The lawn care industry has grown in the last several years and is expected to continue expanding in the coming years. Market research shows that landscaping services – which include lawn care services – in the U.S. are a $129 billion market, with 633,481 individual businesses participating. Increased demand is expected to raise industry revenue from 2022 to 2027, making now a good time to join the industry. Both those who are new to lawn care or those who are ready to go from an employee to an entrepreneur are well-advised to consider joining a franchise. This way you’ll have support and guidance when starting your first business. But which franchise should you choose? Let’s look at two lawn care franchises: Lawn Doctor and GrassRoots Turf.
To start, we’ve included a general overview of each brand so you can see where they initially stand.
| Lawn Doctor Franchise | GrassRoots Franchise | |
| Franchise Fee | $40,000 | $39,500 |
| Initial Investment Costs | $116,465 – $141,815 | $100,800 – $151,600 |
Net Worth Requirement | $200,000 | $50,000 |
| Liquid Capital Requirement | $60,000 | $50,000 |
Royalty Fee | 10% | 6% |
| Ad Royalty Fee | 10% | 1% |
FRANCHISOR SERVICES
One of the most important qualities of a franchisor is what kind of support they provide their franchisees. In the case of both the GrassRoots Turf and Lawn Doctor franchises, both provide comprehensive training programs. Each brand offers orientation training for their newly signed franchisees, as well as ongoing training to keep franchise partners up-to-date on the companies’ newest developments and practices. Training includes marketing, sales, technology, management, and agronomy. Support services include marketing and sales support from the franchisors, accounting, operations support, and purchasing power.
Keep in mind, too, that the Lawn Doctor has 625 locations, and GrassRoots Turf has 20. While it may seem questionable to invest in a franchise with a smaller number of locations, GrassRoots Turf’s team has higher capacity to provide more hands on support to their franchise investors than a brand with a larger number of locations.
REVENUE STREAMS
Having multiple ways of making money is just as important as how much you could make. If there are shifts in which services are in demand and which ones aren’t, it’s helpful for your franchise to be more than just a one-trick pony. Both the GrassRoots Turf franchise and Lawn Doctor franchise offer clients a monthly fee model, providing franchisees with a steady revenue stream. To make sure you always have something to offer, both franchises offer a variety of services, including fertilization, tree and shrub care, mosquito control, and lawn aeriation. More services means more repeat business, no matter what your clients may need.
FRANCHISEE EXPENSES
One of the biggest ways the GrassRoots Turf franchise differs from the Lawn Doctor franchise is in expenses, particularly the startup costs. Market research shows Lawn Doctor franchise costs range between $116,465 and $141,815, which includes an initial franchise fee of $40,000. The brand also requires their franchisees to have a net worth of $200,000 and $60,000 minimum in liquid capital. The franchise charge a royalty fee of their franchisee’s monthly gross sales and an ad royalty fee, both 10%.
GrassRoots Turf’s financial requirements for franchisees are noticeably lower. With an initial investment between $100,800 and $151,600, including a franchise fee of $39,500, we require our franchisees to have a net worth of $50,000, with $50,000 in liquid capital. Our royalty fee and ad royalty fee are 6% and 1%, respectively. This means GrassRoots Turf is not only more affordable for the franchisee from the start, but also more affordable in the long run, with lower recurring fees.
THE FRANCHISEE’S ROLE
Lawn Doctor advertises its services can be run without a storefront, but also provided by technicians so franchisees may focus on the business management side of things. GrassRoots Turf, meanwhile, does encourage franchisees to have a physical location, offering financing assistance, but also providing our franchisees with training in the use of our in-the-field equipment. This allows our franchisees the option to decide if they prefer to direct their business from the office or to lead by example, which those who enjoy working outdoors while delegating administrative duties may prefer.
SAVE SOME GREEN WITH GRASSROOTS TURF
If you want to join the multi-billion-dollar landscaping industry without needing a fortune to get started, then GrassRoots Turf may be the franchise you’re looking for. We’re a lawn care service franchise with a recurring revenue model that provides you with a steady revenue stream while you provide your clients with a suite of lawn care services for them to choose from. We provide you with the training and franchisor support services you’ll need to start your own lawn care franchise, with exclusive territories available. Contact us today for more information about our franchise opportunity and one of our representatives will be in touch.
