of Authority Brands, a major home services franchisor. Being part of a big franchise family provides franchisees with extensive support and resources (which we’ll detail shortly). In terms of services, Benjamin Franklin Plumbing focuses on residential and light commercial plumbing maintenance and repair. This means franchisees primarily serve homeowners and small businesses, handling tasks like fixing leaks, repairing or installing water heaters, clearing drains, and other routine plumbing fixes. Notably, the brand markets itself as “The Punctual Plumber,” promising on-time service (and even compensating customers for delays). This commitment to punctuality and customer satisfaction has helped the company build a trusted reputation in its industry.
The plumbing service industry itself is a large and essential part of the economy. Americans will always need plumbers for broken pipes, clogged drains, and emergency repairs. Benjamin Franklin Plumbing capitalizes on this steady demand by positioning its franchisees as reliable, ethical service providers. The company touts a strict ethical code for employees (integrity, respect for the law, safety) and transparent pricing for customers. Additionally, franchisees benefit from national branding and programs like the Ben Franklin Society – a customer membership program offering routine inspections and priority service for a monthly fee. This membership plan not only adds value for customers but also creates a source of recurring revenue for franchisees through annual maintenance work. In summary, Benjamin Franklin Plumbing sits in the home repair industry, delivering an essential service with a recognizable brand and a growing footprint across the U.S.
What Franchisees Get
When you invest in a Benjamin Franklin Plumbing franchise, you’re getting a turnkey system for running a professional plumbing business. Franchisees receive training, tools, and ongoing support to help them succeed. Here are some key elements of what’s provided:
- Full Service Offering: Franchisees can offer a wide range of plumbing services, from minor fixes to major repairs and installations. This includes emergency plumbing calls, routine maintenance, pipe and fixture replacements, drain cleaning, water heater repair/replacement, and more. Essentially, you become a one-stop solution for homeowners’ plumbing needs. The ability to handle anything from a leaky faucet to a broken sewer line means franchisees can generate multiple revenue streams within their territory.
- Brand and Marketing: As part of a known brand, you benefit from Benjamin Franklin Plumbing’s established reputation for punctual, quality service. The franchisor provides marketing support including national advertising campaigns, regional promotions, and a website that helps funnel leads to local franchisees. According to the company, franchisees get access to marketing tools, ad templates, social media guidance, SEO support, and a local website presence to attract customers.
- Training and Operating Systems: No need to be a master plumber yourself (though managing a plumbing business will require hiring licensed plumbers). The franchisor offers robust training: typically 35 hours of classroom training plus ongoing field support. New owners learn the operations manual (often referred to as the “Operational Excellence” system) which covers the standards and procedures for running the business. Ongoing support includes technical support lines, regular franchisee meetings, an intranet for sharing best practices, and coaching on operations and growth.
- Buying Power and Technology: Being part of Authority Brands gives franchisees group buying power for equipment and supplies. For example, Benjamin Franklin Plumbing is affiliated with BuyMax, a procurement network that helps secure favorable pricing on parts and materials. This can improve margins compared to independent plumbing shops. Additionally, franchisees use proprietary software systems for scheduling, customer management, and dispatching technicians. These tools help streamline the business, allowing efficient routing of service calls and tracking of jobs.
- Customer Support & Credibility: The franchise’s 24/7 call center or support line ensures customer inquiries are handled promptly (some franchises use a centralized call system). The punctuality guarantee (paying customers for every minute a plumber is late) gives you a unique selling point to build trust with clients. Franchisees also benefit from national warranties and service standards that Benjamin Franklin Plumbing promotes, which can make customers more confident in choosing a franchisee over a local independent plumber.
It’s worth noting the customer base is largely residential homeowners, who often call in a plumber during urgent situations (burst pipe, no hot water, etc.) or for preventative maintenance. Some franchisees also service small commercial clients (like offices or retail shops), but heavy commercial or industrial projects are not the focus. This means your revenue as a franchisee will come from lots of individual jobs, either one-time emergency fixes or repeat maintenance for members. Benjamin Franklin Plumbing tries to foster repeat business through its membership program and by providing a positive customer experience that leads to referrals and positive reviews.
