What Is the First Choice Business Brokers Franchise Opportunity?
Company Overview and Industry
First Choice Business Brokers (FCBB) is a business services franchise specializing in business brokerage – helping people buy and sell small to mid-sized businesses. The company was founded in 1994 in Las Vegas and began franchising in 2005. Over the past two decades, it has grown into one of the largest business brokerage networks in the U.S., with over 100 franchise offices nationwide. In fact, the system expanded rapidly in recent years (over 110% growth from 2022 to 2025) and now includes around 122 franchise units across the country. This expansion – and a ranking of #42 in Entrepreneur’s Franchise 500 (ranked #312 in 2025) – reflects FCBB’s established presence in its industry.
As a business brokerage franchise, First Choice operates in a professional B2B industry focused on business sales. Franchisees and their agents assist owners of small and medium-sized companies in valuing and selling their businesses, while also connecting qualified buyers with opportunities. The client base is primarily business owners (sellers) and entrepreneurs or investors (buyers), rather than the general consumer public. This means you’d be working with fellow professionals and businesspeople, advising them through one of the most important transactions of their lives – the sale or purchase of a company. It’s a highly rewarding field, both personally and financially, for those who enjoy deal-making and consulting.
Notably, First Choice Business Brokers prides itself on nearly 30 years of industry experience and a reputation as an authority in business sales. Franchise offices benefit from the credibility of a national brand and proven systems developed over decades. The company emphasizes that it adheres to professional standards (for example, aligning with industry associations like IBBA and the Institute of Business Appraisers) and has “hundreds of agents and brokers” in its network providing a trusted, efficient service to clients. In short, FCBB offers a chance to enter the business brokerage industry under a well-known banner with a ready-made playbook.
What Franchisees Get
When you invest in a First Choice Business Brokers franchise, you’re essentially launching a business brokerage office. Your core services involve helping small business owners sell their companies (and aiding buyers in finding the right business to purchase). This includes performing business valuations, marketing the listings confidentially, qualifying buyers, negotiating deals, and guiding both parties through due diligence to closing. In addition, franchisees can earn fees from related services – for example, consultation on mergers and acquisitions or providing general advice to clients preparing to sell. First Choice describes the opportunity as having “multiple streams of revenue” by supporting business owners through these various steps. In practice, most revenue comes from success fees/commissions earned when a business sale is completed. Franchisees facilitate these transactions using FCBB’s proprietary tools and systems, ensuring a professional and confidential process for clients.
One of the big appeals of FCBB is that no prior brokerage experience is required to become a franchisee. The franchisor provides comprehensive training and support to get new owners up to speed. As soon as you sign a franchise agreement, you begin First Choice University, an online training curriculum covering the fundamentals of business brokerage. This is followed by a live, five-day interactive training (conducted via webinar) that lays a strong foundation in how to list businesses for sale, find buyers, and manage deals. First Choice emphasizes continuous learning: franchisees have access to ongoing education like monthly brainstorming webinars (for all agents), monthly owner conference calls, refresher courses, and updates on industry trends. In other words, training isn’t a one-and-done event – it’s an active, continuous support system.
Beyond training, First Choice’s support infrastructure is a key part of what franchisees get. The network prides itself on “knowledge when you need it,” offering what it calls unlimited support from day one. For example, franchisees benefit from administrative and marketing support teams at headquarters that handle some of the back-end work. FCBB’s listing coordination team will help review your business-for-sale listings and assist with advertising them, so you can focus on working with clients rather than paperwork. The franchisor also provides access to specialized software systems for managing listings, contacts, and transactions – ensuring you stay organized and can leverage the company’s proprietary database of buyers and sellers according to entrepreneur.com. All standard forms, contracts, and valuation templates are supplied as well. In essence, when you join First Choice, you plug into a turnkey brokerage platform: you get training, tech tools, proven processes, and a collaborative network of other brokers. You’re in business for yourself but not by yourself – which is exactly what many franchise buyers are looking for.
