If you’re exploring franchise opportunities that can replace your career with a thriving business, Fleet Services International Franchise might be on your list of options. Like many prospective owners, your goal is likely to find a business with strong demand, predictable revenue, and a clear path to strong ownership returns. In this in-depth review, we’ll explore what Fleet Services International Franchise is, how it works, what it costs, and how it stacks up against the commercial cleaning industry—especially if you’re also considering a cleaning business franchise like Assett Franchise.
What Is the Fleet Services International Franchise Opportunity?
Company Overview and Industry
Fleet Services International (FSI) is a business opportunity focused on commercial fleet maintenance and repair of vehicles. Founded in 2001, FSI operates as a nationwide network of independent dealerships that offer on-site fleet maintenance solutions to commercial customers, corporate fleets, and government entities. Although some franchise directories call it a franchise, FSI describes itself as a dealer business opportunity, not a traditional franchise with ongoing fees.
The industry FSI operates in is the automotive aftermarket and fleet maintenance sector—an essential, commercially focused niche serving organizations that need regular upkeep of their fleet vehicles. FSI dealers fill the gap between fleet owners and large, costly service providers by offering cost-effective maintenance performed on site.
Notable aspects of the opportunity include:
- A co-brand with Richard Petty’s Petty’s Garage, a well-known name in motorsports and automotive circles, giving brand recognition to independent dealers.
- SBA (Small Business Administration) approval and 100% financing options for qualified buyers.
- A waitlist and exclusive territory rights—only one dealer per territory, according to Franchise Gator.
As of the most recent public sources, Fleet Services International has a small network of roughly 15 dealer locations, with availability varying by state.
What Franchisees Get
Services the Franchise Offers
FSI dealers provide on-site maintenance and repair services to commercial fleets. This includes:
- Routine maintenance (oil changes, brakes, filters)
- Diagnostic services
- Fleet repair and upkeep
- Commercial vehicle troubleshooting and fleet optimization
Business owners, not technicians, run the dealership while hiring and managing technicians to perform service work.
Because the service is commercial, most clients are businesses or government accounts, not individual consumers.
Support Systems, Tools, or Training Provided
FSI emphasizes a complete training and support package:
- Dealers receive hands-on operational training inside actual working dealerships.
- Software tools from industry providers like NAPA TRACS, Mitchell ProDemand, AutoVitals, and Shop Monkey help manage service operations.
- Ongoing support is offered, often marketed as lifetime assistance for operational challenges.
- Purchasing power through national vendor affiliations helps reduce parts and tool costs.
Customer Base (Residential vs Commercial)
The FSI model is commercial-only—its customer base consists of corporate fleets, commercial trucking companies, and government vehicle fleets. There is no focus on residential customers, which aligns with many service-oriented businesses that prioritize B2B recurring revenue.
Startup Costs and Ongoing Fees
Initial Investment Range
The total investment to start a Fleet Services International dealership typically ranges between $100,000 and $500,000, depending on territory size and financing.
Many franchise directories note:
- Liquid capital requirements of approximately $75,000–$100,000.
- Total investment range: $100,000 to $250,000 (common estimates).
- Some FSI documentation suggests up to $500,000 in total investment for larger territories.
FSI promotes 100% financing through SBA backing for qualified U.S. buyers with strong financials.
Franchise Fee, Royalty %, Marketing Fees
Interestingly, FSI is often described as not a franchise in the traditional sense, meaning:
- There is no typical franchise fee.
- There are no ongoing royalties or marketing fees.
This structure means owners keep all profits, but it also means the business may lack some standardized franchise support and brand ecosystem benefits that come with traditional franchise systems.
How the Industry Itself Compares
When weighing opportunities, consider how the automotive fleet maintenance industry stacks up against the commercial cleaning industry, especially if you’re comparing a Fleet Services International Franchise to a cleaning business franchise opportunity like Assett Franchise.
Fleet Services International Industry Advantages
The automotive fleet maintenance industry does offer some attractive attributes:
- Commercial demand exists as companies need their fleets operational at all times.
