If you’re considering leaving your career to start a business, you might be weighing niche concepts like The Back Nine Golf Franchise against more traditional opportunities such as a cleaning business franchise. The Back Nine Golf franchise offers a novel way to turn passion for golf into a business. But how does this indoor golf simulator venture stack up against the stable, scalable world of commercial cleaning? In this comprehensive review, we’ll break down The Back Nine Golf franchise—what it is, what it offers, and what it costs—and then compare its industry to the commercial cleaning industry. Finally, we’ll explore how Assett Franchise (a modern commercial cleaning franchise led by founder Matt Pencarinha) stands out with simpler systems and bigger potential for long-term success. Let’s dive in.
What Is The Back Nine Golf Franchise Opportunity?
Company Overview and Industry
The Back Nine Golf is an indoor golf improvement and entertainment franchise that allows customers to practice and play golf in a climate-controlled indoor setting. The company was founded in 2019–2020 by CEO Will Bangerter, an avid golfer who wanted a way to play more often despite a busy schedule. The concept took off quickly: as of mid-2025 The Back Nine had 35 locations open and 178 franchises sold across the United States. In other words, what began as a side-hustle idea has become a fast-growing franchise network. The corporate headquarters is in St. George, Utah, and the franchise began offering opportunities to investors around 2022–2023.
In terms of industry, The Back Nine Golf belongs to the “sports & recreation” franchise sector, specifically focusing on the indoor golf simulator market. This is a relatively new and growing niche. Indoor golf facilities use high-tech simulators to let people play or practice golf on virtual courses. It appeals to both serious golfers (who want to improve their game with data feedback) and casual recreational players (who want a fun activity with friends). The Back Nine positions itself as a leader in this space, claiming to offer a one-of-a-kind experience with 24/7 access, cutting-edge simulators, and instant swing feedback for customers. Because play is indoors, customers can enjoy golf year-round, day or night, in any weather – a key selling point for markets with cold winters or very hot summers.
Notably, The Back Nine’s franchise model is designed to operate with minimal staffing. In fact, each location uses a self-service approach: no employees are required on-site during normal operation. Members book tee times via an app or website, receive an automatic door access code, and enjoy their private simulator bay without staff present. This automation is powered by proprietary booking software that handles scheduling and facility access. The absence of staff greatly reduces labor costs and allows an owner to run the business in a semi-absentee manner. According to the franchisor, franchisees spend an average of only 10–15 hours per week on business-related activity thanks to this model. The Back Nine Golf essentially offers a “gym for golf” – a membership-based club where enthusiasts can come practice or play at their convenience, with technology providing coaching feedback and convenience.
The Back Nine Golf’s rapid expansion and tech-forward concept have garnered attention. They have over 70 territories sold as of late 2024, and have partnered with top-tier industry suppliers like Full Swing Golf (a leading golf simulator technology company) to outfit their locations. The franchisor emphasizes that it’s riding a wave in the indoor golf industry’s growth, aiming to “dominate the indoor golf market” as an early entrant. Overall, the company’s story and industry position suggest an exciting opportunity, especially for golf enthusiasts or entrepreneurs who see potential in the booming interest in golf simulators.
What Franchisees Get
Franchisees of The Back Nine Golf get the chance to operate a premium indoor golf facility without the complexity of a full-service sports bar or gym. Here’s what the franchise offers its owners and what services you’d be providing:
- Indoor Golf Services: Each Back Nine location typically features multiple private simulator bays (often 2–4 bays per facility). Customers can book tee times by the hour for casual play or practice, or they can purchase monthly/annual memberships for more frequent access. Members are usually allowed to bring guests (e.g. a member can bring 3 friends to play on one bay) at no extra charge. The simulators use advanced tracking technology (TrackMan® or Full Swing, depending on partnership) to replicate famous courses and provide swing analytics. Many locations also offer golf lessons with a local golf pro by appointment, as well as the ability to host events like tournaments or kids’ camps (enhancing community engagement).