It’s also worth noting the customer base and relationships you build as a First Choice franchisee. Since you work with business owners, you develop a local reputation as the go-to business sales expert in your market. The model is not a one-off “quick sale” business – ideally, it’s about forming long-term relationships. Satisfied buyers may become sellers down the road (and vice versa), coming back to you for future transactions. The franchisor emphasizes this “not a one-and-done” aspect: by doing a good job, you generate referrals and repeat business in the community. Over time, a franchisee can cultivate a network of clients and referral partners (like accountants, attorneys, and lenders) that fuels sustainable deal flow. First Choice provides the brand credibility and support, but the franchisee’s role is to be a knowledgeable local advisor and relationship-builder, creating a trusted presence in the marketplace of business buyers and sellers.
Startup Costs and Ongoing Fees
Investing in a First Choice Business Brokers franchise involves a moderate initial investment and relatively low overhead, especially compared to brick-and-mortar franchises. According to the Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD), the total initial investment ranges from about $69,000 to $98,000 to get a new FCBB office up and running. This includes all the typical startup expenses: the franchise fee, training fees, initial marketing, travel for training, office equipment, insurance, and a few months of operating cash reserve. The initial franchise fee is around $40,000. In addition, FCBB charges a one-time training and “Kickstart” marketing fee of about $14,000 – this covers your onboarding training program and an initial batch of marketing/lead generation to launch your business. When you add in some minimal costs for a home office setup (computer, printer, etc.), insurance, and working capital, the total comes in well under $100K. In fact, the low cost of entry is a selling point: “low start-up fee, no inventory, no equipment” is how First Choice pitches its opportunity. You don’t need to build out a retail location or buy heavy machinery; many franchisees even operate from a small executive office or home office, keeping real estate costs near zero.
In terms of ongoing fees, First Choice franchisees pay standard royalties and marketing contributions, with a structure slightly more complex than a flat percentage. The royalty fee is a tiered percentage of your gross commissions: 10% on revenue up to $850,000, 8% on the next $850,000, and 7% on any revenue beyond that. In effect, as you broker more deals and your office’s income grows, the royalty percentage on incremental sales declines – rewarding high performers. There is also a marketing/advertising fee to support national branding and lead generation; currently this is 2% of gross sales for franchisees according to sharpsheets.io. (Earlier sources indicated a fixed $250/month marketing fee, but the latest FDD shows a 2% ad fund contribution.) Aside from royalties and marketing, you can expect typical business expenses like insurance and any local advertising you choose to do. Importantly, the ongoing costs to run a business brokerage office are relatively low. There’s no inventory to buy (your “product” is a service), and you don’t need a fleet of vehicles or expensive equipment. Aside from perhaps a professional office space and a few team members (if you grow), your monthly overhead can be quite lean.
What about earnings potential? First Choice touts a “high earning potential” for franchisees – since commissions on selling businesses can be sizable. While every office’s results will differ, FCBB’s latest Item 19 disclosure gives some insight. In 2024, the average annual revenue per franchise unit was about $320,000. That figure represents the gross commissions earned by an average franchise location in a year. Keep in mind, that’s an average – some top offices likely earned significantly more (especially if they closed larger deals), while newer or smaller offices earned less. It does suggest, however, that a well-performing franchise can generate a healthy six-figure revenue stream. With relatively low fixed costs, a good portion of that can translate to gross profit, though franchisees would still have expenses like any salaries (if you hire brokers or admin staff) and local marketing. FCBB doesn’t publicly disclose individual franchisee profits, but the key takeaway is that the model is designed for lucrative commissions – a single successful transaction can bring in tens of thousands in fees. The trade-off is that income can be variable (more on that later), but the upside per deal is high. First Choice promotes itself as an opportunity to “build wealth” by leveraging its systems to close multiple deals a year.
In summary, starting a First Choice Business Brokers franchise will cost you in the high-five-figures (significantly less than many brick-and-mortar franchises), and the ongoing fees are in line with most franchises (royalty ~7–10%, marketing ~2%). The business can be run lean, with flexibility to start from a home office and no major equipment investments needed. That makes it an accessible opportunity for professionals with around ~$75K in liquid capital (the franchisor’s requirement is $75K cash and $150K net worth). As we’ll discuss next, the big consideration is not just the costs, but how the business brokerage industry you’d be entering compares to other industries – like the commercial cleaning space where Assett Franchise operates.
