Profile of a Lawn Care Franchisee
Wednesday, October 13, 2010 at 8:50AM 
Before joining the Lawnscience lawn care franchise, Matthew Allcott had a successful career in TV location management and subsequently gained franchising experience running a courier franchise for 10 years.
He first learned about the professional lawn care industry from his father, who is a customer of . Matthew contacted Lawnscience and found out they were growing rapidly and had franchise opportunities available.
Although Matthew had substantial business experience, he did not want to risk his investment and to start a business from scratch.
Instead he chose to invest in franchising because of the support network and the level of industry knowledge within the business available to all franchisees. Matthew knew that Lawnscience had a good reputation but he still made sure that he did lots of research and looked at several franchise opportunities that were available in his area before he made any decisions or commitment.
“Make your decision based upon area, franchise fees and the feeling you have towards the franchisor, make sure you trust them and that you feel you can work with them, since you will be working together throughout the length of the franchise”.
Being a new comer to professional lawn care was a challenge in itself. In order to provide a professional service and respond to the needs of his customers, Matthew needed some rigorous training and continuous support from Lawnscience.
“Before I launched my lawn care business I undertook a 3 week training course covering all aspects of the industry. This was coupled with excellent computer software support from Lawnscience which was an invaluable business tool. After the launch the training does not stop – it is continuous!
I receive regular training for any new or current issues that have occurred on lawns and also regular visits from Terry. I know that I can pick up the phone any time day or night and I will receive the support I need from Lawnscience.”
It was vital for Matthew to have the backing of his family and friends, and when Matthew talked through the franchise opportunity at Lawnscience with them, they were extremely supportive. This support has continued as his business has developed.
This is particularly important for Matthew as his dedication to the success of the business means the days can be long and do not end when he gets home. “I would typically start my day at around 7 am and would normally treat 10 to 15 lawns. Although I get home at a reasonable time, around 5, my work doesn’t stop there. I need to process the invoices for the day and phone my customers for following day. I normally sit down at about 8, tired but happy!”
Through his determination, Matthew’s business has grown rapidly. His client base has doubled year on year along with his income and it is showing no signs of slowing down. Matthew’s long term goal is to run a multi van franchise and he is on course for this, recently taking on an employee to cope with the ever increasing customer demand.
Long term Matthew would like to take on a Manager for the franchise so he can spend more time with his family and still have an income. This is now a credible vision because of the ambitious targets Matthew has set himself.
“ My biggest challenge was to manage all my customers efficiently and maximise profit from them. I set myself a goal of 1000 customers by year 4 with a forecasted turnover of £250,000. I am happy to say I am on course to achieve this”
Matthew has invested a lot of time in his franchise to make it successful. As with any new business the hours are long but the long term rewards are worthwhile.
“When a customer tells me how wonderful their lawn is looking, it is the most rewarding feeling. I know that I have achieved this through my hard work and determination. My customers are loyal and recommend me to their friends because they are so happy with the results.”
Reader Comments (1)
Intriguing comparisons between the lawn care industry and corporate giants. Developing even small innovations in lawn care may reap benefits to the entire industry.