An honest 2026 comparison between Nexus Bridge Business Brokers and Empire Business Brokers for NJ business sellers. Written by Steven Reese, founder of Nexus Bridge. Empire is a national franchise; quality varies by individual NJ office. Nexus Bridge is an independent firm with consistent senior-broker engagement.
| Nexus Bridge | Empire Business Brokers | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Independent tri-state firm | National franchise |
| Founded | 2022 | Founded 1981, multiple NJ offices |
| Upfront retainer | $0 | Varies by office |
| Success fee (sell-side) | 8–10% sliding scale | 10–12% typical |
| Co-broker policy | Always, 50/50 standard | Varies by office |
| Deal size sweet spot | $500K–$15M | $250K–$5M typically |
| Healthcare M&A | Specialist (PHHPC, OMH, NJ DOH) | General practice |
| Franchise routes | Specialist | Limited |
| Senior broker engagement | Founder handles every engagement | Varies by office & deal |
| Published market research | CC BY 4.0 NJ datasets | None or limited |
Founded 2022 by Steven Reese. Specializes in NJ/NY/CT healthcare M&A, franchise routes, and main-street businesses $500K–$15M. $0 upfront retainer, success-only commission. Always willing to co-broker. Currently representing tri-state healthcare-experienced buy-side mandate through 2026–2027.
Strengths: Healthcare regulatory specialty, $0 retainer, senior-broker engagement, free CC BY 4.0 research library, active buy-side buyer mandate.
Founded 1981, multiple NJ offices. Empire is a national franchise; quality varies by individual NJ office. Nexus Bridge is an independent firm with consistent senior-broker engagement.
Strengths: NJ office coverage in multiple counties; Active in the sub-$1M deal range; Long-established national brand (1981)
Tri-state healthcare deals, franchise routes, or NJ main-street deals $500K–$15M where senior-broker engagement matters.
Sub-$1M NJ main-street deals where Empire has a strong local office.
If you'd like a free 14-day-turnaround NJ business valuation and an honest conversation about whether Nexus Bridge or another broker (including Empire Business Brokers) is the right fit for your specific business, book a 30-minute call with Steven. If we're not the right fit, we'll tell you.