- Customer Base: The Back Nine serves primarily consumer customers (B2C) – both serious golfers and casual players. A typical franchise’s customers might include avid golfers looking to practice daily, leagues of friends holding friendly competitions, families, or even corporate groups looking for team outings. Because it’s a recreational offering, the customer base is local community members (not businesses). This means revenue comes from individuals’ discretionary spending (memberships, hourly fees, lessons), rather than from contracts with companies. The franchise’s 24/7 access model broadens the customer base by appealing to people with busy schedules – for example, an amateur golfer who works 9–5 can book a simulator at 6 AM or 10 PM as fits their life. The convenience and novelty are key draws for customers, and franchisees benefit by tapping into the passion and loyalty many golfers have for improving their game.
- Training and Support: The Back Nine Golf provides a structured training program and ongoing support to franchise owners. New franchisees go through comprehensive training covering operations, technology, and marketing. The franchisor supplies custom marketing materials and an SEO-optimized local website to help you attract customers online. There is also an exclusive proprietary software platform that manages client bookings, subscriptions, door access, and provides performance reports. Technical support is available around the clock for the simulator systems and software. In short, franchisees get a turnkey business system – including site selection assistance, facility design plans, training on running the club, and ongoing guidance. The model has been fine-tuned so that even first-time business owners (ideally who love golf) can succeed quickly with the backing of a proven process.
- Tools and Technology: A big part of what franchisees get is access to cutting-edge golf technology. Through its partnerships, The Back Nine equips each location with state-of-the-art simulator machines and tracking hardware/software (the same kind trusted by PGA Tour pros). The franchise’s proprietary management software is another asset that no independent indoor golf center would have – it’s custom-built to automate scheduling, membership management, and even some marketing tasks. This tech infrastructure not only enhances the customer experience but also enables the “no-employee” operational model. As an owner, you don’t have to reinvent systems or figure out how to integrate tech; it’s all provided and supported. Additionally, franchisees benefit from marketing resources and campaigns run by the franchisor (the Ad Fund is currently 0% of sales, suggesting the franchisor covers national marketing costs for now). Overall, what you get with The Back Nine is a package of technology and support that allows you to open an indoor golf facility with a professional brand and a roadmap, rather than doing it all on your own.
Startup Costs and Ongoing Fees
Investing in The Back Nine Golf Franchise requires a moderate-to-high initial investment, typical for a business that involves a physical location with specialized equipment. Here are the key startup costs and fees to know:
- Initial Franchise Fee: The Back Nine charges a $50,000 franchise fee. This is a one-time fee paid to the franchisor to license the brand, access their systems, and receive training. (Note: They offer a veteran discount of a few thousand dollars off the fee in some cases.)
- Total Initial Investment: The total investment to open a Back Nine Golf location ranges roughly from $200,000 to $400,000 depending on the size and number of simulator bays. According to franchise disclosures, a two-bay facility can cost around $208,000 on the low end, while a larger four-bay setup can run about $360,000. Some listings even cite up to ~$438,000 as an upper end, potentially accounting for higher real estate buildout costs. These figures include the build-out of the space, purchase of simulator equipment, initial marketing, and working capital. Liquid capital of at least $50,000–$100,000 is typically required to qualify, and the franchisor may want to see a minimum net worth around $300,000. Third-party financing is possible to help cover costs.
- Royalty and Ongoing Fees: The Back Nine Golf has a royalty fee of 8% of gross revenue. This means each month the franchisee pays 8% of their sales back to the franchisor. Notably, the national advertising fund fee is 0% at present, suggesting the franchisor is not charging a separate ad fee – though franchisees would still spend on local marketing as needed. The absence of an ad fee is somewhat unusual and could be a temporary incentive while the system grows. Other ongoing costs include typical business expenses (rent for the facility, utilities, insurance, maintenance of simulators, software subscription fees, etc.). The Back Nine model, fortunately, has low labor cost since no full-time staff is required on-site – owners might only incur part-time help for maintenance or local marketing events, if any.