How the Industry Itself Compares
If you’re considering First Choice Business Brokers, you’re probably also weighing it against other franchise opportunities in different industries. Here, we’ll compare the business brokerage industry (First Choice’s arena) to the commercial cleaning industry (Assett Franchise’s arena) in practical, financial, and operational terms. Both are service industries, but they differ greatly in day-to-day operations and revenue models. We’ll be honest about the trade-offs of each, while highlighting why commercial cleaning can offer a more stable and scalable path for a first-time franchise owner in the long run.
First Choice Business Brokers Industry Advantages
The business brokerage industry offers some unique advantages that attract people to franchises like First Choice. One major draw is the lucrative market opportunity created by demographic and economic trends. We are in the midst of the largest wave of business ownership transition in history – as baby boomer entrepreneurs reach retirement, many are looking to sell their businesses. In fact, roughly 50% of business owners expect to sell their business within the next 10 years, according to the International Business Brokers Association. This means an enormous supply of businesses coming to market, and thus strong demand for competent brokers to facilitate those sales. As a First Choice franchisee, you position yourself to ride that wave and profit by helping boomers unlock the value in their companies. It’s a bit like being a real estate broker during a housing boom – the pie is growing, and being in the industry at the right time can be very rewarding.
Another advantage of business brokerage is that it’s a professional, white-collar service with low overhead. You aren’t managing inventory or large crews of workers. The work mainly involves networking, financial analysis, and sales negotiations – often done from an office or even a home office with just a computer and phone. First Choice highlights that it requires no inventory or equipment and only a low-cost office setup. This lean cost structure can mean higher profit margins once you start closing deals. Additionally, the income per transaction tends to be high. Typical broker commissions range around 8-12% of the sale price of a business; so selling a $500,000 small business might yield a $50,000 commission. Even after splitting commissions with agents or co-brokers, a few decent-sized deals per year can result in substantial earnings. The 2024 average franchise revenue (~$319K) underscores that successful offices can generate strong sales volumes. For entrepreneurs who have a solid business or sales background, this industry can indeed deliver a high return on effort – you’re essentially selling big-ticket assets (businesses), not $20 widgets.
The flexibility and professional nature of the work is another selling point. Many brokers appreciate that they can set their own schedules and spend their days meeting with fellow business owners, learning about different industries, and negotiating deals, rather than doing any kind of manual labor or routine service calls. First Choice markets its opportunity as providing a “better quality of life” and the chance to “work your own schedule”. If you come from a corporate background or have years of business experience, becoming a business broker can be an exciting second career – you leverage your expertise and people skills in a new way. There’s also an element of intellectual satisfaction: each deal is unique and requires creative problem-solving (how to value a business correctly, how to find the right buyer, how to structure the terms). For the right personality, this can be far more stimulating than a rote or physical business. And when a sale closes, you’re not only earning a commission – you’re changing lives by helping someone retire or a buyer realize their dream of business ownership. That personal reward shouldn’t be overlooked.
Importantly, First Choice franchisees benefit from a national network and proven systems, which give them a leg up in the industry. Independent business brokers often operate solo, but as an FCBB franchisee you can tap into the collective inventory and database of the whole franchise system. Buyers represented by one office might purchase a listing from another office, and vice versa – meaning your pool of potential deals is larger. The company’s nearly 30-year track record and Entrepreneur 500 ranking lend credibility when you approach clients. FCBB also provides standardization in forms, valuation methods, and marketing strategies that new brokers would otherwise have to figure out themselves. The franchise proudly claims “operational systems, forms and support that are second to none” in the industry. In a field where reputation and know-how matter, being part of an established brand with extensive training can shorten your learning curve and inspire trust from clients. In short, the business brokerage industry (and FCBB in particular) offers: a timely market opportunity (boomer retirement wave), high-income potential per deal, a low-cost professional service model, and the backing of a well-developed franchise system.
