BiggerPockets Money Podcast · Tuesday, September 8, 2026
Alex Smirzlock clarifies that purchasing a franchise is not a passive investment and generally requires a full-time commitment, particularly in the first few years. He likens it to starting an independent business in that it demands significant time for hiring, sales, and operations, unless one has substantial capital to hire an operating partner.
“The first few years are going to be an absolute grind. You are the business owner whether it's franchise or not.”
“So whether you're starting a gutter cleaning business from scratch or you're buying a gutter cleaning franchise, you are still a gutter cleaning business owner that's going to require all the things that come with it: hiring employees, going out and selling jobs, quoting jobs, maybe building technology and automations and AI workflows, etc.”
“Unless you're really well off already, have a ton of cash, can go hire an operating partner, give them equity, pay them a salary out of the gate, burn more money the first year, you trade that capital burn for your time.”