- Additional Fees: While not all fees are disclosed publicly, franchisees can expect costs such as equipment lease or purchase (the simulators and tracking devices are a major expense, likely included in the initial investment range), initial inventory (e.g. golf balls, maybe a small retail stock of golf accessories if offered), insurance, and local advertising launch costs. The facility size might be in the range of a few thousand square feet, but because there’s no kitchen or extensive build-out beyond the bays and lounge area, real estate costs are moderate for a brick-and-mortar business. The franchisor also provides a proprietary software platform and tech support – sometimes franchisors charge a tech fee or subscription for this, so that could be a minor monthly fee (not explicitly stated in public info).
In terms of earnings potential, The Back Nine’s Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) has indicated some performance numbers. On average, an open Back Nine Golf location generated about $194,856 in annual revenue (2024 average per unit). This figure gives a ballpark of what a typical franchise might make in gross sales. Keep in mind, that’s an average – some locations may do more (perhaps those with more bays or in golf-heavy communities) and new locations will ramp up over time. With relatively high gross margins (memberships and simulator time have low direct costs), a well-run Back Nine franchise can be profitable, though an owner must still cover rent and pay back that initial investment over time. The franchisor promotes the business as high-margin and quick to scale thanks to the membership model and low staffing needs. Prospective franchisees should review the FDD’s Item 19 for detailed financial representations and make sure the expected returns align with the investment required.
How the Industry Itself Compares
When evaluating franchise opportunities, it’s crucial to compare not only the brands but also the industries they operate in. In this case, The Back Nine Golf is part of the recreational indoor golf industry, whereas Assett Franchise operates in the commercial cleaning industry (a subset of the broader cleaning business franchise sector). Each industry has its own practical, financial, and operational characteristics. Below, we’ll compare The Back Nine’s industry with the commercial cleaning industry. We’ll be honest about the pros and cons of each – and highlight why commercial cleaning often stands out as a more stable, scalable opportunity for long-term success.
The Back Nine Golf Franchise Industry Advantages
The indoor golf franchise business offers some clear advantages, especially for the right kind of owner. If you’re passionate about sports or looking for a business that’s fun and engaging, The Back Nine’s industry can be appealing. Here are some of its industry advantages:
- Growing Consumer Interest: The golf simulator market is experiencing significant growth, with more people taking up indoor golf for practice and entertainment. An estimated 6+ million Americans used a golf simulator last year, and that number is rapidly rising. This trend means a Back Nine franchisee is tapping into a thriving market with growing demand. Being somewhat new, indoor golf facilities also generate buzz and can attract media attention in local markets as an innovative concept.
- Year-Round Revenue: Unlike traditional outdoor golf courses that see play dip in bad weather or off-season, an indoor golf facility offers year-round, all-weather play. Customers can play during winter storms or scorching summer afternoons – there’s no off-season. This can smooth out revenue through the year. In colder climates especially, winter months might become peak season as golfers flock indoors. The ability to operate 24/7 also means you can generate revenue at times most other businesses can’t (e.g. late nights, very early mornings), maximizing the use of your facility.
- Semi-Absentee, Lifestyle Business: Running an indoor golf franchise can be relatively hands-off day-to-day. As mentioned, The Back Nine’s model can be managed with only ~10 hours per week of owner involvement and no employees on payroll in many cases. This is a huge lifestyle benefit for an owner who wants flexibility or to keep their day job. It’s also a “fun” business – many owners are golf enthusiasts themselves, so they enjoy being at the facility, interacting with fellow golfers, and maybe playing some rounds. The passion-driven nature of the business can make it personally rewarding (as one executive said, “I get to talk golf and be around golf all day” according to franchisedictionarymagazine.com).
