First Choice Business Brokers Hickory
Business Brokerage · Updated October 2026
An office of First Choice Business Brokers
Current deals $2.8M
About First Choice Business Brokers Hickory
Richard Appleton serves as principal broker at First Choice Business Brokers Hickory. Darlene Vale works with him as an agent. The office runs from Main Avenue Northeast in Hickory, North Carolina. Together they list businesses across the Carolinas. Those businesses sit in manufacturing, auto, franchising, e-commerce, and retail. Appleton has led commercial and industrial projects and sold his own contracting business. Vale spent more than 30 years in commercial real estate brokerage.
Who is a good fit for First Choice Business Brokers Hickory
- Owners in North and South Carolina who want to sell a privately held business.
- Sellers of manufacturing, auto, franchise, e-commerce, or retail businesses.
- Contractors and industrial owners who want a broker who has run those projects.
- Owners whose lease structure or location drives much of the business value.
Service areas
Hickory, NC
Brokers and advisors at First Choice Business Brokers Hickory
Businesses for sale from First Choice Business Brokers Hickory
Frequently Asked Questions
Richard Appleton serves as principal broker and carries six of the office's live listings. He spent more than two decades leading commercial, industrial, and institutional projects across the Southeast. Darlene Vale works alongside him as an agent after more than 30 years in commercial real estate brokerage.
The office carries seven live listings covering manufacturing, auto, franchising, e-commerce, and retail. Those businesses sit in North Carolina and South Carolina. The team lists main street and middle market businesses across the region.
Richard Appleton sold his own electrical contracting business and managed the full transfer of ownership, so he has been through a transition as a seller. He has held contractor licenses in 13 states. Darlene Vale brings commercial real estate experience in site selection, lease negotiation, and property management.
The office lists a business without naming it publicly. A buyer requests more information from the listing page, then signs a non-disclosure agreement emailed by First Choice Business Brokers. Only after that does the office release the confidential summary and the financial detail.
Yes. It operates as office 337 in the First Choice Business Brokers franchise network, and each office in that network is independently owned and operated. The Hickory team runs its own valuations, marketing, and closings.