Points of entry

Archadeck Outdoor Living

• Franchising since: 1980
• Average Initial Investment and what this covers: $130,000-$150,000 – Start-up capital (Home-based, minimal tools and equipment, software, launch marketing for the first year).
• Royalty fee: 6.5% on a sliding scale
• Franchise fee: $49,500
• Total investment: $130,000-$150,000
• Number of North American Locations: 66
• States/provinces with at least 1 franchise: 30
• Services offered: Residential custom design and build for outdoor living spaces including decks, sunrooms, screened porches, hardscapes, outdoor kitchens and pergolas
• Closures in the last three fiscal years: 5
• Hours of Training: 116 hours of classroom and 10 hours of field training
• Website: Archadeckfranchise.com and Archadeck.com

U.S. Lawns

• Franchising since: 1986
• Average Initial Investment and what this covers: Between $45,800 and $141,300 depending on type of franchise (standard vs. conversion) and desired operational model. Covers the first three months of operation and includes the franchise fee; initial marketing plan; training costs; deposits and payments for facility, truck, trailer and equipment and additional operating capital.
• Royalty Fee: Begins at 6% of gross monthly sales and declines to 5% and then 4% as certain revenue thresholds are achieved.
• Franchise Fee: Initial franchise fee is $34,0000 – discounts are available for existing landscape business operators looking to convert their business.
• Total Investment: Same as average initial investment listed above
• Number of North American Locations: 250
• Services offered: Core services includes maintenance, tree trimming; fertilization, lawn care and shrub and tree insect and disease control, lawn and ornamental consultation; irrigation services; installation of landscape materials; arborist services; and snow management and other snow-related services
• Closures in the last three fiscal years: 41
• Hours of Training: 47
• Website: uslawnsfranchise.com

Clintar

• Franchising since: 1982
• Average Initial Investment and what this covers: $400,000 - $600,000 covers set-up, real estate planning, training and operations and marketing.
• Royalty Fee: 8%
• Franchise Fee: $40,000
• Total Investment: $440,000 – $640,000
• Number of North American Locations: 26
• States/Provinces with at least 1 franchise: 6
• Services offered: Snow and ice control, landscape management, landscape enhancements, parking lot maintenance, other services such as window cleaning, noxious weed and invasive species control
• Closures in the last three fiscal years: 0
• Hours of Training: Seasonal
• Website: Clintar.com

Weed Man

• Franchising since: In Canada in 1976 and expanded to offer franchising to the United States in 1996.
• Average Initial Investment and what this covers: $69,490 - $86,550. Initial franchise fee, training expenses, travel, real estate improvements, equipment and fixtures, truck and spray package lease, computer hardware and software, insurance, miscellaneous operating costs and additional funds for three months.
• Royalty Fee: $12,558.98 annually for each of the first two production vehicles; $8,791.29 annually for the third production vehicle; and $6,279.49 annually for each subsequent production vehicle used during the year. Each year, these amounts may be adjusted for inflation, according to the Consumer Price index. The Base Year is Nov. 1, 1995. The amounts stated are for 2020.
• Franchise Fee: Single territory (population up to 150,000): $20,000; double territory (population up to 300,000): $33,750
• Total Investment: $69,490 to $86,550
• Number of North American Locations: 306 License Agreements & 683 Territory Counts
• Services offered: Fertilizer, weed control, insect control, mosquito control, aeration, seeding
• Closures in the last 3 fiscal years: 7
• Hours of training: 10-day training - 70 hours
• Website: Weedmanfranchise.com or Weedman.com

The Grounds Guys

• Franchising since: 2010
• Average Initial Investment and what this covers: $81,220 - $200,070. This includes the initial franchise fee, software, vehicle(s), equipment, supplies, inventory, insurance, local marketing and promotions, training, travel, lodging, deposits, permits licenses, real estate. The Grounds Guys estimated initial investment range includes the franchise fee; however, the initial franchise fee may vary depending on the size of the territory purchased.
• Royalty Fee: 5-6%
• Franchise Fee: $35,000 (minimum initial)
• Total investment: Not available
• Number of North American Locations: 213
• Services offered: Residential and commercial services include: lawn and bed maintenance; landscape and hardscape; pest, weed and fertilization, irrigation, outdoor lighting, snow and ice management; gutter cleaning
• Hours of Training: 110 hours over a 12-13 week onboarding process from signing to opening. Ongoing learning opportunities: 48-plus annual training opportunities, all day training events, weekly webinars and more.
• Websites: Franchise.groundsguys.com and Groundsguys.com

Freedom Lawns USA

• Franchising since: 2007
• Average Initial Investment and what this covers: Ranges from $45,000 - $60,000 excluding franchise fee. This includes vehicle, spray unit, computer software program, miscellaneous equipment, training, marketing, customized website, paper supplies, start-up product, insurance licensing.
• Royalty Fee: 6% - Also offers franchise owners an incentive program for reducing their monthly royalty based on annual growth.
• Franchise Fee: $15,000 - $25,000 based on territory
• Total Investment: $60,000 - $70,000
• Number of North American Locations: 11
• States/Provinces with at least 1 franchise: 4
• Services offered: Organic based lawn care, plant health care, natural mosquito control, many other optional lawn care services.
• Closures in the last three fiscal years: 1
• Hours of Training: 2 weeks- 80 hours- training is conducted at the corporate office and on franchise site
• Website: Freedomlawnsusa.com

