Lawn Care Franchise Ownership Tips - Spring-Green

Spring-Green Kicks Off New Franchise Programs

Spring-Green Lawn Care will officially launch two new green industry franchise programs at the Green Industry and Equipment Expo (GIE+EXPO) next month. The expo—taking place Oct. 24-26 at the Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville—is the industry’s largest showcase for outdoor power equipment, lawn and garden products and light construction and landscape equipment.

Spring-Green’s new franchise ownership options are specifically designed for green industry professionals looking to diversify & convert the lawn and tree care portion of their business. The Green Associate Assistance Program—for qualified candidates who currently own or are employed by green industry businesses—applies up to $10,000 of the initial franchise fee toward start-up expenses designated or approved by Spring-Green. The Green Associate Roll-In Program—designed for qualified candidates who own independent green industry businesses that provide professional lawn and tree care services and want to convert that portion to a Spring-Green franchise—calls for a reduced royalty rate for the first 12 months of operation. Green industry businesses include landscape management professionals, landscape designers, irrigation/water management professionals and more. Green Industry professionals are also eligible for Spring-Green's Marketing Reinvestment Program which applies $10,000 of the initial franchise fee to marketing and advertising expenditures in the second full year of operation.

We also want to welcome Russ Jacque to the Spring-Green Lawn Care team. He’s joined us as strategic business development manager and brings extensive franchise development experience to our team. Welcome aboard, Russ!

Lawn Care Industry Going Strong

According to Global Industry Analysts, the lawn care industry is back on the climb.  Projections suggest the market is poised to reach $80 billion by 2015. At Spring-Green Lawn Care, we have been on the forefront of that curve driving our results regardless of the economic conditions and we have not slowed down.  In 2012 we are projected to produce double digit revenue growth at our franchised and company-owned locations.   Growth in franchise development is also picking up and with our new green industry franchise model we plan to add several new owners this year. Over the 35 years that Spring-Green has been in business the model has proven to be economic resilient with services that our recurring customer base is in need of no matter what the economic outlook is. We have worked tirelessly to stay relevant to our customers, providing meaningful offers and services that beautify the environment. Our lawn care services cater to those that place a high value on their time and understand the need to protect the investment that they have made in their home. We are forecasting a great 2013 and hope you’ll consider joining our team.

John David Andrus Sees Success in Alabama

Originally from Opelika, Ala. and a graduate of Auburn University with a degree in horticulture, John David Andrus welcomes the fall each year. Not only does that mean he gets to watch his Auburn Tigers football team face-off against other SEC schools, it’s also one of the busiest times of the year for his Spring-Green franchise. John David and his wife Jessica looked into several landscaping companies and franchise opportunities in the green industry before deciding on Spring-Green. When he heard the Opelika territory was available, he knew it was the right fit. “Purchasing a Spring-Green franchise was the right decision for me,” said John David. “It allowed me to get closer to the two things I love most, my family and Auburn football.” John David has since grown his business into neighboring counties including Auburn, Phenix City and Montgomery.

Spring-Green offers several different franchise ownership options to meet the needs of entrepreneurs with diverse backgrounds. 

Recognizing Our Longtime Franchise Owners

Earlier this year, I wrote a blog post about the successes of our newest Spring-Green franchise owners. While starting new franchises is always a priority at Spring-Green, we also have a core group of owners who have owned and operated a Spring-Green franchise for many years.

One of our longtime strategic contributors is Roger Grose in Reno, Ohio. Roger became a franchise owner in 1986 and services areas in and around Marietta, Ohio and Parkersburg, W.V. He is also one of Spring-Green’s military veteran franchise owners. After more than 25 years in business, Roger is currently a member of the National Advisory Council and has won the Spring-Green Higher Standards Award and Spring-Green Way Award among others. Roger is a great example of persistence and has built a successful lawn care business in a rural market with nearly 4% market share.

Charlie Marshall in Centreville, Va., is always sharing his expertise at Spring-Green regional and national meetings and conferences. Marshall bought an existing Spring-Green business in 1997 and quickly grew the business into a lawn care leader in the Washington D.C. area. He has won numerous Spring-Green awards over the years and is currently on the National Advisory Committee. Charlie’s Spring-Green franchise is unique in that he gets nearly 50% of his business from commercial accounts. He was recently at the support center for the franchise renewal of 2 of his 4 franchise territories.

Philip Talbert celebrated 20 years with Spring-Green Lawn Care in Fayetteville, Ark., in 2010, receiving the 20-Year Diamond. Successful marketing programs and loyal customers have helped Philip grow his business into a lawn care power house in northwest Arkansas. A cancer survivor, Talbert is going strong after 22 years in business and has won Spring-Green awards for customer retention and Best In Class.

We look to franchise owners like Grose, Marshall and Talbert to share their valuable experiences with their peers and help shape the future direction of Spring-Green. We often say the value of franchising is in the collective knowledge of the entire franchise system, including the franchise owners and the support center staff. Spring-Green has a unique culture and set of values that keep us committed to growing with our strategic partners.

