--- title: "The Grounds Guys Franchise: Cost, FDD Analysis & Review" description: "The Grounds Guys franchise costs, fees, and earnings potential. Investment range: $108K-$253K. 219+ locations. Get the data you need to decide." url: "https://www.franchisegrade.com/best-franchises/brand/the-grounds-guys" canonical: "https://www.franchisegrade.com/best-franchises/brand/the-grounds-guys" markdown_url: "https://www.franchisegrade.com/best-franchises/brand/the-grounds-guys.md" type: "FranchiseBrand" brand: "The Grounds Guys" sector: "Home & Property Services" category: "Lawn, Landscaping & Outdoor Services" investment_low: "107650" investment_high: "252850" total_units: "219" grade: "C" operating_model: "Owner-Operator" --- # The Grounds Guys Franchise: Cost, FDD Analysis & Review The Grounds Guys franchise costs, fees, and earnings potential. Investment range: $108K-$253K. 219+ locations. Get the data you need to decide. ## At a glance - **Brand:** The Grounds Guys - **Sector:** Home & Property Services - **Category:** Lawn, Landscaping & Outdoor Services - **Total initial investment:** $107,650 – $252,850 - **Total units (FDD Item 20):** 219 - **FranchiseGrade grade:** C - **Operating model:** Owner-Operator - **Home-based:** yes - **States with locations:** AL, AR, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DE, FL, GA, IA, ID, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MI, MN, MO, MS, MT, NC, NE, NH, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, OK, OR, PA, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, VT, WA, WI, WV ## The Grounds Guys — franchise facts ### What is the total investment required to open a Grounds Guys franchise? Total investment ranges from $108K to $253K, covering franchise fee, equipment, technology, training, insurance, working capital, and initial marketing. This includes the $44K franchise fee and varies based on territory size and service equipment needed. Exact costs depend on local real estate, staffing, and equipment choices. ### What does The Grounds Guys franchise fee of $44K cover? The $44K franchise fee covers access to the brand, territory rights, initial training program (305 hours), GGPro technology platform setup, business coaching, and operational manuals. It includes your launch support and integration into Neighborly's referral network but does not cover equipment or real estate. ### What are the ongoing fees and royalties for The Grounds Guys franchise? Ongoing costs are minimal: 0.06% royalty on gross revenue and 0.02% advertising fund contribution. These industry-leading low rates preserve cash flow while maintaining access to technology updates, coaching, and marketing support. No additional technology fees beyond the small royalty percentage. ### What liquid capital and net worth does The Grounds Guys require from franchisees? Specific liquid capital and net worth requirements are not disclosed in Item 19, but the $108K-$253K investment range suggests most franchisees should have $50K-$100K liquid capital and $150K+ net worth. Contact Neighborly directly for exact financial qualification criteria. ### Does The Grounds Guys offer financing or work with third-party lenders? Specific financing programs are not detailed in available disclosures. Neighborly and The Grounds Guys likely work with SBA-approved lenders and may offer referrals. Contact the franchise development team for current financing partnerships and loan pre-qualification options. ### What initial training does The Grounds Guys provide to new franchisees? The Grounds Guys provides 305 hours of comprehensive initial training covering operations, sales, marketing, crew management, equipment use, and the GGPro software platform. Training combines classroom instruction, field training, and hands-on experience. New owners typically complete training before opening and receive on-site support during launch. ### What ongoing support does The Grounds Guys provide after a franchise opens? Ongoing support includes a dedicated business coach assigned to your franchise, access to the GGPro technology platform for scheduling and management, field support visits, regional networking events, and cross-brand referral opportunities across Neighborly's 4,000+ locations. Franchisees also access peer communities and continuous training updates. ### Does The Grounds Guys help with site selection or territory assignment? The Grounds Guys assigns protected territories based on demographics, competition, and growth potential rather than requiring franchisees to secure real estate. Territory size and assignment depend on market analysis and available openings. Home-based model eliminates traditional site selection needs for most franchisees. ### What are the day-to-day responsibilities of a Grounds Guys franchise owner? Owner responsibilities typically include crew scheduling and management, customer acquisition and retention, service quality oversight, equipment maintenance, invoicing, and business development. Home-based operation means office work can be handled from home, while field supervision requires periodic site visits. The GGPro platform automates much of the administrative workload. ### Is The Grounds Guys better for owner-operators or semi-absentee investors? The Grounds Guys is primarily designed for owner-operators who actively manage crews and customer relationships. While the franchise supports business coach guidance and GGPro automation, semi-absentee models require significant hired management infrastructure. Success is highest when owner maintains hands-on involvement in operations and sales. ### What lifestyle and time commitment does owning a Grounds Guys franchise require? Time commitment is moderate to substantial, typically 50-60 hours weekly during peak seasons (spring-fall) and lighter in winter months. Home-based setup provides flexibility, but franchise success requires active management of crews and customer relationships. Seasonal nature of landscaping creates natural work-life rhythm variation. ### How many territories does The Grounds Guys have available and where can franchisees expand? The Grounds Guys operates 219 locations across 42 US states with protected territories available in underserved markets. Expansion continues across the country, particularly in secondary and tertiary markets. Check with franchise development to identify specific open territories matching your geographic preferences and investment capacity. ### Can franchisees own multiple The Grounds Guys locations? Multi-unit ownership is supported for qualified franchisees with strong operational performance, management capacity, and financial resources. Multi-unit operators benefit from economies of scale, shared management overhead, and enhanced profitability. Discuss multi-unit potential with your franchise development representative during qualification. ### Does The Grounds Guys offer area development or master franchise agreements? Area development opportunities may be available for well-capitalized franchisees in designated regions, though specific programs are not detailed in standard disclosures. Master franchise arrangements are less common in this model. Contact Neighborly's franchise development team to explore strategic expansion opportunities for your territory. ### What revenue model and profitability drivers does The Grounds Guys franchise generate? Revenue comes from recurring monthly lawn care contracts, seasonal services (snow removal, hardscaping), and one-time lighting/irrigation projects. Profitability drivers include recurring revenue contracts (highest margin), seasonal service pricing, crew efficiency, and retention of customers. Low royalty rate (0.06%) preserves significant revenue for owner profit and reinvestment. ### What sets The Grounds Guys apart from other landscaping franchises? Key differentiators include Neighborly backing (4,000+ home service franchises for referrals), protected territories minimizing internal competition, GGPro proprietary technology for crew and scheduling management, low ongoing royalty structure, and dedicated business coaching. The diversified service model (lawn care, snow removal, hardscaping, lighting) reduces seasonal revenue volatility compared to lawn-only competitors. ## Research this brand - Full profile: https://www.franchisegrade.com/best-franchises/brand/the-grounds-guys - Compare it side by side: https://www.franchisegrade.com/compare - Check affordability against your capital: https://www.franchisegrade.com/affordability-calculator - Franchise terms used above: https://www.franchisegrade.com/tools/franchise-glossary --- *Source: [FranchiseGrade](https://www.franchisegrade.com) — independent, FDD-derived franchise research.* *Cite this page as: https://www.franchisegrade.com/best-franchises/brand/the-grounds-guys* *Training, indexing and quotation are permitted — please attribute and link to the source URL above. Full-text reproduction of the whole page is not. Licensing: privacy@franchisegrade.com*