Landscaping Business Franchises
Even in the worst of times, this business opportunity offers opportunity for growth
If you’ve ever thought about running a landscaping or gardening business, but your expertise is growing bushes not businesses, take a look at landscaping and lawn care franchises. A relatively small initial investment (by franchising standards) gets you a ready-made business, access to the wholesale purchasing power of a big company, and even national advertising support.In good economies or bad, grass still grows and, as the overall population ages, there may be more opportunities for professional gardeners doing the yard work while retirees lounge. The downside? This is seasonal work in much of the country, though some franchises switch to snow removal in winter.
Some of the selling points of landscape franchises, taking as an example the stats from Weed Man, one of the biggest:
Attractive financials, including 54 percent gross margins.
Good cash flow: Weed Man says that 15-30 percent of customers pre-pay for a year’s worth of services, while the franchisee can take advantage of 30- to 180-day financing terms from suppliers.
Recurring revenue: Customers tend to renew a gardening service automatically year by year.
Get the basics of finding and buying a franchise
The International Franchise Association is a terrific starting point for anyone thinking of buying a franchise business. You’ll find franchise basics, advice from franchise veterans and help with finding a franchise.
Check out the major landscape gardening franchises
Start at the top and see what the big guys have to offer. Weed Man, for example, specializes in lawn care and promises an initial 12 days of training in business operation, discounted supplies and special software that benchmarks franchise performance. Weed Man requires an initial investment just north of $100,000 and a net worth of $125,000. Lawn Doctor wants about the same money but will finance a third of it. Other big names are Scotts LawnService, U.S. Lawns and Spring-Green, which offers a plan to try out the business by operating a franchise part-time for a year.
Go for a 'green' lawn-care franchise
Here’s a marketing angle for our times: all-natural landscaping services. NaturaLawn of America supplies its franchisees with a proprietary line of organic fertilizers and non-chemical pest repellents and promises in-depth training. With a minimum net worth requirement of $250,000 and “significant entrepreneurial experience,” NaturaLawn has higher barriers to entry, so be prepared to pitch yourself as green but not a total business greenhorn.
Other options: Nutri-Lawn is a Canadian company expanding in the U.S. with a combination of organic products and lawn maintenance services. Clean Air Lawn Care sets you up with all-electric or bio-fuels equipment.
Franchises cover ancillary landscaping and lawn-care businesses, too
Clintar is a major full-service grounds-care company that can also put you into the lucrative landscape construction line, building patios, ponds and other garden add-ons. It also markets your services through a partnership with Home Depot. Outdoor Lighting Perspectives franchisees sell and install garden and home-security lights. Border Magic franchise outlets make concrete garden borders and walkways.
Don’t get clipped by a franchisor
Take advantage of the plentiful information available to help you decide on a landscape business deal. Before you sign up, franchisor must by law give you a detailed disclosure document, the Uniform Franchise Offering Circular (UFOC), stating the fees, territory restrictions and other terms, as well as the financial health of the franchisor company. UFOC terms are typically take-it-or-leave-it, though you might discover some wiggle room by talking to other franchisees (find them in the UFOC). You can find UFOCs through FRANdata.com, UFOCS.com or WorldFranchising.com.
Start your own franchise
Nearly all franchises started out as a single business. Maybe you have your own landscape franchise concept you think will fly. With some specialized landscape design education or training, you might become the next landscape franchise baron. You’ll find dozens of landscape training options online.
Jeff B. Copeland is content specialist at Business.com, the web’s largest business-to-business searchable directory and home to more than 35,000 business how-to guides.
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