- Premium Pricing and High Margins: Indoor golf isn’t a commodity service; it’s a specialized experience. Customers are willing to pay a premium for simulator time (often $30–$50+ per hour in many markets) and memberships can run into the hundreds per month for unlimited access. Aside from initial setup and fixed costs, each additional booking has very low cost, which means high gross margins. There’s no inventory to buy for resale (unlike retail franchises) and minimal cost of goods sold per service. Once the simulators and rent are paid, most of a membership fee is profit. This high-margin potential is a big selling point. A franchise can also boost revenue through ancillary streams like offering golf lessons (splitting fees with teaching pros) and hosting events or leagues.
- Innovation and Excitement: The indoor golf industry is driven by technology and innovation. As a franchisee, you benefit from the franchisor’s updates – for example, Back Nine’s partnership with Full Swing Golf brings in the latest simulator features and even integration with new professional simulator leagues. Being part of a cutting-edge industry can keep the business feeling fresh. Customers get excited about new courses added to the simulator library or tournaments they can join virtually. This isn’t a “stagnant” line of work; it evolves, which can be engaging for an owner and appealing to customers who see that wow factor.
That said, the indoor golf industry also comes with challenges and limitations that prospective owners should weigh:
- Market Size & Niche Appeal: The total market for indoor golf, while growing, is still relatively niche – measured in the low billions of dollars globally. Contrast that with cleaning (discussed below) which is a $100+ billion market in the U.S. alone. Your pool of potential customers is basically golfers or would-be golfers in your area. That can be limiting. If you open in an area without a strong golf community or where people aren’t familiar with simulators, you might struggle to educate the market. It’s a passion-based, discretionary purchase; not everyone is a golfer, and not every golfer is willing to pay to play indoors.
- Operational Complexities: While day-to-day staffing is minimal, an indoor golf center still has complexities. You need the right location and space buildout (high ceilings, enough square footage, proper electrical and networking for the simulators). The simulators themselves are expensive pieces of equipment that require maintenance, occasional calibration, and upgrades. As the owner, you must ensure the tech is up and running flawlessly; if a simulator goes down, that bay is lost revenue until fixed. You may need to coordinate with the franchisor’s tech support or local technicians for repairs. Also, while no full-time staff is needed, owners often provide excellent customer service remotely – e.g. answering customer calls or texts, troubleshooting booking issues, keeping the facility clean and stocked with supplies (balls, tees, etc.). These tasks can be outsourced or done by the owner in their flexible hours.
- Competition and Differentiation: Indoor golf is a newer market, and while The Back Nine is growing fast, there are other players. Competing franchises (like X-Golf, Five Iron Golf, etc.) and even independent simulator bars could enter your area. Also, consider indirect competition: on a nice day, your customers might opt to play a real round of golf instead of visiting your simulator. In the evenings, you’re competing with other entertainment options (bowling alleys, movie theaters, bars). You need to cultivate a loyal membership base so that people keep coming back regularly. That can require ongoing local marketing, promotions, and ensuring a top-notch experience every time.
- Economic Sensitivity: Because this is a consumer-focused, discretionary service, it can be more sensitive to economic downturns or shifts in consumer spending. If there’s a recession or people tighten their budgets, activities like simulator golf might be cut from their expenses. It’s not an essential service – it’s more of a luxury/hobby expenditure. Thus, while the business can be high-margin, it might also face revenue fluctuations based on consumer confidence and seasonal interest (for example, summer might be a bit slower in some markets if golfers prefer real courses).
In summary, the indoor golf industry offers a mix of high-tech excitement and lifestyle flexibility, which are great advantages. You can run a semi-absentee business that capitalizes on a growing sports trend. However, it’s still a narrower, niche market with some volatility, high startup costs, and the need for tech management. Now, let’s compare all of this to the industry Assett Franchise operates in: commercial cleaning.