Startup Costs and Ongoing Fees
Like any franchise, Benjamin Franklin Plumbing requires an upfront investment and comes with ongoing fees. Here’s a breakdown of the financial side of the opportunity:
- Initial Investment: The total investment to start a Benjamin Franklin Plumbing franchise ranges from approximately $143,000 to $287,000. This figure includes everything to get your business operational: the franchise fee, equipment, initial inventory of parts, one or more service vehicles (trucks/vans), tools, insurance, office setup, and working capital for the first few months. If you are an existing plumbing business converting to the franchise, the costs can be lower (reported in the ~$85,000 to $205,000 range) because you may already own vehicles, tools, or have an existing customer base. Essentially, new “startup” franchisees invest on the higher end to build from scratch, while conversions save on initial expenses by folding their current operations into the Benjamin Franklin system.
- Franchise Fee: The one-time franchise fee is $43,000 for a new territory. This secures your rights to operate under the Benjamin Franklin Plumbing brand in an exclusive territory and includes initial training. (The company does offer veteran incentives – qualified military veterans receive 30% off the franchise fee, a considerable discount that lowers the barrier to entry).
- Royalty and Marketing Fees: Ongoing royalties are 6% of gross revenue. This percentage of your sales is paid to the franchisor on a regular basis (usually monthly) for continued use of the brand, support, and system. In addition, franchisees contribute 2% of gross revenue to a marketing/advertising fund according to sharpsheets.io. (Entrepreneur’s directory notes the ad fee may be up to 1.5%, but recent FDD data indicates 2% is standard). These fees fund national marketing campaigns, digital marketing, and other brand-building efforts that benefit all franchisees. In practice, for every $100 in sales, a franchisee might pay $6 in royalty and $2 toward marketing.
- Other Ongoing Costs: Beyond the franchisor fees, you’ll have typical business expenses: technician wages, fuel and maintenance for your vans, replacement parts and supplies, insurance, and possibly rent or utilities for a small office (if you don’t run it from home). The franchise model does allow home-based or mobile operation (you don’t need a retail storefront), though you will likely need a garage or small warehouse for vehicles and inventory. The franchisor estimates needing 4–12 employees (plumbers and support staff) to run the business at full scale. They also provide in-house financing for the franchise fee if needed, which can ease the upfront cash requirement.
- Term and Renewal: The initial franchise agreement term is 10 years, with options to renew for additional terms (renewal typically comes with a smaller fee). This long term underscores the franchisor’s expectation that owners will grow the business steadily over time.
- Earnings Potential: A big question for any franchise investor is “How much can I earn?” Financial performance can vary widely, but Benjamin Franklin Plumbing does provide an Item 19 earnings claim in its FDD. According to the latest data, the average gross revenue per territory was about $664,868 for the 2023 fiscal year. This figure gives a ballpark sense of what a mature franchise location might generate in annual sales. Some franchisees (especially those with multiple territories or many years in business) earn well above that, while new owners will ramp up to those numbers over time. The key point is that there is solid revenue potential – hundreds of thousands of dollars per year in sales – given the essential nature of plumbing services. Of course, from those sales, a portion goes to pay expenses (labor, parts, etc.), but a well-run franchise can be quite profitable. The brand has also been expanding rapidly: the system grew roughly 48% in unit count over the last three years, reaching around 410 units in 2025. This growth, driven partly by conversion of independent plumbers into franchisees, suggests strong marketplace demand for its services and franchise model.
In summary, joining Benjamin Franklin Plumbing requires a moderate investment (well under $300K, which is lower than many brick-and-mortar franchises) and gives you a chance to run a business with significant revenue upside. Next, we’ll compare the plumbing industry’s characteristics with those of the commercial cleaning industry – which is the arena Assett Franchise operates in – to see how they stack up for a prospective franchise owner.
How the Industry Itself Compares
When evaluating any franchise, it’s crucial to look not just at the brand but at the industry it operates in. A franchise’s success can be heavily influenced by industry dynamics like market size, competition, seasonality, and customer behavior. Here we’ll compare the plumbing services industry (the world of Benjamin Franklin Plumbing) with the commercial cleaning industry (the world of Assett Franchise). Both involve providing essential services to buildings, but they differ in practical ways that affect your experience as an owner. We’ll highlight the advantages of Benjamin Franklin Plumbing’s industry and then see how commercial cleaning offers some compelling benefits – often making it a stronger long-term bet for first-time entrepreneurs.
