An honest 2026 comparison between Nexus Bridge Business Brokers and First Choice Business Brokers for NJ business sellers. Written by Steven Reese, founder of Nexus Bridge. First Choice tends to focus on mid-market main-street deals ($500K–$5M); some offices have M&A specialty practices. Nexus Bridge specializes in healthcare and franchise routes specifically.
| Nexus Bridge | First Choice Business Brokers | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Independent tri-state firm | National franchise |
| Founded | 2022 | Founded 1994, 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 1994, multiple NJ offices. First Choice tends to focus on mid-market main-street deals ($500K–$5M); some offices have M&A specialty practices. Nexus Bridge specializes in healthcare and franchise routes specifically.
Strengths: Mid-market focus rather than micro-deals; Some offices have M&A specialty practices; National buyer reach
Tri-state healthcare deals (Article 28, Article 31, ASCs, dental), franchise routes, or NJ deals where senior-broker engagement and published research matter.
Mid-market NJ main-street deals $500K–$5M in offices with a mid-market specialty practice.
If you'd like a free 14-day-turnaround NJ business valuation and an honest conversation about whether Nexus Bridge or another broker (including First Choice 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.