However, it’s crucial to also consider the challenges or limitations of the business brokerage world, especially when comparing it to commercial cleaning. While not “seasonal” in the way lawn care or mosquito control might be, business sales do tend to cycle with the economy. During recessions or times of tight credit, fewer buyers are willing or able to purchase businesses, and many owners will hold off selling if they can. This means a business broker’s deal flow (and income) can dip in a downturn – it’s not entirely recession-proof. Furthermore, the revenue pattern is transactional, not recurring: you earn a commission when a sale closes, but then that deal is done. There is some “recurring” aspect in terms of referrals and repeat clients over years, but you don’t have the stability of monthly service contracts. Each month starts at zero until you close the next sale. The sales cycle to close a deal can be many months long, so cash flow planning is key. It’s also a competitive arena; while First Choice is one of the largest brokerage franchises, the industry is fragmented with many independent brokers and small firms. You’ll need to hustle to build your pipeline and differentiate your services. The work itself, though flexible, can be high pressure – you’re dealing with negotiations, complex due diligence, and sometimes emotional sellers (for many owners, selling their business is like selling their “baby,” which can complicate the process). These factors don’t negate the advantages, but they paint the full picture: business brokerage is potentially high-reward but also higher-variance and skill-intensive work. Now, let’s see how that contrasts with the commercial cleaning industry that Assett Franchise is part of.
Compared to Commercial Cleaning Industry
In many respects, the commercial cleaning industry offers a more stable and scalable path for a franchise owner, especially someone new to running a business. Commercial cleaning (janitorial services for offices, schools, medical facilities, etc.) is a massive and fundamentally essential industry. The U.S. janitorial and commercial cleaning sector is over $100 billion per year in size. Virtually every office building, school, retail store, warehouse, and healthcare facility needs regular cleaning – it’s a universal need, not a luxury. This huge market size means demand is broad and constant. Cleaning is required in all economies and seasons. Even during recessions or pandemics, businesses and institutions must maintain cleanliness for health, safety, and basic operations. In fact, cleaning is often recession-resistant because it’s one of the last expenses a company would cut – a dirty or unsanitary workplace isn’t an option. By contrast, business brokerage services are driven by discretionary transactions that can slow down when the economy is weak. Simply put, cleaning is an essential service, so a cleaning business franchise benefits from a built-in baseline of demand that doesn’t vanish in tough times. This provides a new owner with peace of mind: you’re selling something that virtually every business needs continuously (cleanliness), not something only a subset of business owners might need occasionally (a broker to sell their business).
Another key difference is the revenue model: recurring contracts versus one-time sales. A commercial cleaning business is typically built on long-term client contracts that provide recurring revenue month after month. For example, you might secure a contract to clean a medical office building 5 nights a week for a year. That single contract then generates steady income each week, and many clients renew annually if you deliver good service. Over time, a cleaning franchise owner can accumulate dozens of such accounts – effectively building an annuity-like revenue stream of predictable cash flow. You’re not starting from scratch each month; you can forecast revenue based on existing contracts and focus on adding new ones to grow. This is in stark contrast to business brokerage, where each deal is a one-off event and income can be uneven. The cleaning model allows you to stack revenue cumulatively (each new contract layers on top of existing ones). For an owner, this means greater financial stability and easier scaling. You could be on vacation for a week and your cleaning crews still service the contracts and generate revenue. In brokerage, if you take a vacation during a critical deal negotiation, the deal might stall – it’s very tied to individual effort. The recurring revenue of cleaning is a powerful advantage for those who want a more stable, semi-passive income over time.
Speaking of semi-passive or absentee ownership: commercial cleaning franchises often offer a clearer path to that model. Since cleaning services can be delivered by trained crew members and don’t require the owner’s presence on-site, a franchise like Assett can be structured for the owner to work on the business rather than in it. With the right systems, an owner can hire a supervisor or manager to handle day-to-day operations while they focus on client relationships and growth. In fact, Assett Franchise’s model is built so it can be run with as little as ~5 hours per week of owner time as an executive manager once the business is established. Many commercial cleaning owners eventually step back and let their team carry out the nightly cleaning routes. Compare this to a business brokerage franchise: it’s generally not a business you can run absentee from day one. Clients expect to work directly with the knowledgeable broker (often the franchisee themselves), and while you could hire associate brokers, as the franchise owner you’re typically deeply involved in every deal. It’s telling that First Choice’s ideal franchisee profile seeks experienced professionals and doesn’t position the franchise as a semi-absentee investment – they expect owners to be actively engaged and leveraging their personal expertise. Commercial cleaning, on the other hand, is more operations-focused than expertise-focused – and those operations can be delegated. If your long-term goal is to build a business that can run without your constant presence, cleaning provides a more straightforward route to that end state.
