How we started

For me, the idea came from something I had always been interested in Ð that perfectly striped lawn! And each time I visited the USA on business, I wondered how my friends had achieved this. Soon, I discovered their secret Ð use a specialist lawn treatment company that professionally managed the health of their lawn! So I set about developing my business plan.

After a couple of years researching products, services and strategies, I faced redundancy from my job in the IT industry. Fortunately, I had a good job opportunity immediately, but did I really want it?

After much thought, I took the leap, started LawnTender. No more stuck in an office. No more corporate meetings. My new office is our customers' gardens. My meetings are over a cup of tea with a customer discussing how to improve their lawn. I haven't looked back since!

Franchise opportunities

Like me, you too may have wanted to start a business but have been looking and waiting for the right opportunity. There are a number of options available to you, one of which is to franchise a successful business format.

This option will generally deliver a greater level of success and enable you to start your business faster and more efficiently. The important thing is to choose the right company and franchise that suites your capabilities, personal goals and lifestyle choice.

We believe that LawnTender offers an excellent choice for individuals who are keen to develop a customer focussed, professional business, which will deliver the opportunity to generate significant revenues and a healthy lifestyle.

LawnTender Managing Director, John Kendall (centre) with latest franchisees Keith Adams and Clive Milner.

 

Market opportunity

In the USA, about 25% of lawns are treated by professional lawn treatment companies. Householders in the UK are now becoming aware of the benefits of using a company like LawnTender to provide regular schedules treatments to their lawns. And with approximately 18 million homes in the UK, the market potential is enormous and relatively untapped.

The proposition is clear – an expert service that costs less than doing it yourself, using specialist products to ensure a year round lush green lawn. As we say – No Weeds, No Moss, No Hassle!

Interested in franchising?

Through business format franchising, we are now expanding our business into new regions outside of Wiltshire; establishing 3 franchisees (East Berkshire, Somerset and Gloucestershire) whose results have been strong and on plan. Two of the franchisees had met with national companies, but felt our approach, size and focus better suited their personal goals and objectives.

We are now looking to establish further franchisees in the south (areas in West Berkshire and Hampshire for example) with motivated individuals who share the same goals and drive for customer satisfaction as our current franchisees.

As a franchisee for LawnTender, you will receive all the skills, equipment, support and training required to quickly establish and grow a differentiated lawn treatment service in your protected area. You will also receive a special financial package that will help you during the development of your business in the early stages.

What makes us different?

As a company, customer satisfaction is a key focus. We achieve this in a number of ways:

• By investing in the very best materials and machinery

• Regular lawn assessment and feedback on actions required

• Continual interaction and advice for our customers

Many of our competitors merely focus on attaining a high level of customers that they can simply provide a seasonal lawn treatment service to. Vital services such as scarification and aeration are only offered "out of season" the winter months – to keep the diary full. Therefore, the positive development of the customer's lawn is affected and long-term customer satisfaction reduced.

LawnTender focus on the individual customer's needs, becoming the trusted adviser for their lawn. Whether it is the need for additional services such as scarification, or advice on correct mowing procedures, LawnTender will assist. In doing so, we believe LawnTender will continue to benefit by maximising the total revenue potential of each and every customer; achieving some of the leading revenue/profitability figures per customer in the market.

The key objectives of LawnTender are as follows:

• Provide a professional service with high integrity, that is truly beneficial to our customers in terms of results, time and money

• Maximise total revenues within each and every customer by becoming their trusted partner with regard to the lawn

• Maintain a high level of interaction with the customer through ongoing advice, feedback and assessment

• Continue to bring innovation through our service; reviewing market conditions, developments and customer requirements

• Ensure that our service continues to deliver complete customer satisfaction

With the above in mind, we believe that LawnTender will maintain strong differentiation against competitors and continue to grow throughout our selected regions.

LawnTender Franchise Cost

We are offering our franchisees a large territory (well over 100,000 target households), full training in our system, comprehensive product pack (which unlike other companies includes the markets leading scarifier and aerator), and full marketing launch.

Equipment Package includes:

• LawnTender bespoke customer software

• Sage accounting package

• Vehicle preparation (signage and layout)

• Launch marketing to over 60,000 potential customers

• Initial stock for about 100 customers

• Market leader, high performance scarifier & aerator

• High quality fertiliser spreader

• Knapsack sprayers (2)

• Quality petrol blower

• Hand Tools

• Chemical Store

• Stationery

• LawnTender uniform and wet weather clothing

The financial cost of a franchise is £19,500 (plus VAT), however, the license fee of £5,000 (plus VAT) is not payable until a key cumulative revenue goal is reached (anticipated within 2 years). This way, we can demonstrate our commitment for mutual success. Therefore, the initial cost for a franchise is only £14,500 (plus VAT). A royalty fee of 8% (plus VAT) is payable against all gross revenues.

If you have a desire to run your own business using a successful business format, please contact us.

Finally, whatever you choose to do, we wish you well in your career choice.

Thank you for your time and interest in LawnTender.

John Kendall
Managing Director