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Spring-Green Lawn Care Hosts 2012 Summer Regional Meetings

Every other year, Spring-Green hosts a National Training Conference. In 2011, we welcomed more than 225 franchise owners, managers, employees and spouses to the Indian Lakes Resort outside of Chicago. The conference’s theme was Building For Profit where we introduced the concept of peer groups meant to facilitate peer to peer interaction without corporate input. This summer, we hosted 6 regional/peer group meetings throughout the country in Raleigh, N.C., Chicago, Ill., Columbus, Ohio, Seattle, Wash., Minneapolis, Minn., and Atlanta, Ga. to expand on that vision.

Each regional meeting focused on franchise marketing, but they also gave franchise owners the opportunity to interact with each other and learn from their peers in smaller groups. The Spring-Green Support Center advocates that one of the strengths in franchising is in the collective knowledge of its franchise owners and through a structured peer group we feel we can improve on the knowledge transfer. Peer groups are the perfect opportunity for lawn care franchise owners to compare key performance indicators, talk about common challenges and share their experiences.

“We learn a lot from each other,” said Ryan Meinika, Spring-Green franchise owner in Fort Wayne, Ind. “There’s a lot of learning and exchanging of ideas and experiences.”

The peer group concept has been well received by franchise owners and has become an integral part of our franchise support system. Have you been in a corporate or franchise environment that used peer groups? How was your experience?

Success & Growth - Indiana Lawn Care

Based on the success of our existing Indiana franchise owners, we're planning for future growth in the state. There are currently six franchise owners serving the Hoosier State, covering areas in and around Indianapolis, Fort Wayne, Columbus, Madison and South Bend. We have a great mix of franchise owners in Indiana ranging from a new owner who is already succeeding in his first season to an owner who has decades of experience and is continuing to grow. We are specifically targeting the Greenwood, Indiana area (near Indianapolis) and also seeking qualified franchise candidates to expand into Merrillville, Lafayette, Bloomington and Evansville.

Spring-Green’s lawn care franchise owners in Indiana include Tony Schmidt in southeastern Indiana near Madison and Columbus, who is in the middle of his first season and—on the other end of the spectrum—Candy Wolfe, who worked at her Spring-Green franchise for 12 years before purchasing the business from the previous owner. Candy’s franchise services northwestern Indiana including South Bend and Mishawaka. Ryan Meinika in Fort Wayne, Ind., opened his Spring-Green franchise right out of college and has been featured in Lawn & Landscape Magazine. He recently expanded into a second territory to accelerate the growth of his business. In central Indiana, Spring-Green Lawn Care currently has three franchise owners in the greater Indianapolis area covering areas generally north and west of the city including Indianapolis proper.

Spring-Green franchise owners typically come from diverse backgrounds and the Indiana franchise owners are no different. In their previous professional careers, they have worked in the automotive retail industry, as a restaurant manager, a manufacturing engineer and a steel mill worker.

Spring-Green has several ownership options including the new Green Industry Executive Model that targets existing green industry entrepreneurs seeking to diversify and expand their business by adding a Spring-Green franchise. Through the Green Associate Assistance Program, new franchise owners may qualify for up to $10,000 of the initial franchise fee to be used toward initial start-up expenses. There is also a reduced royalty fee for the first 12 months of operation. Are you interested in learning more? Request more information to begin our franchise investigation process.

Spring-Green Lawn Care Offers Flexibility for Franchise Owners

As summer break starts for kids across the country, many parents are looking for ways to spend more time with their children. Spring-Green Lawn Care franchise owners experience great flexibility in their schedules, freeing up time to spend with their families and take summer vacations.

Unlike retail businesses, Spring-Green franchise owners are not tied to a storefront. With no set appointments, their daily schedule is flexible and they can choose when to be out on the lawns. Each owner has a different level of activity in the business, but Spring-Green also offers owners the opportunity to be active and work outside, which is great during the summer months. Each franchise owner’s business is local so there is no overnight or air travel, and after the urgency of the spring season there is additional flexibility and freedom in their schedule. This leaves plenty of time to plan travel for a summer vacation with the kids out of school for a few months.

The seasonality of the lawn care business is another benefit. The business gives each franchise owner plenty of time off while generating year-round cash flow. For example, customers may prepay their annual service, eliminating accounts receivable and providing year-round cash flow. The business is also predictable with a seasonal cycle and high recurring customer base so owners know where their business is headed—even during the off season.

Many of our franchise owners take advantage of the balanced lifestyle Spring-Green Lawn Care offers by taking their kids to Disney World or coaching a Little League baseball team. Spending time with family is important year-round, but summer is the perfect time to make it a focus with the kids out of school and the sun shining.

If you’re looking to experience flexibility in your career – and you’re ready to sign up with a franchise that knows how to succeed – get more information from Spring-Green. We invest in and partner with each one of our franchise owners to create a successful lawn care business in their local community.

New Spring-Green Lawn Care Franchise Owners Off to a Positive Start

What’s it like being a Spring-Green franchise owner? The best way to find out is to ask one. Many of our franchise owners have been in the franchise system for 10, 15 or even more years, but we also have a great crop of newer owners who are experiencing their first or second seasons this year. We recently talked with two of our newest lawn care franchise owners: Alex Abbott in Richmond, Virginia and Tony Schmidt, owner of Spring-Green lawn care business in Madison, Indiana.

