Start a NaturaLawn of America Franchise in 2024

Franchise 500 Rank: N/R Not ranked last year

Initial investment: $58K - $123K

Units as of 2023: 98 6.5% over 3 years

NaturaLawn of America began its operation in 1987 as an organic-based lawn care company. In 1989, the company began to franchise. NaturaLawn of America deploys organic-based fertilization together with an integrated pest management system. Its natural lawn care system comprises a proprietary line of organic lawn care products and offers business opportunities to franchisees.

Beecher Smith and Philip Catron are the founders of NaturaLawn of America. Removing the use of pesticides and chemical treatments on lawns, NaturaLawn of America's approach keeps the lawn's soil in a good state and uses natural pest prevention methods. NaturaLawn of America has over 80 franchise locations in more than 20 states, providing services to over 93,000 customers.

What You May Want to Start a NaturaLawn of America Franchise

NaturaLawn of America provides franchisees with extensive classroom and field training, proprietary natural organic-based fertilizers, technical expertise, on-site field training, marketing, promotional materials, and national buying programs, among others.

Franchisees may also receive more business opportunities by offering mosquito and tick control services to customers under the Mosquito Ranger and Tick Ranger brand, which is part of the NaturaLawn of America family.

As you make your decision concerning whether to franchise with NaturaLawn of America, make sure you take time to explore the opportunity. Research NaturaLawn of America and your local area to see if a franchise would do well in your community. While competition is healthy, too much of it may not allow for the most possible growth.

What Might Make a NaturaLawn of America a Good Choice?

Franchisees will want to make sure they have enough capital available to cover potential franchise fees. Fees will include a franchise fee and royalty fees. An initial investment range may help to pay for equipment, employees, payroll, etc. Franchisees may also need to meet the terms of a NaturaLawn of America set liquid capital and net worth threshold.

Franchisees may receive over 50 hours of on the job training to get used to the NaturaLawn of America business. Franchisees will also receive intensive classroom training.

Each franchise is given an exclusive, protected territory that is typically between 50,000 to 70,000 single-family homes to service. Franchisees benefit from high customer retention, as the average customer remains in business with NaturaLawn of America for over six years, with 85% of customers continuing their service each year. Customers report that they love that their weed-free lawns are green and free of chemicals.

How Do You Open a NaturaLawn of America Franchise?

Potential franchisees can inquire about franchising with NaturaLawn of America. After the initial inquiry, a franchise representative may share the company Franchise Disclosure Document and more about the franchise opportunity.

An ideal franchisee for NaturaLawn of America is someone who has previous sales and/or management experience. Extensive entrepreneurial experience and a desire and dedication to customers are also ideal for candidates.

If you are chosen to move forward with NaturaLawn of America, you may visit company headquarters in Frederick, Maryland to learn more about the opportunity and see a franchise in action. If a franchise is awarded, an opening date will be set, and training can begin.

Company Overview

About NaturaLawn of America

Industry	Maintenance
Related Categories	Lawn & Tree Care
Founded	1987
Parent Company	NaturaLawn of America
Leadership	Philip E. Catron, President
Corporate Address	1 E. Church St. Frederick, MD 21701
Social	Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube

Business Overview

Franchising Since	1989 (35 years)
# of employees at HQ	40
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	98 (as of 2023)

Information for Franchisees

Here's what you need to know if you're interested in opening a NaturaLawn of America 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 Definition: The initial fee paid to a franchisor to join their system What you need to know: Found in Item 5 of the FDD, this may be a flat fee, or may vary based on territory size, experience, or other factors.The franchise fee is an up-front (one-time) cost that a new franchisee pays to the franchisor. This fee is usually due at the signing of the franchise agreement and covers the right to use the franchisor's trademarks, name, and related business systems.	$9,500 - $29,500
Initial Investment Definition: The total amount necessary to begin operation of the franchise What you need to know: The initial investment includes the franchise fee, along with other startup expenses such as real estate, equipment, supplies, business licenses, and working capital. This is outlined in a chart in Item 7 of the FDD, showing a range of possible costs from low to high.	$57,500 - $122,650
Net Worth Requirement Definition: The minimum net worth you must have in order to qualify to become a franchisee of this company What you need to know: Net worth is the value of a person's assets minus liabilities. Assets include cash, stocks, retirement accounts, and real estate. Liabilities include items like mortgages, car payments, and credit card debt.	$150,000
Cash Requirement Definition: The minimum liquid capital you must have available in order to qualify to become a franchisee of this company.	$100,000 - $150,000
Veteran Incentives Definition: A discount or other incentive offered to military veterans who buy a franchise with this company.	$10,000 off franchise fee
Royalty Fee Definition: A ongoing fee paid to the franchisor on a regular basis. What you need to know: Most franchisors require franchisees to pay an ongoing royalty fee, which is detailed in Item 6 of the FDD. This fee is typically a percentage of weekly or monthly gross sales, but may also be a flat weekly, monthly, or annual fee.	7%-9%
Ad Royalty Fee Definition: An going fee paid to the franchisor on a regular basis to support advertising or marketing efforts. What you need to know: This may also be called advertising fee, marketing fee, brand fund fee, and more, but the basic purpose is the same-- to support promotion of the brand systemwide. As with the royalty fee, it is detailed in Item 6 of the FDD, and can be a percentage of weekly or monthly gross sales or a weekly, monthly, or annual fee.	1%
Term of Agreement Definition: The length of time your franchise agreement will last. What you need to know: Franchise terms are typically anywhere from 5 to 20 years in length, but are sometimes instead dependent on factors such as the term of your lease. Once your term is up, you may have the option to renew your agreement, typically for a smaller fee than the original franchise fee.	5 years
Is franchise term renewable?	Yes

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	NaturaLawn of America 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	51-90 hours
Classroom Training	24-40 hours
Ongoing Support	Purchasing Co-ops Newsletter Meetings & Conventions Toll-Free Line Grand Opening Online Support Security & Safety Procedures Lease Negotiation Field Operations Site Selection Proprietary Software Franchisee Intranet Platform
Marketing Support	Ad Templates National Media Regional Advertising Social Media SEO Website Development Email Marketing

Operations

Additional details about running this franchise.

Is absentee ownership allowed?	No
Can this franchise be run from home/mobile unit? Definition: The business can be run from your home and/or a vehicle, and it is not necessary to have a retail facility, office space, or warehouse.	No
Can this franchise be run part time? Definition: This business can be run by the owner on a part-time basis (less than 40 hours per week) and/or as a side business; it is not necessary for the business to be open/run full-time.	No
# of employees required to run	2-6
Are exclusive territories available? Definition: An exclusive territory is a fixed area in which you are given the right to operate and in which no other units of the same franchise may be opened. What you need to know: Territory size may be based on factors such as radius, population size, zip codes, and more. Details can be found in Item 12 of the FDD.	Yes