Compared to Commercial Cleaning Industry
The commercial cleaning industry (janitorial services for businesses and facilities) is very different from indoor golf. For someone looking for long-term stability, scalability, and profitability, cleaning has some compelling strengths. Here are key advantages of the commercial cleaning industry, especially as it relates to an executive model franchise like Assett:
- Massive Market Size and Demand: Commercial cleaning is a $100+ billion industry in the U.S. and continues to grow. Virtually every office building, school, medical facility, retail store, and warehouse requires regular cleaning. Unlike a niche hobby market, cleaning services have universal demand. This industry is so large and entrenched that a new franchisee stepping in has an enormous pool of potential clients (any commercial property in your territory is a prospect). Importantly, these services are needed in all economies – clean facilities are a necessity, not a luxury. Even during downturns or the 2020 pandemic, commercial cleaning proved recession-resistant (in fact, heightened cleaning needs during COVID led many cleaning businesses to grow). This stability is a huge advantage for entrepreneurs who want a business that can weather economic storms.
- Recurring Revenue and Contracts: One of the strongest appeals of commercial cleaning is its recurring revenue model. Clients (businesses or institutions) typically sign contracts for regular cleaning (e.g. a nightly office cleaning contract, or three times a week service). Once you win a contract, that client provides revenue week after week, month after month. You don’t have to resell the service to them each time – it’s booked in. As long as you perform well, many clients stick with their cleaning provider for years, making the income very predictable and “sticky”. This is fundamentally different from a consumer-facing franchise like indoor golf, where each customer booking is a one-time event or at best a monthly membership that they can cancel. In cleaning, B2B clients budget for janitorial services as an ongoing necessity. An Assett franchise owner can build up a base of contracts that collectively generate steady cash flow. It’s not unusual for a commercial cleaning franchise unit to reach seven-figure revenues because of accumulating multiple contracts – in fact, Assett reports an average unit revenue of over $1.5 million in 2024 for its franchisees, vastly surpassing what the average Back Nine Golf location earns in a year.
- Low Cost of Entry, High Potential: Compared to many franchise industries, commercial cleaning has a low cost of entry and yet offers high income potential ($1M+ achievable). Starting a cleaning business doesn’t require expensive equipment or real estate – you typically don’t need a retail storefront or a large facility. Assett Franchise, for example, can be run from a small office or even home-office setup, and the total startup investment is often under $100k (Assett’s estimated initial investment ranges from about $73k to $116). This is a fraction of what an indoor golf business costs. Despite the lower startup, the upside is impressive: by adding more client accounts and building a team of cleaners to service them, revenue can scale almost without limit. As one source puts it, you have the opportunity to turn a low investment into a $1M business or more. The economics of cleaning (low overhead, no costly tech, and clients that pay ongoing) mean that profit margins can be healthy, and ROI can be faster. Plus, you’re not as constrained by physical capacity like a simulator bay – in cleaning, if you have too much work, you can simply hire more cleaners and take on more clients.
- Essential Service – Recession-Resilient: Commercial cleaning is often described as essential and recession-resistant. Every facility must be cleaned, regardless of how the economy is doing. During tough times, a business might cut other expenses, but they still need a clean workspace for health, safety, and image reasons. In fact, cleaning sometimes becomes more critical during crises (e.g., sanitization during pandemics). This means a franchisee’s revenue is more protected against economic swings. In contrast, a golf entertainment business might see customers pull back spending in a recession (because it’s discretionary). Cleaning is more of a “have to have,” which gives owners and lenders confidence in its durability.
- B2B Clientele = Professional, Predictable Relationships: Working with business clients (B2B) tends to involve more rational, long-term relationships. Decisions are based on quality, reliability, and cost – not on consumer whims or fads. If you provide good service, your commercial clients are likely to renew contracts year after year, and you can upsell additional services (floor polishing, window cleaning, etc.) over time. There’s less emotional churn than with retail customers. Also, business clients typically pay via invoicing and have allocated budgets, so accounts receivable is manageable. You’re not chasing hundreds of individual $50 transactions; you might have 20–30 client accounts that each provide significant monthly revenue.
