Starting a Lawn Care Franchise? Here’s What to Expect

It’s natural not to know what to expect when you start any new business, let alone one that forms part of a franchise. You might be nervous about how you’ll get customers, how hard the work will be, and whether you’ll have the know-how to run a successful business.

No one can predict the future, but you can typically expect some of the following things when starting or buying a lawn care franchise in New Zealand.

 

A Smooth Startup Process

There’s no denying that starting any new business can be stressful, especially when there can be many steps involved in ensuring you fulfill your legal requirements and are visible to prospective clients.

However, when you align with reputable lawn care franchise companies, you can typically enjoy an easy, tried-and-true startup process. Most highly-regarded franchise companies provide all the information you need to decide whether a franchise business is right for you.

You can also learn about the equipment you’ll need to get started, the associated costs, how budgeting in lawn care works, and the necessary training for health and safety and day-to-day business.

 

A Dedicated Online Marketing Package

Marketing can be integral to your success in the lawn care industry. After all, many customers look online for someone to have their lawn care needs, like lawn mowing and tree trimming, taken care of.

If your digital skills aren’t up to scratch, you might think you’ll be disadvantaged, but quite the opposite can be true. By launching your lawn care business as part of a franchise, you typically benefit from an already well-established marketing plan. Franchise companies also offer marketing packages with tools like:

  • A dedicated website page on the main website

  • A Google My Business listing

  • A Facebook page for your individual business

  • And more

 

Marketing Materials

While the internet is undoubtedly one of the best places to market your services, traditional marketing materials can also be effective. When you start your lawn care franchise, you can generally receive a wide range of materials to help you share the word of your services far and wide.

  • Typically, these include:

  • Letterheads

  • Quote forms

  • Door hangers

  • Invoices

  • Pens

  • Notepads

  • Fridge magnets

  • Business cards

  • Folders And more

 

Broad Service Offerings

Lawn mowing might be among the most common lawn care services you’ll be offering your customers, but it doesn’t have to be the only one. Many franchise businesses provide their customers with a broad range of convenient services, such as:

 

  • Hedge cutting

  • Tree trimming

  • Section tidies

  • Garden bags

  • Garden clean-ups and garden help

  • Water blasting

  • Ride-on lawn mowing

  • And much more

Having such a wide range of service offerings means you can provide your customers with the full service to keep their yards in tip-top shape year-round.

 

Ongoing Support

Owning a business can be stressful and challenging, especially when you are trying to do it on your own. Being part of a franchise essentially means you’re part of a business family. If you have questions, queries, problems, or concerns, you can contact your franchise company and work with them to achieve your desired outcome. The same support potentially wouldn’t be available if you were starting your business from scratch.

 

Freedom to Set Your Own Hours

The nine-to-five grind might be common among New Zealand workers, but it doesn’t suit everyone. You might be seeking more balance in your life, more free time for your family, and better working hours to live life to the fullest.

In that case, you can expect the freedom to set your own working hours when you purchase a lawn care franchise. As you’re your own boss working for a national franchise, you can set your client appointments around your other obligations and keep your work-life balance in check.

 

Training

You might already be competent when it comes to lawn mowing, but that doesn’t mean you can’t learn a thing or two from people who have been in the industry longer. The best lawn care franchises go above and beyond by providing you with advice, tips, and knowledge for a successful lawn care operation.

 

New Customer Leads

Word of mouth is a powerful form of advertising. You can generate plenty of your own clients simply by providing excellent service for your customers. You can also take advantage of the marketing materials and digital marketing tools provided by your franchise company to put you on the path to success.

However, when you align yourself with a leading lawn care franchise, you can also often benefit from leads being given to you. When the head office receives lawn and garden enquiries, they often distribute them to the closest and most capable lawn care operators. That might be you.

 

Learn More About Lawn Care Franchises Today

Being your own boss can present many benefits, but the fear of the unknown can hold you back from making such a significant employment decision. If you’ve been thinking about starting your own lawn care business, now might be the right time to explore your options. You might be surprised by how straightforward the process of owning your own lawn care franchise can be.

 

Karan Kikani