Another advantage of cleaning is the simplicity and lack of seasonality in operations. Cleaning is needed year-round, with no real off-season. Offices get dirty in January and July alike. In fact, demand can even spike in certain periods (flu season or after special events) but it rarely drops off. You won’t face the kind of seasonal swings that, say, a landscaping franchise would (spring/summer busy, winter slow). Business brokerage isn’t seasonal per se, but as mentioned, it’s tied to economic cycles and even interest rates (when financing is cheap, more deals happen; when credit is tight, sales slow). So cleaning offers more consistency. Additionally, the sales process in cleaning is generally more straightforward and less emotional. When you sell a cleaning contract, it’s a B2B service sale based on meeting a need for cleanliness at a competitive price and quality. Facility managers or business owners choose a janitorial vendor by evaluating reliability, cost, and service level – it’s a practical decision. In business brokerage, each “sale” (of a business) is highly emotional and complex: owners might back out if they feel the price is too low, buyers can be very meticulous and emotional since they’re investing their savings, and negotiations can be delicate. The cleaning sales cycle usually involves giving a quote and perhaps a short trial period, after which the contract is signed and you maintain the account. And once you win the account, you often keep it for years if service is good, without having to “resell” the client constantly. A business broker, in contrast, is essentially “unemployed” after each deal until they land the next client. For a franchise owner, this means client acquisition is continual in brokerage, whereas in cleaning it levels out as your client base grows. The lower ongoing sales effort per account in cleaning can reduce stress and marketing costs in the long run.
From an operational complexity standpoint, commercial cleaning is generally considered simpler to systematize. The tasks – emptying trash, vacuuming, sanitizing surfaces, etc. – can be taught to entry-level employees with modest training. Quality control is important, but the processes are not technically complex. You’re also not dealing with supply chain intricacies; cleaning supplies are basic and readily available. In business brokerage, while the franchise provides training, the actual work requires understanding financial statements, valuation techniques, legal contract terms, and managing negotiations. It’s a knowledge-intensive service – essentially you’re acting as a mini M&A advisor. Training a new employee to be a competent business broker would take far more time than training a cleaning crew member. This makes scaling the brokerage business harder; the talent pool is limited and highly skilled (often you might be the only broker in your office, or you hire a very experienced salesperson). In a cleaning franchise, you can relatively quickly hire and train crew leaders, account managers, etc., because the roles are more straightforward. Plus, cleaning doesn’t require professional licenses or advanced degrees; it’s accessible to manage. The cleaning franchise owner’s main challenge is hiring reliable people (which Assett addresses with an automated hiring system, discussed later). Meanwhile, a brokerage franchise owner’s challenge is effectively being the rainmaker and expert – a role not as easily delegated.
To sum up the industry comparison: Commercial cleaning offers a larger market (> $100B vs a niche market for business sales), essential and recession-resistant demand (every business needs cleaning continuously), recurring revenue contracts that build a stable base, year-round sales with minimal seasonality, and a model that scales by adding staff for straightforward tasks – enabling semi-absentee ownership and simpler operations. By contrast, business brokerage offers high per-transaction revenue and professional appeal, but faces cyclical demand, one-time transactional income, a need for constant deal sourcing, and less scalable owner-dependent operations. Both industries have their merits: if someone loves deal-making, networking, and doesn’t mind an income that can fluctuate, business brokerage can be satisfying. But for many first-time entrepreneurs seeking a scalable, stable business, the commercial cleaning industry presents a more straightforward, lower-risk path to growth. Next, let’s zero in on how Assett Franchise harnesses those cleaning industry advantages – and how it compares to First Choice’s model for someone evaluating both opportunities.
