Lawn Doctor

Lawn Doctor was founded in 1967 by Tony Giordano and Bob Magda. It began franchising the same year. Throughout its over 50 years of existence, Lawn Doctor has established itself as a leader in the lawn care industry, with nearly 600 franchise locations across the U.S. The brand has sought to gain a consistent edge through their ability to provide quality services to consumers on a national level, provide innovative technology, and expand and develop the industry.

Lawn Doctor specializes in habitual lawn care solutions for business and residential consumers. They offer weed control, shrub care, lawn mower maintenance, commercial lawn care, and lawn pest control. Lush, well-maintained lawns provide an ideal place to play and relax, but they also enrich the environment and raise property values.

Why You May Want to Start a Lawn Doctor Franchise

Lawn Doctor focuses on quality lawn care and fits best with those seeking to provide excellent customer service. This opportunity appeals to many people, but it is especially attractive for those seeking a family business. There is a significant opportunity to work with a spouse or adult children, and many franchisees pass their business down to their children or other family members.

Consistently over the years, Lawn Doctor has been ranked in Entrepreneur’s Franchise 500 based on an evaluation of more than 150 data points in the areas of costs and fees, size and growth, franchisee support, brand strength, and financial strength and stability.

What Might Make Lawn Doctor a Good Choice?

Offering three tiers of ownership, Lawn Doctor is an excellent fit for a franchisee looking to manage a single territory, multiple territories, or an “empire.” The business model allows a franchisee’s business to grow with their personal goals. The company is committed to continual improvement and focuses on customer conversion and retention. They seek ways to streamline their systems to make operations easier.

Lawn Doctor is considered to be a fairly low investment franchise opportunity. There is limited equipment, infrastructure, and staffing requirements and no retail location to build. However, franchisees will need to meet the company's set net worth and liquid capital requirements. You should be prepared for an initial investment made up of a franchise fee and other startup costs. Ongoing fees in the form of advertising fees and royalty fees will also be present.

Lawn Doctor may offer financing of up to half the startup costs for qualified candidates. They have also partnered with third-party sources to help franchisees cover costs associated with equipment, inventory, and payroll. Additional discounts may be available to veterans, first responders, and members of minority groups. 

How Do You Open a Lawn Doctor Franchise?

The length of time required to start your Lawn Doctor franchise can vary based on your goals, but typically enter the multi-month range. During this time, you will have ample opportunity to speak with fellow franchisees and tap into the Lawn Doctor network for ideas and support in how to best launch your business. This group tends to be well-connected.

Lawn Doctor has significant initial and ongoing support for franchisees. At the onset, you’ll attend a multi-week training program at company headquarters in Holmdel, New Jersey to learn everything from marketing to agronomy. You will also receive support to develop an operating plan before you open. For a few years after opening, you’ll receive regular on-site visits from your regional business consultant to aid in achieving optimal growth and performance.