When business broker Hershey Ann walks into a meeting, chances are she’s in a white power suit. It’s intentional — a reference to the medical world she works in and a way to stand out in what she describes as a man’s world, where many default to black suits.
Her style is a part of her approach. She keeps bold-colored suits in her rotation, saving each one for the right client and occasion. She knows business owners are visual people and believes that if she can represent herself well, clients will trust her to present their businesses properly too.
But Hershey’s journey was anything but glamorous.
She grew up in the Philippines and moved to Southern California in August 2016, where she began her career in residential and commercial real estate.
“I did that for about seven to eight years, but my background has always been business building,” she said. “I remember thinking, ‘You know what, I’m getting tired of real estate. I think I’m going to do business brokering,’ and then someone introduced me to it.”
In 2023, as she was finding her footing as a broker, her home went into foreclosure. Hershey and her two daughters became homeless and ended up living in a garage.
During this time, she also battled depression and the loneliness of not having any relatives nearby to help.
“As a single mom, you don't have the luxury to give up,” she said.
It was a pivotal moment, and she knew she had to work harder to provide for her family. Eventually, she purchased her own First Choice Business Brokers franchise in Orange County. Coming from a family of doctors and nurses, she leaned into the healthcare and medical business niche and became a certified practice broker.
“I would say my bread and butter has become — and what helped me out getting out of homelessness — is really the medical spa industry,” Hershey said.
Then came 2024, her flagship year, when she was ranked No. 2 across First Choice’s roughly 100 territories nationwide. She went from never receiving any awards to standing near the top of the leaderboard and being invited to speak on a panel.
She often felt overlooked, but after that moment, the colleagues who once ignored the rookie suddenly wanted her insight.
“I earned their respect,” she said. “They asked me questions, especially about medical spas or anything about healthcare and medical — even from other states, they would send me an email asking for Zoom calls.”
Outside of work, she’s found an outlet in pickleball, which she plays for a sense of normalcy after long days and to improve her mental health. Her sense of style also follows her onto the court, where she has a lineup of tennis-style outfits.
Now, she’s setting her sights on Long Beach.
“Long Beach is a very untapped market,” she said. “Nobody in our franchise has that territory, and I know it has a lot of really good businesses.”
She already spends time here taking her daughters to brunch and visiting Filipino favorites like Gemmae Bake Shop. As a single mom who once shared a garage with her daughters, she’s determined to keep pushing her business forward.
Business owners interested in buying or selling can book a free business valuation at hersheyann.biz or by calling (949) 973-3688.
“As a single mom, you don't have the luxury to give up.”
“I earned their respect. They asked me questions, especially about medical spas or anything about healthcare and medical — even from other states, they would send me an email asking for Zoom calls.”