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2024 Franchise 500 Rank
#262 Ranked #303 last year
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Initial investment
$89K - $235K
Units as of 2024
259 Increase 22.7% over 3 years

The Grounds Guys, formerly known as Sunshine Grounds Care, began operations in 1987. They provide commercial and residential lawn care, as well as landscaping services. The Grounds Guys is a neighborly franchise company that has grown to more than 170 locations across the U.S. and Canada.

An ideal franchisee for The Grounds Guys franchise is someone who has experience or interest in the lawn care industry and is passionate about offering exceptional customer care.

Why You May Want to Start a The Grounds Guys Franchise

As a franchisee, you will be in charge of your business, hiring a team, and ensuring that your clients get the best landscaping and lawn services, as well as quality customer service with every interaction. The Grounds Guys stand out from other landscaping businesses because they have a mission to provide exceptional services and keep it professional.

The team is uniformed and strives to do the work with the utmost respect and good attitudes while keeping customers' wishes first. Crews are licensed experts and members of the Snow & Ice Management Association (SIMA) and the National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP). Customers love The Ground Guys because of the timely response and excellent quality work they provide. The Grounds Guys help save you time and energy caring for your lawns.

What Might Make The Grounds Guys a Good Choice?

The Grounds Guys have relatively low franchise prices, but you should make sure you're financially ready for an initial investment and have enough liquid capital available. Franchisees typically pay a franchise fee to get started, but The Grounds Guys has partnered with a third-party source to help you pay for your franchise fee, as well as other relevant fees. Other expenses will include an ongoing royalty fee and advertising fee.

The Grounds Guys equip you with modern tools to conduct daily business. You will also get all the support you need through the entire discovery, training, and pre-opening process. The franchise team will help you make smart marketing and financial decisions as you begin operations. 

How to Open The Grounds Guys Franchise

For more information on this opportunity, you can submit an inquiry to show your interest in starting a franchise. By doing this, you can schedule a discovery call with a franchise representative. This call is a chance for you to learn more about the opportunity and for The Ground Guys to learn more about you. The franchise representative may also determine if you will be a good fit during initial interviews. 

If you progress through the franchise process, the next step will be attending a discovery day at The Ground Guys headquarters in Waco, Texas. During discovery day, you can seek further clarification on the business and better understand operations. The discovery process continues after discovery day, and you will work with the franchise developer if you decide to franchise with the company. After signing, you will get started on the Sure Start training program as you prepare for your grand opening as The Grounds Guys newest franchisee.

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Company Overview

About The Grounds Guys

Industry Maintenance
Related Categories Lawn & Tree Care
Founded 2010
Parent Company Neighborly
Leadership Lori Johnson, Brand President
Corporate Address 1010 N. University Parks Dr.
Waco, TX 76707
Social Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube, Pinterest

Business Overview

Franchising Since 2010 (14 years)
# of employees at HQ 1,600
Where seeking

This company is offering new franchises throughout the US.

This company is offering new franchises in the following international regions: Canada

# of Units 259 (as of 2024)

Information for Franchisees

Here's what you need to know if you're interested in opening a The Grounds Guys franchise.

Financial Requirements & Ongoing Fees

Here's what you can expect to spend to start the business and what ongoing fees the franchisor charges throughout the life of the business.

Initial Franchise Fee Information Circle
$35,000
Initial Investment Information Circle
$88,820 - $234,750
Cash Requirement Information Circle
$30,000
Veteran Incentives Information Circle
20% off minimum franchise fee
Royalty Fee Information Circle
5%-6%
Ad Royalty Fee Information Circle
2%
Term of Agreement Information Circle
10 years
Is franchise term renewable? Yes
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Financing Options

Some franchisors offer in-house financing, while others have relationships with third-party financing sources to which they refer qualified franchisees.

Third Party Financing The Grounds Guys has relationships with third-party sources which offer financing to cover the following: franchise fee, startup costs, equipment, inventory, accounts receivable, payroll

Training & Support Offered

Franchisors offer initial training programs and a variety of ongoing support options to help franchisees run their businesses.

On-The-Job Training 56-136 hours
Classroom Training 123.75-171.75 hours
Ongoing Support
Purchasing Co-ops
Newsletter
Meetings & Conventions
Toll-Free Line
Grand Opening
Online Support
Security & Safety Procedures
Field Operations
Proprietary Software
Franchisee Intranet Platform
Marketing Support
Co-op Advertising
Ad Templates
National Media
Regional Advertising
Social Media
SEO
Website Development
Email Marketing
Loyalty Program/App

Operations

Additional details about running this franchise.

Is absentee ownership allowed? No
Can this franchise be run from home/mobile unit? Information Circle
No
Can this franchise be run part time? Information Circle
No
# of employees required to run 15
Are exclusive territories available? Information Circle
No
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Franchise 500 Ranking History

Compare where The Grounds Guys landed on this year's Franchise 500 Ranking versus previous years.

Additional Rankings

Curious to know where The Grounds Guys ranked on other franchise lists? Find out below.

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Disclaimer
The information on this page is not intended as an endorsement or recommendation of any particular franchise or business opportunity by Entrepreneur Media. Our listings and rankings are solely research tools you can use to compare opportunities. Entrepreneur stresses that you should always conduct your own independent investigation before investing in a franchise or business opportunity. That should include reviewing the company's legal documents, consulting with an attorney and an accountant, and talking to former and current franchisees/licensees/dealers.
Updated: December 12th, 2022