Leaving a stable career to buy a franchise is not an impulsive decision. For most professionals, it’s a calculated move driven by a desire for ownership, flexibility, and long-term wealth creation—without gambling their family’s financial security. If you’re exploring opportunities outside your current industry, you may have come across The Back Nine Golf Franchise, a fast-growing indoor golf simulator concept positioned as a semi-absentee, technology-driven business.
This in-depth review is written for U.S.-based buyers who want facts, not hype. We’ll break down how The Back Nine Golf Franchise works, what it costs, what franchisees receive, and what real-world performance data suggests so far. Then we’ll compare the indoor golf industry to the commercial cleaning industry, highlighting why many career-switching professionals ultimately favor models like Assett Franchise, led by founder Matt Pencarinha, for long-term stability and scalability.
Sources are cited throughout and hyperlinked directly to the originating pages so you can validate everything yourself.
What Is the The Back Nine Golf Franchise Opportunity?
Company Overview and Industry
The Back Nine Golf Franchise operates in the indoor golf simulator and recreational entertainment industry. Franchisees open climate-controlled facilities equipped with high-end golf simulators that allow members to play virtual courses, practice year-round, and receive swing analytics regardless of weather conditions.
According to the official franchise website, The Back Nine Golf was founded in 2019 and began franchising shortly thereafter. Third-party franchise directories list the founding year as either 2019 or 2020, with franchising activity accelerating between 2022 and 2024. This discrepancy is not unusual in younger franchise systems and underscores the importance of reviewing the most recent Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD).
In terms of scale, reported location counts vary depending on whether sources are counting open units, awarded territories, or announced locations. Marketing materials have claimed “over 100 locations,” while FDD-based outlet counts reported by independent analysts show fewer open units.
For example:
- An FDD outlet summary cited by OpenFranchise reports 28 open outlets in 2024, up from 10 in 2023.
- Franchise directories such as Franzy and Franchise Sidekick list 50+ units, including open and in-development locations.
Recent growth has been especially visible in Texas, with announced and upcoming locations in markets such as Houston, Fulshear, Midland, Odessa, and New Braunfels.
What Franchisees Get
Franchisees operate a membership-based indoor golf facility. Revenue is typically generated through monthly memberships, hourly simulator bookings, and optional add-ons such as lessons, leagues, tournaments, or corporate events.
The Back Nine Golf Franchise positions itself as a low-labor, tech-enabled model, often compared to a 24/7 gym. Many franchise listings state that absentee ownership is allowed, and the franchisor emphasizes automation for access control, scheduling, and payments.
Franchise support, according to the franchisor and third-party listings, typically includes:
- Assistance with site selection and lease negotiation
- Buildout design standards and equipment specifications
- Initial training and onboarding
- Marketing support, including a branded website and launch guidance
- Ongoing system access and operational resources
However, “low labor” does not mean “no oversight.” Facilities still require:
- Cleaning and maintenance
- Equipment troubleshooting and calibration
- Member support and access issues
- Local marketing and community engagement
Several Texas locations have publicly confirmed the use of Full Swing simulators, a premium and widely recognized brand in the golf simulation space.
Startup Costs and Ongoing Fees
The most commonly reported initial investment range for The Back Nine Golf Franchise is:
- $276,050 to $603,550
- Initial franchise fee: $50,000
A significant portion of the investment is tied to real estate buildout and equipment, including:
- Simulator hardware (often six figures)
- Construction and tenant improvements
- Furniture, fixtures, and signage
- Security and access systems
Ongoing fees vary slightly by source and FDD year, but typically include:
- Royalty fee: 7%–8% of gross revenue
- Brand/marketing fee: approximately 1%
- Additional technology or system fees, depending on the agreement
Franchisee Performance and Earnings Claims
Earnings data for The Back Nine Golf Franchise is limited but not nonexistent. Several FDD summaries referencing Item 19 disclose average gross revenue figures based on a small sample of operating locations.
Reported figures include:
- Average annual gross revenue: approximately $194,000–$196,000
- Sample size: as few as five locations in some disclosures, according to Sharpsheets.
It’s important to stress:
- These are gross revenue figures, not profit
- The system is young, with limited historical data
- Performance varies widely by market, utilization, debt load, and local competition
How the Industry Itself Compares
The Back Nine Golf Franchise Industry Advantages
Indoor golf benefits from broader trends in golf participation and off-course engagement. According to the National Golf Foundation, the U.S. had 28.1 million on-course golfers in 2024, the highest number since 2008, alongside rapid growth in simulator usage.
Market research firms estimate the U.S. golf simulator market at approximately $889 million in 2024, with projected growth through the early 2030s.
From an ownership perspective, the appeal is clear:
- Membership-based recurring revenue
- Premium, technology-driven experience
- Strong appeal in golf-centric demographics
- Potential for semi-absentee operation
Compared to the Commercial Cleaning Industry
Despite these advantages, indoor golf remains a discretionary consumer service. Membership churn, local competition, and economic slowdowns can all impact utilization rates. Equipment-heavy models also introduce ongoing capital risk as technology evolves.
Commercial cleaning operates under a very different demand profile.
The IBISWorld estimates the U.S. janitorial services industry alone at approximately $112 billion annually, serving offices, schools, medical facilities, warehouses, and other commercial buildings, according to IBISWorld.
Cleaning is essential and recession-resistant. Buildings must be cleaned regardless of economic conditions. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics explicitly notes the continued demand for janitors and building cleaners due to health and safety needs.
Commercial cleaning also benefits from:
- Long-term B2B contracts
- Predictable monthly recurring revenue
- Low equipment and real estate requirements
- Easier multi-unit scaling
How the Assett Franchise Compares
Simpler Systems, Bigger Potential
Assett Franchise is already positioned inside the commercial cleaning industry, eliminating the need to bet on consumer entertainment trends. The model is designed specifically for owners who want to work on the business, not in it.
Assett’s franchise materials emphasize:
- Structured sales and operations systems
- Clear growth milestones
- The potential to scale to $1M+ in recurring revenue
- No prior cleaning experience required
In a Cleaning Business Franchise model, revenue grows by stacking contracts rather than maximizing utilization of a single physical location. This structural difference dramatically changes the risk profile.
Automated Hiring = Time and Money Saved
Labor is the biggest operational challenge in service businesses. Assett addresses this head-on with an automated hiring system designed to streamline recruiting, screening, and onboarding.
According to Assett’s franchise materials, this system can:
- Save owners 20–30 hours per week
- Reduce dependency on a full-time operations manager
- Improve consistency and scalability
For career-switching professionals, this is critical. Semi-absentee ownership only works when systems—not the owner—handle day-to-day complexity.
Personalized and Founder-Led
Assett is a family-owned, founder-led franchise, not a private equity roll-up. Franchisees receive direct guidance and training from leadership, including founder Matt Pencarinha, as stated in bizbuysell.com.
This model appeals to buyers who value:
- Direct access to leadership
- A collaborative franchise culture
- Practical, operator-driven guidance
Final Thoughts
The Back Nine Golf Franchise is a compelling option for buyers drawn to the experience economy, technology-driven recreation, and membership-based models. For the right operator in the right market, indoor golf can be an exciting business.
However, for professionals seeking:
- Long-term stability
- Predictable recurring revenue
- Lower operational complexity
- Faster, more controllable scalability
…the commercial cleaning industry offers structural advantages that are difficult to ignore.
A Cleaning Business Franchise like Assett aligns particularly well with career-switchers who want executive ownership, recession resistance, and a proven path to seven-figure revenue without heavy equipment or real estate risk.
“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.”