- Simple Operations and Scalability: A commercial cleaning franchise can be scaled relatively easily. No expensive facilities or high-tech equipment are required to grow – you mainly expand by hiring more cleaning staff as you get new contracts. There’s flexibility in adjusting crew sizes and schedules to meet demand. Assett Franchise, in particular, has innovated in making one of the hardest parts of scaling easier: hiring cleaners. Assett developed an Automated Hiring System that streamlines recruiting and onboarding of cleaning staff, saving owners 20–30 hours per week in HR work. This means an owner can focus on adding clients while the system helps ensure a steady pipeline of reliable employees. By contrast, in a specialized business like indoor golf, you can’t “add another simulator bay” on the fly without significant capital – your revenue is somewhat capped by the physical capacity. Cleaning has the advantage that each new contract just means maybe one or two more staff and some supplies, which is a low incremental cost. No need for additional real estate or pricey tech to take on a new client.
- Semi-Absentee Potential: Commercial cleaning can also be run in a semi-absentee fashion, especially with the right systems in place. Assett’s model is built for owners who want to work on the business, not in it. That means the franchisee focuses on client acquisition and management (executive tasks) rather than doing the cleaning. With automated systems and possibly a small office manager as you grow, owners can oversee operations with relatively low time commitment—sometimes as little as 5-10 hours a week, once the business is established and if a manager is in place. Many Assett owners continue their day jobs or pursue other ventures while scaling their cleaning franchise, making it a flexible path to building wealth.
Of course, the commercial cleaning industry has its own challenges too, to be fair. It’s a highly competitive, mature market, so you’ll work hard to win contracts and distinguish your services (this is where franchisor support and a unique angle like Assett’s hiring advantage come in handy). Managing cleaning crews can be a challenge for some (reliability of workers, quality control) – but again, Assett addresses this with their hiring system and training. And while not glamorous, the cleaning business is straightforward and proven – some might find it less “exciting” than a golf venture, but many entrepreneurs prefer profits over glamour.
Overall, when comparing industries: The Back Nine’s indoor golf industry offers excitement and a trendy, leisure-oriented business, but the commercial cleaning industry offers scale, stability, and essential-demand advantages that are hard to beat. A cleaning business franchise taps into fundamentals that make it a more resilient long-term investment.
How the Assett Franchise Compares
Now that we’ve looked at The Back Nine Golf franchise and its industry versus commercial cleaning, let’s focus on Assett Franchise specifically. Assett is a commercial cleaning franchise brand that is built for aspiring business owners who want a scalable, executive-style business with $1M+ recurring revenue potential. This franchise was founded by Matt Pencarinha (who has deep experience in the industry) and is family-owned. In this section, we’ll highlight how Assett’s model compares to a franchise like The Back Nine in terms of simplicity, systems, and support for franchisees.
Simpler Systems, Bigger Potential
One of Assett Franchise’s core advantages is that it operates in an industry that’s inherently simpler to run, yet it offers bigger financial potential for franchisees. Assett is already positioned in the robust commercial cleaning space, so franchise owners benefit from all the industry upsides we discussed – huge market, recurring contracts, etc. But importantly, Assett has fine-tuned the business model so that even someone with no prior cleaning industry experience can succeed.
Assett is designed for owners who want to work on the business, not in it. Unlike some small franchises where the owner ends up taking on a lot of the daily work, Assett’s approach is truly an executive model. Franchisees do not have to perform cleaning themselves (in fact, they shouldn’t). Instead, your role is to manage and grow the business – building client relationships and overseeing a team of cleaning staff. Assett provides a full playbook and training to get you started, covering everything from how to price contracts to how to market your services and manage operations. You’re not guessing at any step; the franchisor has documented a proven model that has already been executed successfully. This means fewer mistakes and a quicker ramp-up to revenue.