Spring-Green Lawn Care

• Franchising since: 1977
• Average Initial Investment and what this covers: $87,424 – Franchise fee, down payment on vehicle and equipment, technology and software, opening supplies, initial marketing campaign, initial data fee, three months working capital.
• Royalty Fee: 10-8% (5-3% first season for qualifying green industry business)
• Franchise Fee: $25,000 with qualifying green industry business; ($40,000 without)
• Total Investment: $89,982-$106,262
• Number of North American Locations: 126 independently operated locations, plus 26 company owned locations
• States/Provinces with at least 1 franchise: 26
• Services offered: Lawn fertilization and weed control, lime treatment, lawn disease control, brown patch control, aeration and overseed, core aeration, grassy weed control, ornamental bed weed control, irrigation maintenance, moss control, root feeding, specialty injections, two-step tree program, perimeter pest control, mosquito mitigation, fire ant, control, flea and tick control, crane fly control, grub/subsurface insect control, surface feeding insect control (services may vary by region)
• Closures in the last three fiscal years: 3
• Hours of Training: 40
• Website: Spring-green.com

Outdoor Lighting Perspectives

• Franchising since: 1998
• Average Initial Investment and what this covers: $150,00 start-up capital (initial inventory, tools, equipment, launch marketing leasing program is available for the vehicle.)
• Royalty fee: 7% sales
• Franchise fee: $49,500
• Total investment: $150,000
• Number of North American locations: 90
• States/provinces with at least 1 franchise: 32
• Services offered: Residential LED low voltage lighting, holiday lighting (for commercial and residential) and commercial and hospitality lighting solutions
• Closures in the last three fiscal years: 19
• Hours of Training: 61 hours of classroom and 36 hours of field training
• Website: Outdoorlightingfranchise.com and Outdoorlights.com

NaturaLawn

• Franchising since: 1989
• Average Initial Investment and what this covers: Visit bit.ly/naturainvest
• Royalty Fee: Service fees start at 9% until you reach $500,000 annual revenue, and once $500,000 is achieved the fee drops to 7%. Service fees are based on deposits, not on sales.
• Franchise Fee: $29,500 (new start up) – for conversions (current lawn care companies) the fee is adjusted based on revenue. It could be as low as $9,500.
• Total Investment: $47,500 to $112,650 – depends on a new start-up vs a conversion.
• Number of North American Locations: 49 physical locations / 93 licenses
• Services offered: Lawn care, flea and tick, mosquito and aeration and seed
• Closures in the last three fiscal years: 0
• Hours of Training: Classroom 120 hours (3 weeks) and on the job 51-90.
• Website: Naturalawnfranchise.com and Naturalawn.com

Conserva Irrigation

• Franchising since: June of 2017
• Average Initial Investment and what this covers: First 90 days - $81,800 - $102,250 covers territory fee, travel for training, tools and equipment, computer hardware and software, inventory, storage, vehicle, vehicle signage, marketing investment and additional funds
• Royalty Fee: Tiered 8%, 7%, 6%, 5%
• Franchise Fee: First territory - $49,500; Second territory - $40,000
• Total Investment: Initial investment (first 90 days) - $81,800 - $102,250; Total Capital (first year) $150,000 - $200,000.
• Number of North American Locations: 105
• Services offered: For residential and commercial properties: Irrigation system installation, irrigation service and repair, irrigation annual/seasonal maintenance packages, annual inspection of backflow devices, government water rebate incentives, upgrading and retrofitting irrigation systems, system inspections and assessments, drainage solutions
• Closures in the last three fiscal years: 4 franchisees, 7 territories.
• Hours of Training: 10 days of training – 80 hours. 5 days in person; 5 days virtual
• Website: Conservairrigation.com

Nutrilawn Ecology Friendly Lawn Care/Mosquito.Buzz

• Franchising since: 1988
• Average Initial Investment and what this covers: N/A
• Royalty fee: 6%
• Franchise fee: $20,000
• Total Investment: $80,000 in working capital which is applied to start-up costs, marketing and equipment
• Number of North American Locations: 30
• Services offered: Lawn fertilization and weed control with additional services including overseeding, lawn renovation, irrigation; insect control – turf insects and mosquito, ticks; perimeter pest control
• Closures in the last three fiscal years: 0
• Hours of Training: 120 hours start up training plus ongoing e-training and support
• Website: Nutrilawn.com and Mosquito.buzz

Mowbot

• Franchising since: 2018
• Average Initial Investment and what this covers: $69,000 includes: franchise fee, opening assistance fee, initial equipment package.
• Royalty Fee: 7%
• Franchise Fee: $39,000
• Total Investment: $61,510 - $129,680
• Number of North American Locations: 17 franchises (total of 47 territories)
• States/Provinces with at least 1 franchise: 11
• Services offered: Robotic mowing services and additional lawn care and seasonal services (varies per location).
• Closures in the last three fiscal years: 0
• Hours of Training: 40
• Website: Mowbot.com and Mowbotfranchise.com