success. It should be totally committed to working together with you to provide whatever support is required to build a solid, profitable business for you.
It starts with training -
With many companies, your training begins with intensive classroom training sessions. During these sessions, you’ll be exposed to virtually every facet of the lawn service business. Try to find a company where you can get “hands-on” experience in running the business. You’ll want to have the opportunity to solve real, day-to-day business problems. Finally, you’ll need to receive training on the operation of the computer hardware and software that will make your new business efficient. You’ll find that, although you are an independent entrepreneur, you won’t want to have to face business problems alone.
Look for continued support -
Ongoing training is available for you and for all of your people through many lawn service companies. As your business grows, they should continue to keep your organization in top form through seminars, workshops, conferences, video presentations, and technical bulletins.
One area where you’ll find this assistance most helpful is marketing. The millions of dollars these companies devote each year to establish brand identification gives your advertising great acceptance and credibility. You’ll utilize the same advertising that the parent, company-owned branches use, only customized for your area. These are proven advertising methods and materials, pre-tested to deliver lots of cost-effective leads and sales for your new business.
How important is experience?
Potential franchise owners sometimes ask who makes the best lawn service franchisee. Is it someone with previous experience in turf care? Is it the person who has previously operated his or her own business?
Actually, in operating any business, previous experience is helpful, but it in no way determines success. That’s especially true with a lawn care franchise. More important than experience is a desire to control your own financial destiny-plus an understanding of the importance of leveraging a powerful brand name and a willingness to use all of the tools put at your disposal in building and maintaining your franchise business.
On being your own boss -
Millions of people dream about owning their own business-often from a desire for the freedom of answering to themselves, rather than to someone a step or two above them on the corporate ladder.
Having this dream is great, but it should be accompanied by a realization that with this freedom comes great deal of responsibility. A franchise owner, for example, doesn’t answer to a “boss” but to many bosses — the customers that are served every day, who expect only the best from a company associated with parent company’s name.
Financing arrangements -
The cost of a lawn care service franchise depends on the potential of the market selected. It is based upon the demographics and other criteria within the selected territory. Although a cash payment for the full amount of the franchise investment is the most cost-effective way to finance the franchise, this is not the best (or most realistic) plan for everyone.
For this reason, companies carefully review the financial status of each franchise applicant as a one-of-a-kind situation. Individual financing arrangements, therefore, can be worked out with qualified applicants, based on their own financial position. Starting a franchise of any kind is a serious investment — make sure you not only have the desire and the work ethic, but also a good financial discipline and history.
Before you act -
Before entering into a lawn service franchise, or any other business opportunity, it is wise to make an honest self-analysis. Asking yourself these questions will be helpful in that endeavor.
1.What are you looking for in a business opportunity? Are you looking for independence, job satisfaction, improved lifestyle, greater earnings or building wealth by developing a business that has a growing resale value?
2.Try to pinpoint your priorities, and then decide what you are willing to do to achieve them.
3.Are you willing to work long, hard hours? Starting a successful lawn care business takes more than a 40-hour work week.
4.Are you enthused about becoming part of another organization? Remember, you’re actually joining a successful organization and leveraging its brand name, in addition to using its marketing and operating system to achieve success.
5.Are you willing to work together and follow a system? Of course, you’ll own the business, but you’ll still need to follow the tried and true system of the brand.
6.Do you have the “people skills” that are needed to hire and direct a staff of employees?
7.Do you have the time
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