The simplicity also comes from the fact that you don’t need complicated infrastructure. No specialty equipment or real estate is required – many Assett owners start from a small office and use basic cleaning tools that are inexpensive. The focus is on building a client base, and Assett’s systems help you do that systematically. With Assett’s model, achieving over $1M in annual recurring revenue is an attainable goal, and because margins in cleaning can be healthy, that translates to strong income for the owner. By contrast, as we noted, the average Back Nine Golf location made under $200k in revenue, and even with high margins, the absolute profit potential is likely lower than what a thriving Assett franchise can generate. In essence, Assett offers a **simpler operational model but with bigger financial upside.
Another point of simplicity: scaling up an Assett franchise doesn’t exponentially increase complexity. Adding 10 new client accounts might mean hiring a couple more cleaners and maybe an additional vehicle – it doesn’t drastically change your business model. However, if a Back Nine franchisee wanted to double their revenue, they might be constrained by how many hours in a day their simulators can run and how many people their facility can accommodate, meaning they’d possibly have to open a second location (another big investment). Assett franchisees can scale within one territory without needing multiple offices or locations, thanks to the ability to serve many clients with mobile cleaning teams. The business potential is larger in scope.
Automated Hiring = Time and Money Saved
If there’s one differentiator that Assett Franchise prides itself on, it’s the automated hiring system they’ve developed. In service businesses like cleaning, finding and keeping reliable employees is often the #1 headache for owners. High turnover and constant hiring needs can eat up a huge amount of time and money. Assett recognized this challenge and invested in a solution. In 2019, founder Matt Pencarinha built the first version of an Automated Hiring System, and it has been continually improved since. This proprietary system automates much of the recruitment and onboarding process for cleaning staff.
What does this mean for franchisees? It means that as an Assett owner, you have a massive advantage in staffing. The system attracts candidates, filters them, and even handles parts of training, turning what used to be a constant struggle into a manageable, streamlined task. According to Assett, this saves owners 20–30 hours per week in hiring-related work, bringing it down to just 2–5 hours a week of oversight. In practical terms, that is like getting back a part-time employee’s worth of time, or saving yourself from needing to hire an HR manager as soon as you start scaling up. Fewer hours spent on hiring means you can focus on quality control and client acquisition – the activities that grow your revenue.
Saving time is one thing, but this system also saves money and improves service quality. By ensuring you always have a pipeline of vetted cleaners ready to work, you’re less likely to be shorthanded and forced to pay overtime or higher wages to cover gaps. It also means you can take on new contracts faster because you’re not stuck in a lengthy hiring cycle each time. Moreover, having a better hiring process leads to assembling a stronger cleaning team (people who are a good fit and properly trained). That translates to better service for clients, which means you retain contracts longer (and don’t have the costs associated with re-acquiring lost clients). Assett franchisees can therefore grow faster and take home more profit, since they avoid the trap of being understaffed or needing high-paid management to chase staffing needs, according to bizbuysell.com.
In comparison, a franchise like The Back Nine might be “employee-free” by design, but that comes with its own challenges (technology management, and you still can’t escape the need for someone – often the owner – to handle customer service or maintenance). Assett’s automated hiring addresses a universal business challenge head-on and gives its owners a unique efficiency. It’s a modern, tech-driven solution in an industry that traditionally struggled with old-school hiring. This is a great example of how Assett is bringing innovation into cleaning, much like Back Nine brings innovation into golf. And for franchisees, it directly translates into time and money saved – arguably two of the most valuable resources for any business owner.
Personalized and Founder-Led
Another way Assett Franchise distinguishes itself is through its culture and leadership style. Assett is a family-owned franchise, not a venture capital or private equity-owned chain. The founder, Matt Pencarinha, is very much hands-on in the business and accessible to franchisees. This means when you join Assett, you’re not just another unit in a vast corporate machine – you’re part of a tight-knit franchise family where franchisees get direct access to leadership and guidance.