A Successful Season for Madison, IN Lawn Care Franchise

Spring is the most important season in the lawn care business. As the weather warms and weeds begin to germinate, people look for a professional lawn care service to care for their lawn and landscape. Tony Schmidt is going through his first lawn care season this spring and staying very busy.

“I’m learning a lot and excited about all the new business that’s coming in.” said Schmidt. “One customer has already told me that her yard looked better after just one application than it had in three years.”

The first season is critical to success for a Spring-Green franchise owner. Our initial franchise support is dedicated to keeping a new franchise owner’s priorities in order and prepared. Our industry leading business and marketing intelligence helps us to create a relevant marketing campaign for the local market to maximize sales opportunities.

Tony went on to say, “I’m learning a lot and working on being more organized, but overall it’s been a very positive first season.”

A Profitable Second Year for a VA Spring-Green Franchise

Alex Abbott is also dealing with a rush of new leads and sales in his second year providing lawn care in Richmond, VA.

“I’m still learning, but I feel much more in control and know what to expect now that I’m in my second year”, said Abbott. “An early spring in Virginia created an early sales rush and weed pressure, which I now have under control. Yards are turning around quicker because of the nice weather and looking awesome.” As a second year franchise owner, Alex has been able to take advantage of Spring-Green’s marketing reinvestment program where up to $10,000 is applied to the 2^nd year marketing programs.

All of our franchise owners are working hard this spring and accommodating the unexpected early spring across most of the country. 2012 is off to a very positive start at Spring-Green Lawn Care and we expect to build on that early momentum with a record breaking sales season.

The Green in Spring-Green - Three Ways We're Making A Difference

With Earth Day and National Arbor Day this week, it seems appropriate to blog about some things that Spring-Green is doing to become a greener company. For 35 years we have been committed to beautifying lawns and landscapes across the country keeping them green and healthy, at the same time working to reduce our carbon footprint.

1. For several years now, we have offered organic-based fertilizer that feeds both the soil and the plant while still delivering results that our customers expect. The fertilizer introduces organic nutrients to the soil and promotes “microbial” activity which will help increase root growth.
2.  Additionally, we are proud to be a leader in our industry with a nationwide initiative to outfit all of our trucks with a dual-hose injection system. Currently over 50 Spring-Green trucks across the country are using the new injection systems and over 250 will be outfitted by the end of 2013. This new dual-hose system will allow us to only apply weed control to the needed areas resulting in a 35% reduction in pesticide usage.
3. Spring-Green is now in our 3^rd year of a relationship with the Arbor Day Foundation. By the end of 2012, we will have planted 30,000 trees throughout the country that have been damaged by wildfire or insect damage through this partnership. We will be planting a tree for every new Spring-Green customer who “likes” us on our Facebook page in 2012.

In addition to our green initiatives to reduce pesticides and plant trees, there are some easy things homeowners can do with their regular lawn care program to help the environment. For example, by mowing your lawn higher it is better able to absorb fertilizer and water, discourages weeds and reduces runoff. You can also visit pages on our consumer website to learn more about cultural practices you’re your lawn and Spring-Green’s green initiatives. What other things are you doing in your everyday life to help the environment and be greener?

March Madness at Spring-Green Lawn Care

March Madness is in full swing here at Spring-Green. No, not THAT March Madness, but our own organized madness and excitement in our lawn care business. It’s spring time, the most important time of the year for Spring-Green as the weather warms and lawns turn green. But are there any parallels between lawn care and basketball? Plenty!

Team – In basketball, it’s very important to put the right team together. Team members must have chemistry, know each other’s strengths and weaknesses and have a coaching staff that can teach and bring out the best in everyone. Spring-Green is a strategic partnership of franchise owners and the support team members working together to achieve a common goal. Our marketing programs drive customer introductions but the franchise owner has to receive the lead or sale and build the relationship locally.

Preparation – Before the basketball season even starts, there are grueling practices and workouts to ensure the team is ready for the season and in top shape for the post-season. Similarly, before the lawn care season starts, time is dedicated to important tasks such as lawn measurement collection, marketing planning, equipment refurbishing and more.

Planning – NCAA tournament teams take time to plan for their game through their own version of practice, planning and goal setting. Spring-Green has a thorough two-day business planning process that many franchise owners take advantage of. It involves marketing, business planning, strategic planning, goal setting and much more.

Execution – During March Madness, teams have to execute the plan from practice in front of millions of people in order to win and continue playing. At Spring-Green, the spring creates a sense of urgency to follow up on thousands of leads and sales. The Spring-Green call center answers phones for franchise owners, follows up on web leads and calls existing customers to maximize revenue as much as humanly possible.

Whoever wins March Madness will have done the best job of team, preparation, planning and execution. This allows smaller schools to take out a #1 seed by being on their game. Similarly, our local franchise owners have the ability to take out a #1 seed (larger company) and win our “bracket” by following the same philosophy.