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FRANCHISE RESALES

Buy a The Grounds Guys Franchise

The Grounds Guys is a year-round landscaping and lawn care franchise operating across the United States and Canada as part of Neighborly, the world’s largest home services franchisor. The business began in 1987 as Sunshine Grounds Care, founded by ten brothers, and took the The Grounds Guys name in 2010 after joining Neighborly (formerly the Dwyer Group). It has since grown to more than 260 locations in North America.

Franchises serve residential homeowners and homeowner associations as their core market, alongside commercial clients such as local storefronts and places of worship. Revenue spans three areas: recurring maintenance (mowing, turf care, seasonal cleanup, and snow and ice removal), installation and repair work (irrigation, artificial turf, and lighting), and enhancement projects such as seasonal planting and hard- and softscapes.

The model is territory-based, with branded vehicles, uniformed crews and a recurring service relationship maintained across every season. As a Neighborly brand, locations run on shared operating systems with national purchasing through ProTradeNet and cross-brand referral access, while remaining locally owned and operated.

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Why buy a The Grounds Guys Franchise?

Buying a The Grounds Guys franchise offers entry into a recurring-revenue service category that stays in demand across economic cycles, backed by one of the most recognised names in home services. Multiple revenue streams across maintenance, installation and enhancement let owners build steady year-round income rather than depending on a single seasonal service.

The brand’s main strength is its Neighborly backing: established operating systems, national and local marketing support, purchasing power and rebates through ProTradeNet, and referral flow from sister brands that an independent operator would have to build from scratch. No prior landscaping experience is required, since the model is built for owners who lead crews and manage local relationships rather than perform the trade themselves.

The Grounds Guys Franchise Costs & Information

Based on 2025 data reported in the 2026 FDD

  • Brand Profile

    • Year Founded

      1987

    • Franchising Since

      2010

    • New Startup Cost

      $107,650 – $252,850

    • Avg. Resale Price

      Contact us for details

  • Franchise Fees

    • Initial franchise Fee

      $43,750

      for new territories

    • Transfer Fee

      5%

      of gross sale price or $7,500 minimum, whichever greater

    • Royalty Fee

      5–6%

      of Gross Sales

    • Marketing Fee

      2%

      of Gross Sales

  • Unit Performance

    • Total Units *

      219

    • New Units Opened *

      12

    • Units Transferred *

      8

    • Avg. Unit revenue *

      $820,392

    * Based on 2025 data reported in the 2026 FDD

The Grounds Guys – Additional  Information

  1. Training & Support

    Owner training covers business operations, sales and marketing systems rather than the trade itself, reported in the FDD as 123.75-171.75 hours of classroom training plus 56-136 hours on the job. Ongoing support includes a dedicated business coach, local and national marketing help with SEO and PPC, regional training events and national conferences, purchasing discounts and rebates through ProTradeNet, and customer booking via the Neighborly app. Resale buyers should confirm with The Grounds Guys what onboarding and system access transfer to incoming owners and crew when ownership changes.

  2. Ideal Owner

    The model suits a leader rather than a hands-on landscaper. Successful owners are sales- and relationship-oriented, comfortable recruiting and managing service crews, and focused on building repeat business with homeowners, HOAs and commercial clients. Strong local marketing instincts and the discipline to run established systems matter more than landscaping experience, which the franchisor does not require. It fits operators who want to be the face of the business and grow it through team leadership rather than personally performing the work.

  3. Recognition & Awards

    The Grounds Guys is ranked in Entrepreneur's Franchise 500, placing #72 in 2026 and appearing on the list in 12 of the last 14 years, and was named a top Lawn & Tree Care franchise by Entrepreneur in 2025. It has earned Franchise Business Review Top Franchise recognition for franchisee satisfaction (most recently 2026) and a Franchise 500 Top Franchise for Veterans listing in 2025. The brand is a member of the National Association of Landscape Professionals (NALP) and the Snow & Ice Management Association (SIMA), and operates within Neighborly's national network.

  4. Industry / Market

    The US landscaping services market is large and resilient, estimated at well over $150 billion annually and supported by steady residential and commercial demand. Growth is driven by aging housing stock, dual-income households outsourcing yard work, and ongoing maintenance needs at HOAs and commercial properties. Year-round service mixes, including snow and ice removal in colder regions, help smooth the seasonality that affects single-service lawn operators. For resale buyers, local demand, climate and the mix of recurring contracts versus one-off projects within a territory shape earning stability.

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