This personalized, founder-led approach has several benefits:
- Direct Mentorship: Assett franchisees have opportunities for private sessions with the CEO and close support from the corporate team. Matt and his team know that the franchise’s success is built one owner at a time, so they invest in each franchisee’s development. For someone new to entrepreneurship, this kind of mentorship can be invaluable. It’s like having an industry expert on call to help you through challenges and celebrate your wins. In larger franchise systems, you might never meet the founder, or the corporate support might feel impersonal. At Assett, franchisees often communicate directly with the people who designed the system.
- Community and Values: Being founder-led often means the company is driven by a clear mission and set of values (as opposed to purely profit-driven motives). Assett positions itself as community-focused – it’s about building businesses that serve local communities (keeping workplaces clean and safe) and also about providing franchise owners with a vehicle to improve their lives. The family-owned ethos creates a sense of community among franchisees as well. Just as Back Nine talked about a tight-knit community of golf-loving franchisees, Assett fosters a supportive network of like-minded entrepreneurs who share tips and encourage each other. Everyone is working toward a common goal of growth and service excellence, with the tone set from the top by the founder.
- Not a “Franchise Factory”: Because Assett is not controlled by private equity looking to rapidly sell hundreds of units at any cost, they can afford to be selective in awarding franchises and patient in growth. This can result in better support ratios (corporate support staff per franchisee) and more focus on quality over quantity. For a franchisee, that means you’re likely to get more attention and faster help when you need it. The franchisor-franchisee relationship in a founder-led system can feel more like a partnership. In practical terms, Assett franchisees have noted that support is available “whenever you need them” and that the training and systems make them feel confident and “never alone”. This level of care can make a huge difference in your success, especially in the first year of operation.
In comparing with The Back Nine or similar franchises, it’s worth noting that fast-growing franchises (Back Nine has 178 sold in just a couple years) can sometimes struggle to maintain personalized support. Assett is intentionally keeping a pace where each new owner gets the founder’s personal touch. If you value mentorship, community, and a franchisor that treats you like part of the family, Assett delivers that. Meanwhile, you still get the benefit of a modern business model – Assett isn’t old-school just because it’s family-run; it has cutting-edge systems (as described above) and a vision to be the best in the industry, just without losing the human element.
Final Thoughts
Both The Back Nine Golf franchise and Assett Franchise offer unique paths to business ownership, and each will appeal to different types of entrepreneurs. The Back Nine Golf opportunity is well-suited for someone who is passionate about golf and wants to be part of a fun, emerging entertainment trend. It has strengths in technology, a lifestyle-oriented model, and the draw of turning a hobby into a business. If you’re the kind of buyer who loves the idea of spending time in a golf environment and building a local community of golf enthusiasts, Back Nine could be the right fit for you. It’s an indirect competitor to cleaning franchises, but really it’s a very different play – one centered on consumer leisure spending and personal passion.
On the other hand, Assett Franchise offers more advantages for someone who wants a scalable, stable business with low operational complexity and high predictability of recurring revenue. Assett’s commercial cleaning model shines in delivering minimal risk and faster ROI relative to many franchises, thanks to lower startup costs and essential-service demand. It’s built for executive ownership, meaning you can achieve the income and success of business ownership without sacrificing your lifestyle or becoming overwhelmed by day-to-day headaches. Assett provides modern systems (like automated hiring and proprietary software) to remove traditional barriers, and it backs franchisees with a personal touch that’s rare in franchising.
In comparing the two: The Back Nine might win on “cool factor” for a golf lover, but Assett tends to win on long-term business fundamentals. Commercial cleaning simply checks the boxes for stability, scalability, and profitability in a way that a seasonal or niche concept might not. You can certainly make money and be happy with a golf franchise, but the question to ask yourself is: What do you want your life as an owner to look like in 5, 10, 15 years? If you want a business that can deliver ongoing income, flexibility in your schedule, and control over your growth without heavy stress, Assett’s model is hard to beat.
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.