How the Assett Franchise Compares
Simpler Systems, Bigger Potential
Assett Franchise is a commercial cleaning business franchise founded by Matt Pencarinha, designed explicitly for owners who want to work on the business, not in it. In contrast to more owner-operated models (like many business brokerages where the owner is the broker), Assett was built with a philosophy of simplicity and scalability as stated in bizbuysell.com. Because it’s already in the $100B+ commercial cleaning arena, Assett franchisees benefit from all the industry advantages we discussed – essential service, recurring B2B revenue, recession-resistant demand, and so on. But Assett takes it a step further by providing streamlined systems that make it easier for an owner to scale to a large business (even $1M+ in annual recurring revenue) without needing specialized experience or massive infrastructure.
One of the key differences is that Assett is purpose-built for executive ownership and semi-absentee operation. The model assumes you don’t have cleaning industry experience – and that’s okay. Assett provides a complete business playbook and training program to teach you how to launch, get clients, and manage cleaning crews efficiently. The systems in place (from client acquisition to service delivery) are simplified so that you, as the franchise owner, can focus on growing the business and managing a small team, rather than personally performing cleaning tasks. In other words, no daily “grunt work” for the owner – your job is to build client relationships and oversee quality, while the cleaning itself is handled by your employees. This is very different from a First Choice Business Brokers scenario, where the franchise owner is typically the principal dealmaker. Assett’s model is about leveraging a team and processes to do the work, allowing the owner to scale up more easily. It’s quite feasible to grow to servicing dozens of contracts (worth $1M+ a year) because you can hire more cleaning crews as needed, without drastically increasing your personal workload. Assett franchise owners are encouraged to think big and work smart: the systems are there to support multi-million dollar growth if you follow the plan.
Assett also keeps things simple operationally, which reduces the barrier to entry for newcomers. Commercial cleaning is already straightforward, and Assett has standardized everything – from bidding templates to cleaning checklists – so you’re not reinventing the wheel. No industry experience is required to start; just like FCBB, Assett trains franchisees thoroughly. But while a new business broker must master valuations and negotiations, a new Assett franchisee mainly needs to learn the provided system and be willing to network and manage people. Assett’s approach is ideal for first-time entrepreneurs or career changers who want a proven path to follow. The franchise is family-owned and founder-led, not a faceless corporate empire, so new owners get direct access to leadership like Matt Pencarinha and personalized guidance as they set up operations. This means that support can be very hands-on and tailored, helping franchisees hit the ground running with confidence.
Automated Hiring = Time and Money Saved
One particularly innovative advantage of Assett Franchise is its automated hiring system for building your cleaning team. Ask any service business owner their biggest headache, and most will say “finding and keeping good employees.” Assett recognized this pain point and developed a proprietary system to streamline recruitment, vetting, and onboarding of cleaners. This system uses automation and proven funnels to keep a steady pipeline of qualified cleaning staff coming in, so franchisees aren’t spending all their time posting job ads or dealing with no-shows. By automating much of the hiring process, Assett saves owners an estimated 20–30 hours per week that would otherwise be spent on HR tasks – or equivalently, it saves you the cost of having to employ a full-time hiring manager. The result is two-fold: you maintain a consistently staffed, high-quality workforce and you free up the owner’s time to focus on business growth (or to enjoy a more passive role).
This focus on solving the labor challenge is a game-changer in scaling a cleaning business. Typically, as a cleaning franchise grows, the owner can get bogged down in constantly recruiting cleaners (due to turnover or expanding contracts). Assett’s automated hiring system largely removes that bottleneck, making it much easier to add crews as you sign new contracts. It ensures that labor scaling keeps pace with revenue scaling, which is critical to hitting that $1M+ revenue potential without burning out. Moreover, by maintaining a reliable pool of vetted cleaning staff, Assett franchisees can uphold a high standard of service at scale – leading to happy clients and long-term retention. In contrast, in many franchises (and certainly in a business brokerage franchise), the limiting factor to growth is the owner’s own time or ability to find talent. Assett proactively addresses that by essentially becoming your recruiting partner through technology-driven systems. This means time and money saved, and far less stress for the owner. For someone who wants a semi-absentee model, this kind of automated operational support is invaluable – it’s what enables an owner to step back and manage in just a few hours a week, because the toughest part (hiring and staffing) is on autopilot.
