Top 100 Franchises
2014
The Grounds Guys is a full-service grounds care company. Our established systems allow us to deliver industry-leading lawn care and landscape solutions to commercial and residential clients. Built on a family tradition of caring, The Grounds Guys are driven by a passion to exceed the expectations of our customers. With The Grounds Guys proprietary landscape franchise management systems, our landscape franchisees can learn how to find new customers, gain market share over local competition, and operate a profitable and sustainable landscape franchise. The Grounds Guys’ portfolio of services includes landscape management, lawn and grounds care, irrigation, outdoor lighting, and snow and ice removal services for both residential and commercial clients.
| Year | Franchised | Change | Company-Owned | Change | Total | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 70 | 112.12% | 0 | -- | 70 | 112.12% |
| 2011 | 33 | 560.0% | 0 | -- | 33 | 560.0% |
| 2010 | 5 | -- | 0 | -- | 5 | -- |
Investment Required
The initial fee to purchase a Grounds Guys franchise is $28,000 plus $280 per 1,000 population for additional territory. The Grounds Guys provides the following range of investments required to open your initial franchise. The range assumes that all items are paid for in cash. To the extent that you choose to finance any of these expense items, your front-end investment could be substantially reduced.
| Item | Established Low Range | Established High Range |
|---|---|---|
| Initial Franchise Fee | $28,000 | $28,000 + $2800 per add'l 1,000 pop. |
| Software Fee | $1,520 | $1,520 |
| Vehicle | $4,000 | $50,000 |
| Equipment, Supplies, & Inventory | $16,300 | $36,300 |
| Insurance | $1,200 | $5,000 |
| Advertising & Promotional | $6,000 | $25,000 |
| Expenses while Training | $3,850 | $5,850 |
| Deposits, Permits, & Licenses | $50 | $1,000 |
| Professional Fees | $250 | $5,000 |
| Real Estate | $0 | $3,000 |
| Additional Funds (3 months) | $5,000 | $30,000 |
| Total Initial Investment | $66,170 | $190,670 + add'l franchise fee |
Ongoing Expenses
Franchisees are required to pay ongoing license fees equal to 7% of gross sales, a MAP fee equal to 2% of gross sales, and local marketing and telemarketing spending, among other fees.
What You Get: Training and Support
Franchisees will be enrolled in an initial training program that may include a Phase I program of 2.5 days via webinar/video-conferencing, and a Phase II program consisting of 5-8 days classroom training at company headquarters in Waco, TX. Additionally, franchisees may be required to complete 1-5 days of field training at a franchised business. The Grounds Guys will continue to provide ongoing advice and assistance regarding the operations of the franchise, as well as develop and administer promotional and advertising programs and hold refresher training courses when deemed necessary.
Territory
The Grounds Guys grants territories with populations of approximately 100,000 to 1,500,000 that are not exclusive.
Note: The tables and information regarding the number of operating units, investment required, ongoing expenses, training and territory grants were taken from the company's 2013 FDD.