Benjamin Franklin Plumbing Industry Advantages
The plumbing industry has several strong points that make franchises like Benjamin Franklin Plumbing attractive to investors:
- Essential Service with Steady Demand: Almost every property has plumbing, and eventually pipes leak or drains clog. There’s a consistent baseline demand for plumbing repair and maintenance. Emergencies happen year-round – a burst pipe in winter or a backed-up sewer in summer – so a plumbing business can stay busy in all seasons. This essential nature means a plumbing franchise can be somewhat recession-resistant as well; people can’t ignore a major leak or lack of running water even in tough economic times. As the franchisor likes to say, “plumbing emergencies happen frequently,” and being part of a trusted brand means customers are likely to call when they need help fast according to entrepreneur.com.
- High Revenue Per Job: Plumbing services often command high prices. Fixing a water heater or repairing a sewer line can easily be a few hundred to a few thousand dollars for a single job. This means each customer ticket is relatively high. Franchisees can generate substantial revenue with a relatively low volume of jobs compared to some other services. For example, one big repair or installation job might bring in as much as a small business cleaning contract does in a month. Additionally, Benjamin Franklin Plumbing’s premium branding allows for higher pricing than unbranded local plumbers (in fact, some customers do pay a premium for the punctual, professional service – even if a few might complain about cost, the franchise’s growth suggests many find it worth it).
- Skilled Trade – Less Commodity Competition: Plumbing is a licensed skilled trade. Not just anyone can start fixing pipes without training and certification. This creates a barrier to entry that reduces competition compared to unskilled services. Franchisees benefit from this because while there may be many independent plumbers in a region, there’s still a high demand for reputable providers. Homeowners often worry about hiring random handymen for plumbing issues, so a known franchise brand can win trust. The need for skill means your business must employ qualified plumbers, but it also means the service isn’t as easily commoditized. You’re selling expertise and reliability, not just labor.
- Franchise Support in a Complex Field: Running a plumbing business involves navigating permits, building codes, and safety regulations – things that can be challenging for an owner-operator. Being part of a franchise like Benjamin Franklin gives you technical support and a proven system for handling these complexities. For instance, the franchisor’s operations manual and training cover how to ensure jobs meet code and how to manage technicians effectively. This support can shorten the learning curve for someone entering the industry. It’s an advantage that independent plumbing entrepreneurs don’t have; they must figure out these processes on their own.
- Opportunity for Repeat Business: While plumbing is often thought of as a one-time or occasional service (since customers call when something breaks), Benjamin Franklin Plumbing tries to build recurring revenue streams. The membership program (Ben Franklin Society) is a key industry differentiator – it encourages homeowners to pay a monthly or annual fee for preventive maintenance checks according to franchisechatter.com. This not only helps customers avoid disasters but also provides franchisees a more predictable income. Moreover, when customers trust you for yearly maintenance, you’ll likely be the first they call for any repair, creating a loyal client base. In a way, the franchise is bringing a bit of the recurring model from industries like commercial cleaning into the residential plumbing world.
In short, the plumbing service industry offers high demand and high value per customer. It’s a necessary, year-round business that won’t disappear as long as buildings have water lines. The challenges for owners are the need for skilled labor (plumbers) and managing the variability of job-based revenue. You might have very busy weeks and then some slower periods; income can be somewhat variable and often reactive (based on customer emergencies or urgent needs). Next, we’ll see how the commercial cleaning industry differs and why many entrepreneurs find cleaning franchises to be a more scalable and stable opportunity over time.
Compared to Commercial Cleaning Industry
The commercial cleaning industry (janitorial services for businesses) shares some traits with plumbing – it’s essential and serves virtually all types of facilities – but it operates on a different business model that can be advantageous for franchise owners. Here are key advantages of commercial cleaning, especially as they relate to Assett Franchise’s model, and some contrasts with plumbing:
- Huge Market, Commercial Client Base: Commercial cleaning is a massive market serving offices, schools, healthcare facilities, warehouses, retail stores, and more. In the U.S. alone, the commercial cleaning industry generates over $100 billion in annual revenue. Every commercial building needs regular cleaning, regardless of size or sector. This market is actually slightly different from residential services: instead of individual homeowners, you’re dealing with business clients (B2B). For a franchise owner, that means your customers are property managers or business owners who value reliability and consistency. Unlike a homeowner who might call sporadically, businesses often sign contracts for ongoing service – for example, an office might contract you to clean every night. The result is that the commercial cleaning model is built on long-term recurring contracts, whereas a plumbing franchise’s revenue is more transactional. You’re not waiting for something to break; you have scheduled cleanings providing predictable income month after month.