- First-year profit potential is marketed at around $100,000, according to FSI directories.
- Training and support, plus exclusive territories, can provide a clear competitive advantage.
- The SBA-financing component can reduce upfront cash barriers for qualified buyers.
However, it’s important to understand how these advantages fit into the broader reality of the business—and where challenges might emerge.
Compared to Commercial Cleaning Industry
Here’s how the commercial cleaning industry compares in ways that matter to franchise buyers like you:
Market Size and Stability
- Commercial cleaning serves a $100+ billion market, with demand from offices, schools, medical facilities, warehouses, and more.
- These contracts are essential services with recurring revenue due to repeat cleaning cycles.
Recurring Revenue
- Cleaning typically involves long-term B2B contracts with predictable recurring revenue and lower customer churn than automotive maintenance.
Simplicity and Scalability
- Commercial cleaning requires minimal heavy equipment, and operations are easier to scale geographically without major capital expense.
- Many cleaning businesses can be run semi-absentee while generating $1M+ recurring revenue, as stated in bizbuysell.com.
Operational Complexity
- Automotive fleet services often require specialized technicians, tools, parts inventories, and compliance with automotive safety regulations.
- In contrast, cleaning businesses have a lower barrier to entry operationally and can focus on process, quality control, and relationship management rather than technical service delivery.
Seasonality and Demand
- Maintenance demand can vary depending on client fleet usage and scheduled downtime.
- Commercial cleaning contracts generally have steady year-round demand not tied to vehicle use cycles.
Competition and Market Dynamics
- Automotive maintenance competes with large national chains and independent shops.
- Commercial cleaning competes on service quality and reliability, often benefitting from stable B2B demand rather than single events.
Given these factors, the commercial cleaning industry often offers more stable recurring revenue, easier scaling, and less technical operational complexity than automotive fleet services.
How the Assett Franchise Compares
If your goal is to leave your career and build a scalable, semi-absentee business with predictable recurring income, here’s how Assett Franchise stacks up against Fleet Services International:
Simpler Systems, Bigger Potential
Assett Franchise operates in the commercial cleaning industry—an essential, recession-resistant sector with a massive market and dependable B2B contracts.
Unlike technical services, cleaning businesses:
- Focus on consistent service delivery, not mechanical repair.
- Offer a proven path to $1M+ in recurring annual revenue with predictable growth.
- Are easier to operate without deep technical know-how.
With Assett, you get a clear business playbook, training, and systems designed for first-time owners to work on the business, not tied to complex service tasks.
Automated Hiring = Time and Money Saved
One of the biggest ongoing challenges in service industries is recruiting and retaining quality labor. Assett’s automated hiring system:
- Eliminates hours spent on recruitment and screening.
- Saves owners the cost of hiring full-time internal HR.
- Helps maintain a high-quality workforce consistently across territories.
Fleet service operations, while commercially focused, still rely on specialized technicians and ongoing labor management without the same automation infrastructure.
Personalized and Founder-Led Support
Assett Franchise stands out as a family-owned, founder-led brand with direct access to leadership, not a large private equity holding.
Owners receive:
- Personalized guidance from leadership like Matt Pencarinha, the founder.
- Community-focused support emphasizing growth and operational success.
- A franchise network built around collaboration and shared success.
This contrasts with FSI’s dealership model, which positions independent owners without traditional franchise support structures.
Final Thoughts
Fleet Services International offers an interesting opportunity in the automotive maintenance space—especially for entrepreneurs drawn to vehicles, technical services, and exclusive territories with financing potential. Its commercial focus and exclusive territory rights can attract certain buyers who enjoy hands-on operational involvement and technical business management.
However, if you’re looking for an opportunity with less technical complexity, lower operational barriers, predictable recurring revenue, and easier scalability, the commercial cleaning industry and a cleaning business franchise like Assett Franchise may be a better fit.
Commercial cleaning:
- Taps into a massive B2B essential services market.
- Provides recession-resistant recurring revenue with lower customer churn.
- Can often be operated semi-absentee, freeing you to scale or pursue other interests.
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.