Personalized and Founder-Led
Another way Assett Franchise distinguishes itself is through its personalized, family-owned approach. Unlike some franchise systems that are owned by private equity or large corporations, Assett is run by its founder (Matt Pencarinha) and a small leadership team deeply invested in each franchisee’s success. This means when you join Assett, you’re joining a close-knit franchise family with direct lines of communication to the decision-makers. Franchisees can expect one-on-one mentorship from the founder and access to experienced guidance whenever challenges arise. This level of personal attention can make a huge difference, especially in the early stages of your business when you’re learning the ropes. It’s easier to trust a process – and navigate hurdles – when you know the people who created that process are just a phone call away and genuinely care about your results.
Assett’s culture is community-focused and mission-driven. Being founder-led, the company has the flexibility to adapt and continuously improve the franchise model based on feedback from the field. Franchisees have a voice and aren’t just “franchise unit #XYZ” in a giant system. The goals of the franchisor and franchisees are closely aligned, with Matt and the team taking a long-term view of helping owners build sustainable businesses (rather than just selling as many franchises as possible). This is reminiscent of First Choice’s early days as well – FCBB itself started as a family business before expanding. However, with over 100 franchises, First Choice today is a larger operation (and according to its FDD, it’s owned by an LLC and has had rapid expansion recently) – meaning new FCBB franchisees might not get the same level of founder interaction. Assett, being a newer franchise, is deliberately keeping the experience personal and founder-involved. Some entrepreneurs prefer this, as it often translates to more tailored support, quicker responses, and a feeling that “the franchisor knows me and my market.” It also ensures that the core mission – helping franchisees build a business that works for their life – isn’t diluted by outside interests. In Assett’s case, being family-owned means decisions are guided by what’s best for the franchise community and the brand’s integrity, rather than by appeasing investors or hitting aggressive growth targets.
In summary, Assett Franchise offers a compelling alternative for someone comparing it to an indirect competitor like First Choice Business Brokers. Both aim to empower people to leave corporate careers and build their own business, but the path Assett provides is one of lower complexity, higher stability, and personal-touch support. You get the benefit of the commercial cleaning industry’s strengths plus Assett’s modern enhancements (like automated hiring and an executive ownership model), all while being part of a franchise system that treats you like a partner rather than just a number on a sales report.
Final Thoughts
First Choice Business Brokers is a strong franchise in the right context – it leverages a booming market of business sales and can be a great fit for a buyer who loves sales, networking, and high-ticket deals. If you have a passion for deal-making, solid business acumen, and don’t mind a more variable income tied to transactions, FCBB offers an established platform to potentially earn significant commissions. It’s worth acknowledging that First Choice’s strengths – such as a long track record, professional training, and the excitement of brokerage – can indeed appeal to the right type of buyer (perhaps someone coming out of finance, real estate, or corporate leadership who wants a new challenge).
However, for many would-be franchise owners, the priority is finding a business model that delivers more stability, scalability, and simplicity. This is where Assett Franchise offers more advantages for the majority of people making the leap from employment to business ownership. Assett provides:
- A scalable, stable business in a huge essential market (commercial cleaning) where growth comes from accumulating recurring contracts rather than chasing one-off sales.
- Low operational complexity, thanks to straightforward services and automated systems that handle the hardest parts of the business (like hiring).
- Predictable recurring revenue that builds over time, reducing risk and smoothing out cash flow – you’re not starting at zero every month, and you can forecast income with confidence.
- Minimal risk and faster ROI, given the low initial investment and the steady demand for cleaning (clients tend to stick around, so you recoup your investment as the contract base grows, without worrying that a market crash will wipe out demand).
- A modern business model built for executive ownership, meaning you can keep your work-life balance. You’re not buying yourself a full-time job scrubbing floors; you’re investing in a system where you manage and let the business work for you as it matures.
In comparing a business brokerage franchise to a cleaning business franchise, it ultimately comes down to your personal goals and appetite for complexity. Assett Franchise is crafted for someone who wants a simpler path to business success – one that is more predictable, resilient, and supportive, especially for a first-time entrepreneur. It’s about building an income stream that doesn’t control your life, but rather enhances it.
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.