- Recession-Resistant with Recurring Revenue: Both plumbing and cleaning are often touted as recession-resistant, but cleaning truly shines in downturns because businesses must keep their premises clean (for health, safety, and image reasons) even if they cut other expenses. Cleaning is a basic operational necessity for any open facility. During tough times, a business might defer a renovation or an equipment upgrade, but they won’t stop cleaning their offices. Moreover, because cleaning contracts are usually ongoing, a commercial cleaning franchise enjoys steady, recurring revenue. You can forecast your cash flow with much more certainty because you know how many buildings you’re cleaning on a given schedule. In contrast, a plumbing franchise might have an excellent year then a slower month – it’s more dependent on random incidents or seasonal upticks (like frozen pipes in winter). The predictable nature of cleaning contracts offers stability that franchisees and their lenders appreciate.
- Low Cost of Entry and Scalability: Starting a commercial cleaning business generally requires far less equipment and overhead than a plumbing business. You don’t need expensive specialized tools or licensed technicians. The cleaning industry’s tools are things like vacuum cleaners, mops, cleaning solutions, and maybe a small floor scrubber – all relatively inexpensive. Many commercial cleaning franchises (including Assett) can be run from a home office or a small storage space, and you often don’t need company vehicles for every employee (cleaners might drive themselves to job sites or use a simple company van for supplies). This means the initial investment is typically lower than technical trades and scaling up is easier – when you get a new contract, you might just buy a few more supplies and hire another part-time cleaner rather than invest in another heavy work truck. For example, Assett Franchise’s model emphasizes scaling without needing costly real estate or equipment – you can grow to $1M+ in revenue without a huge capital outlay in machinery or facilities.
- Labor That’s Easier to Source: One of the biggest differences is the labor force. Commercial cleaning work can be done by entry-level employees who you can train in-house relatively quickly. You don’t need licensed professionals as you do in plumbing or electrical franchises. While finding and managing any employees can be challenging, the pool of potential cleaning staff is much larger than the pool of certified plumbers. This means as you grow, you can add crews more readily. Plumbing franchise owners often cite hiring licensed plumbers as a major pain point – there’s a skilled labor shortage in trades, and they command high salaries. In cleaning, labor is more readily available and usually paid hourly at a moderate wage. Assett Franchise takes this a step further by providing an automated hiring system (discussed later) to help franchisees continually recruit and maintain a quality cleaning team without spending all their time on HR tasks.
- No Emergency Calls or Schedule Disruptions: Commercial cleaning typically happens on a regular schedule (e.g. nightly, weekly). As an owner, you’re not fielding frantic 2 a.m. calls about a catastrophe. Plumbing, by nature, involves emergency service – franchisees or their plumbers often have to be on-call for nights, weekends, or holidays when urgent repairs are needed. That can be lucrative, but it can also be stressful and require a business to be ready 24/7. In contrast, cleaning contracts are usually serviced during predictable times (often after business hours or overnight). The work is routine. This predictability makes it easier to organize your operations and even allows for a more semi-absentee ownership structure. Many commercial cleaning franchise owners operate in a management capacity, overseeing crews who do the nightly work, and they can often do so in far less than a full-time schedule. (Assett Franchise notes that an owner can run their business with as little as 5 hours per week of oversight, once things are up and running smoothly – essentially a true executive model).
- Scalability and Growth Potential: The commercial cleaning industry’s fragmentation is an advantage for new entrants. There are no dominant national players holding all the contracts – instead, it’s filled with many local and regional providers. This means a franchisee can grab market share relatively easily by offering reliable service. You’re not trying to unseat a giant; you’re competing with other small businesses, many of whom don’t have the systems or support a franchise does. A cleaning franchise like Assett can scale by simply taking on more contracts and hiring more cleaners, without the complexity of specialized training or huge capital investments. There’s effectively no cap on how big you can grow – you could clean 5 buildings or 500, depending on your ambition. The recurring revenue model also means each new contract incrementally builds your revenue floor upward. With plumbing, there’s a natural cap based on how many jobs your techs can do in a week (each job is finite in time). To significantly increase a plumbing business’s revenue, you eventually need more vans and more plumbers, which can be a slower expansion due to hiring challenges and costs. Cleaning crews, however, can be scaled up more flexibly (e.g. adding more part-time staff or teams for new contracts). Many cleaning franchises proudly share that $1M+ in annual revenue is achievable for diligent owners – and often at profit margins that can be very healthy given the relatively low overhead.
