Franchisee Satisfaction Report

Commercial Landscape Management since 1986

Commercial landscape management is one of the most sustainable new businesses you can start. Mother Nature is on your side. Grass and plants grow every day. Commercial property landscape must be maintained. And that's where you come in. Over 200 franchisees have started right where you are now, some with a landscaping background, some without, but all with one thing in common: the desire to succeed as a business owner.

Low Investment/Overhead

Avoid the expensive build outs that many concepts require. You acquire office space, and add labor and equipment as you grow your commercial clientele.

YOUR CUSTOMERS:

Commercial customers provide substantial revenue, even more importantly, they provide recurring revenue. These properties need to be maintained year round. As a U.S. Lawns franchisee, you will have only commercial customers. No residential. We pursue the following:

* Commercial office complexes
* Retail centers & malls
* Banks
* Medical facilities
* Apartment complexes
* Condo associations
* Homeowner associations
* Assisted living facilities
* Restaurants
* Hotels and resorts
* Municipalities

U.S. LAWNS SERVICES YOU WILL MANAGE:

* Full service landscape management – mow, edge, weed, prune, trim, debris removal
* Irrigation management – design, repair, adjust, inspect
* Fertilization & pest control – fertilizer, pest management
* Seasonal color design & installation – bed preparation, plant, pinch & prune
* Arbor care management – properly prune for natural growth & location
* Select services – mulch, landscape renovation, aerate, dethatch, custom services
* Snow & ice management – pre-treatment & clear walkways & parking lots

No Prior Experience Necessary

If you do not have landscape industry experience and/or you have no experience starting or expanding your own business, no worries. Our comprehensive training program and ongoing support provides you with the tools to get your business off the ground. Our experienced industry professionals will support and train you to use your sales and management abilities to build the business, while your crews service the properties.

Systems & Support – We Start with You. We Stay with You.

The operational systems and support you will receive from U.S. Lawns is extensive, ongoing and provides you with a competitive edge in your market. You will always have access to a full staff of experts in all areas of commercial landscape maintenance, business, marketing and accounting.

You will receive ongoing one-on-one mentoring in bidding & estimating, financial management, routing & scheduling, marketing and customer acquisition. You'll benefit from our corporate purchasing power for your equipment and supplies. We have support and training for your office procedures & human resource needs.

Like your family and friends, we are here to support your success every day.

Commonly asked questions and answers about this franchise opportunity.

Q: How long to get the business started?
A: It takes 60 days to get a U.S. Lawns franchise started.

Q: What percentage goes back to corporate?
A: Our royalty fee is 4% of gross sales, paid monthly. However, it declines to 3% as your monthly revenue increases.

Q: Is there a franchise in Tuscaloosa AL?
A: Yes, we currently have a franchise location in Tuscaloosa, AL.

Q: Why should I select U.S. Lawns over other service providers?
A: Simply stated, "National Strength, Local Commitment." While we have the resources, the processes and the systems of a strong regional or national company, we are unique in the industry in that we combine these capabilities with the commitment of a local owner; an owner committed to your satisfaction, committed to their business and committed to their community. The end result is trust, quality, service and value that separate us from the rest.

Q: What is the best way for me to contact U.S. Lawns if I have an interest in your services?
A: The U.S. Lawns foundation is built upon the fact that you will work directly with our local owners from the very beginning so that they can fully understand your needs and the needs of your property. For this reason, it is important that you begin the relationship by speaking directly with the owner. Contact your local U.S. Lawns owner by going to the locator and either e-mailing or calling the owner directly. If you have multiple properties or you have questions about what office would best serve you, please visit our strategic Accounts website or e-mail @ulsawns.com or call 1.800.USLAWNS.

Q: What is the next step?
A: Typically we need to visit with you to better understand your needs. Do you have a new commercial property that needs service? Do you currently have a service provider who is not as responsive as you would like? Would you like to adjust your existing level of service to better fit your current needs? These are all things we will discuss with you during the first brief meeting, along with details about your property.
Following the meeting we will measure your site and prepare a proposal that addresses the needs discussed in the first meeting along with options you may wish to consider now or in the future. This proposal is presented at an agreed upon time, meaning no pressure and no disruption of your current service. We understand you have a business to run.

Q: Who will I communicate with and see on my property once we become a customer of U.S. Lawns?
A: At each service visit you will see our trained, uniformed crew in a well-marked, fully logoed U.S. Lawns vehicle. They will be supervised by a crew leader who will make contact with you or your designated representative during this visit. They will also leave behind, on-site where practical, a Landscape Management Report which details the services they have performed as well as potential services to be addressed in following visits.
Additionally, the U.S. Lawns owner will communicate with you regularly, including performing site visits and discussing your property's ever-changing needs over the phone or in person. The owner and crew are supported by a local office staff trained to efficiently address your administrative requirements.

Q: How will I know when and what services have been performed?
A: You will find that U.S. Lawns is committed to building a relationship with its customers based on timely and accurate communication. After each visit to your property we will leave behind, where practical, our Landscape Management Report outlining exactly what maintenance services were performed that day, as well as potential services to be addressed in following visits.

Q: Can U.S. Lawns send my invoices by e-mail each month, eliminating paper usage?
A: Yes. Making it easy for you to do business with us is one of our primary goals. We can generate invoices by e-mail, fax or postal service—whichever is most convenient for you.

Q: Will there be an added cost to walk the property on a monthly basis with the owner or a landscape supervisor?
A: No. In fact, we encourage regular landscape walkthroughs with our clients and do not charge extra for this service.

Q: Do you have the licenses and insurance necessary to meet my requirements?
A: Yes. U.S. Lawns complies with all federal, state and local requirements necessary to perform the services we offer. Additionally, we are fully insured in a manner that meets the requirements of our customers. If you have specific needs, they will be addressed prior to the start of our service.

Q: How can I be assured of receiving the level of service I need delivered on a consistent basis?
A: Our successful experience in delivering the right level of consistent service to customers just like you, since 1986, has prepared us for your property. The systems and processes we use behind the scenes are really the answer; it begins with selecting and managing the right people for the right jobs, training them from entry level to senior level with state-of-the-art, proprietary training programs, and then having systems and processes designed to make most tasks easily replicable.
We summarize this process with a simple saying, "close to the customer, close to the employee." Understanding your needs and then remaining engaged with you allows us to "stay close to the customer"; understanding the employee's needs and then remaining engaged with that employee allows us to "stay close to the employee." The result? The right level of service delivered consistently time after time.

Q: How do I know that U.S. Lawns will accurately and safely apply the products used on my turf and landscape plants?
A: Every U.S. Lawns crew member completes extensive training on the proper use and application of the products we choose to use when performing our duties. We are proud to say that we use only EPA-registered products that comply with all state and local requirements. We believe in the responsible use of landscape enhancement products and apply those products only when and where they are needed. We regularly conduct training and hold meetings on the safe and proper use of our equipment and products.

Q: How do you train your staff?
A: U.S. Lawns has formal comprehensive training programs that all employees are required to complete. Our training program was developed based upon the best practices employed by commercial landscape professionals throughout the country. Our training never stops. Ongoing training consists of a series of regularly scheduled meetings, our newsletter articles and training is also conducted through our Regional Franchise Advisor Team.
 

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25 Years and Growing