- Customer Relationship and Sales Cycle: In commercial cleaning, once you land a contract, you have a customer likely for years, as long as you perform well. Businesses typically don’t like to switch cleaning providers frequently (it’s a hassle to bid out and transition). This means your customer lifetime value is high and you can focus on quality service rather than constant marketing. In plumbing, each satisfied customer is great, but that person might not need you again for a year or more – or they might call you only in emergencies. Plumbing franchisees must continually generate new leads through marketing to keep work coming in, and compete on things like response time. Meanwhile, cleaning franchisees focus on B2B relationship building and contract retention. There’s also a difference in sales approach: plumbing jobs are often one-call closes (the phone rings and you dispatch a tech), whereas cleaning jobs involve a bidding process and building trust with a client. Some might see that as a hurdle, but franchisors like Assett provide a proven sales playbook to win contracts. Once you win a contract, you have steady income without needing to “resell” the client every week.
Bottom line: The commercial cleaning industry offers stability, recurring revenue, and easier scalability compared to many other service industries. It’s an essential, recession-resistant field (every business needs cleaning, even during economic dips), with a simpler operational model (you’re managing cleaning crews and schedules, not emergency repair jobs or complex technical work). For someone looking for a franchise that can grow steadily to a high income, commercial cleaning checks a lot of boxes – large market, low costs to start, and the ability to run it in a lifestyle-friendly way (potentially semi-absentee). Next, we’ll see how Assett Franchise specifically leverages these industry advantages and how it compares as an opportunity for someone considering leaving their corporate job for franchise ownership.
How the Assett Franchise Compares
Assett Franchise is a new entrant in the commercial cleaning franchise space, and it’s deliberately designed to offer a simpler, high-potential path for owners. Founded by Matt Pencarinha stated in bizbuysell.com, Assett is a family-owned brand, which means franchisees get a very personal touch that’s sometimes lost with big corporate franchisors. If you’re weighing Benjamin Franklin Plumbing versus Assett Franchise, here’s how Assett stands out in key areas:
Simpler Systems, Bigger Potential
One of the biggest selling points of Assett Franchise is that it’s already operating in the attractive commercial cleaning industry – so all those advantages we outlined (huge market, recurring B2B revenue, recession resilience) are baked into the model. Assett takes it a step further by creating systems that simplify operations for franchise owners. The goal is for owners to work on the business (strategically growing and managing client relationships) rather than working in the business (handling day-to-day cleaning tasks).
- No Specialized Experience Needed: Unlike a plumbing franchise, you don’t need prior industry experience or licenses to succeed with Assett. You’re not expected to know technical trade skills – instead, Assett provides a full business playbook and training to get you up to speed on how to run a janitorial services company from scratch. This is ideal for first-time entrepreneurs or career changers. The systems cover everything from how to bid contracts and manage employees to how to deliver quality service consistently. In short, it’s a proven model tailored for newcomers who want a turnkey business.
- High Income Potential with Recurring Contracts: Assett’s model focuses on securing long-term commercial cleaning contracts that generate monthly recurring revenue. As an owner, once you build a base of clients, you have predictable income each month. The franchise emphasizes that reaching $1M+ in annual recurring revenue is achievable by following their system (which might take a few years of growth, but it’s a realistic target given the scalability of the cleaning business). Importantly, this revenue is not a one-time spike – it’s recurring, which enhances the valuation of your business and the stability of your income. Many owners in similar cleaning franchises have scaled to seven-figure revenues with a lean operation, something that can be harder to do in person-dependent trades like plumbing where each additional revenue often requires another licensed technician.
- Streamlined Operations: Assett is built for efficiency. The franchise provides standardized processes and software for scheduling cleaning crews, quality checking the work, and billing clients. Because cleaning tasks are relatively straightforward to systematize, Assett has been able to create checklists and workflows that ensure the business runs smoothly even when the owner isn’t on-site. It’s the kind of business where, with the right systems, the owner can monitor KPIs and manage by metrics rather than physically overseeing every job. This is how Assett enables a semi-absentee ownership style – if you implement their systems, you might only need to dedicate a few hours a day (or less) to check in on operations and handle client communication, freeing up more of your time.
In comparison, while Benjamin Franklin Plumbing also provides good systems, the nature of plumbing work can pull an owner into day-to-day problem-solving (especially if a tech calls in sick or a big emergency job needs oversight). Assett’s simpler operational model means fewer fires to put out daily. The potential, however, is just as big or bigger when it comes to revenue and business size. It’s a classic case of simple scales, complex fails. Assett keeps the business model simple so you can scale it bigger, faster.
Automated Hiring = Time and Money Saved
Ask any service business owner their biggest headache, and many will say: “hiring and retaining good people.” Assett Franchise tackles this issue head-on with an automated hiring system that is a game-changer for franchisees. Here’s what that means and why it matters:
- Continuous Recruitment Pipeline: Instead of waiting until you’re short-staffed and scrambling to find cleaners, Assett has developed an automated system (likely leveraging software and online platforms) to constantly attract, screen, and onboarding potential cleaning staff. This could include automated job postings, pre-screening questionnaires, even scheduled interview funnels that run in the background. The result is a steady pipeline of qualified candidates ready to step in as your business grows or when turnover happens.
- Saves 20–30 Hours per Week: By automating much of the hiring process, Assett saves owners a tremendous amount of time. Typically, managing job ads, reviewing resumes, calling candidates, and scheduling interviews is a time sink that can easily consume 20+ hours a week for a small business owner. Assett’s system handles these tasks or streamlines them significantly, which frees up the owner’s time to focus on higher-value activities like building client relationships or scaling the business. It’s like having a built-in HR assistant. This not only saves time but also the cost of having to hire a recruiter or manager to do it for you. Essentially, it can eliminate the need (and salary) for a full-time hiring manager, especially in the early stages of growth.
- High-Quality Workforce at Scale: The automated system isn’t just about quantity of applicants – it’s about quality control. Assett’s approach uses consistent criteria to filter candidates, ensuring that only those meeting certain standards (e.g. background checks, reliability indicators, etc.) get through. This leads to a more reliable and high-quality workforce for the franchisee. By taking a lot of human bias and ad-hoc decision-making out of hiring, the system can maintain the quality bar even as you scale up and need dozens of employees. This is crucial because the reputation of a cleaning business rests on the trustworthiness and performance of its cleaning crews. Assett’s systematized hiring means every new cleaner goes through the same vetting and onboarding, which leads to consistent service for your clients.
- Reduced Turnover Chaos: Turnover is common in cleaning jobs. But Assett’s continuous hiring approach turns what is a headache for others into a non-issue for you. If a cleaner quits or isn’t meeting standards, the system likely already has a next person lined up. You’re not left in the lurch, and client service doesn’t suffer due to staff shortages. In contrast, consider a plumbing franchise owner who loses a key technician – it might take months to find a new licensed plumber, during which time the business could lose revenue or force the owner to pick up slack. Assett’s automated hiring virtually eliminates the downtime associated with staffing changes.
Overall, this focus on solving the labor problem is a huge differentiator. It means that as an Assett franchise owner, you can expand your business with confidence that you’ll be able to staff new jobs quickly. Labor won’t be the choke point for growth that it can be in other service franchises. Plus, you personally get to enjoy a more hands-off management role instead of constantly interviewing or dealing with staffing emergencies. This aligns perfectly with Assett’s positioning as a modern franchise built for executive owners who value their time.
Personalized and Founder-Led
Another aspect where Assett Franchise shines is in its culture and leadership structure. The franchise is family-owned and founder-led, which provides a very different experience than joining a franchise owned by private equity or a large corporation (like Benjamin Franklin Plumbing’s parent company). Here’s why that matters to a prospective franchisee:
- Direct Access to Leadership: When you become an Assett Franchisee, you’re essentially joining a close-knit franchise family headed by Matt Pencarinha (the founder). This means you’re more likely to get personal attention, direct communication, and mentorship from the people who created the business model. Matt and his team are directly invested in your success, and because they’re not a giant bureaucracy, they can be more responsive. If you have an issue or need guidance, you aren’t filing a support ticket and waiting in line behind hundreds of others; you can often speak to the founders or top leadership directly. This level of access can be invaluable, especially for new entrepreneurs. It accelerates learning and problem-solving because you’re getting advice straight from the source.
- Not Private Equity Controlled: Many franchise brands (especially in home services) have been acquired by large investment groups or conglomerates. While that can bring resources, it often changes the culture to be more profit-driven and less personal. Assett being family-owned means decisions are likely made with a long-term mindset and a focus on franchisee success, not just immediate ROI for investors. Franchisees at Assett are partners in growth, not just numbers on a spreadsheet. The company’s leadership is building a legacy and a community, not just an asset to flip. This often translates to more flexibility, support, and a collaborative atmosphere. For example, if a franchisee has a creative idea or a local market insight, a founder-led system might incorporate that feedback more readily than a top-down corporate chain would.
- Community-Focused and Mission-Driven: Assett Franchise, being a newer brand, has the opportunity to craft a clear mission and culture from the ground up. Matt Pencarinha and his family can instill values throughout the franchise network that emphasize community impact, quality, and integrity. The term “community-focused model” suggests that Assett encourages franchisees to build relationships in their local communities – perhaps engaging in local events, supporting community causes, and treating employees and customers like family. This ethos can be very appealing to owners who want their business to stand for something more than just profit. It’s easier to uphold such values when the franchisor’s leadership consistently champions them (as a founder would) versus when ownership changes hands frequently in corporate environments.
- Mentorship and Guidance: Because the founder has likely walked the path – perhaps building a cleaning business to success themselves – they can provide relevant mentorship. Matt Pencarinha’s direct involvement means franchisees can learn from his experiences and avoid pitfalls he had to navigate. It’s almost like having a business coach who is personally vested in you. Many franchisees in various systems find that the quality of franchisor support makes a huge difference in their success. With Assett, you have a situation where support is personalized. You’re not likely to be just “franchise #205” in a huge system; you’re John or Jane Doe, the owner of Assett [City], known by name at headquarters.
In comparison, if you join a large established franchise like Benjamin Franklin Plumbing, you will certainly get support and benefits of scale, but you may never meet the CEO or feel a personal connection to the company’s higher-ups. The support will be by-the-book and standardized (which works, but lacks that personal touch). Assett offers a modern franchise experience where the franchisor-franchisee relationship is more of a partnership. For franchise owners who value being part of a tight community and having a real voice in the growth of the brand, Assett’s approach is very attractive.
Final Thoughts
Both Benjamin Franklin Plumbing and Benjamin Franklin Plumbing offer strengths as franchise opportunities, and the “right” choice depends on your goals and preferences as an entrepreneur. If you’re someone with a passion for the skilled trades or you come from a plumbing/HVAC background, Benjamin Franklin Plumbing franchise could be a solid fit – it’s an established brand in a necessary industry, with the backing of a large organization and a history of franchise success. It provides robust training and a chance to build a local business with a respected name. For the right owner (perhaps one who doesn’t mind the hands-on nature of the trades or who already has technicians in mind), Benjamin Franklin Plumbing offers strong support, national branding, and the pride of providing an essential home service.
However, for many first-time business owners – especially those coming from corporate careers looking for a change – Assett Franchise offers more advantages in the long run. The commercial cleaning industry, by its nature, lends itself to a scalable, stable business with low operational complexity. Assett’s model amplifies those benefits with its automated systems and personalized support. You’re getting predictable recurring revenue from B2B clients, minimal risk in terms of economic cycles (since cleaning is needed in all conditions), and a faster path to ROI because of the lower startup costs and the ability to grow without heavy reinvestment. Assett is a modern, executive-style business model built for owners who want to oversee the business rather than be tied down by daily technical work or constant firefighting.
In the end, Assett Franchise positions itself as the cleaner alternative for those who want a franchise that aligns with a flexible lifestyle and a high-income potential. You can build a sizable business that works for you, instead of you working for it 80 hours a week. Plus, you’ll be doing so with the guidance of a founder-led team that cares about your success and knows you personally.
If you’re exploring franchise opportunities and want a model that can deliver long-term income, flexibility, and control — we’d love to show you how Assett Franchise can help you build a business that works for your life. Visit https://assettfranchise.com to connect with our team and learn more.
