Franchise Business Review

Weed Man Franchisee Support

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At Weed Man, you don’t have to go it alone. In fact, relying on the ongoing support from seasoned, qualified consultants is one of the biggest benefits of Weed Man franchise ownership.

Here’s a quick glimpse at what our system offers to our franchisees:

  • Local, experienced sub franchisors who serve as personal consultants and mentors, providing experience, guidance and encouragement
  • Dedicated, ongoing support from the Weed Man head office (marketing, creative, technical, administrative, budgeting, etc.)
  • Peer support and networking at various Weed Man meetings and events, including our extremely popular Annual Conference in December
  • Educational seminars, webinars, business planning meetings and teleconferences
  • Full-time tech support to help you get the most out of our state-of-the-art, proprietary Weed Man CRM

And the proof is in the numbers! Our franchisees were surveyed about various aspects of the Weed Man system by Franchise Business Review, the leading market research firm in the franchise industry. We were given an astounding 84% satisfaction rating when it came to Training and Support, nearly 20% higher than the nationwide benchmark when it comes to service franchises.

If you’d like to learn more about the Weed Man franchise opportunity, visit us online at www.weedmanfranchise.com or call us 1-888-321-9333.

Franchise Today & Weed Man USA COO Jennifer Lemcke

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Recently, Weed Man C.O.O. Jennifer Lemcke was invited to participate in a discussion with Franchise Today, an online radio show discussing what’s going on in the franchising world, serving up discussions with weekly guests and touching on best practices for building and growing sustainable franchise brands.

Host Stan Friedman and Lemcke touch on the tremendous growth Weed Man USA has experienced in the past decade and Weed Man’s title as the fastest growing franchise in lawn care. For the second consecutive year, Weed Man has been named One of the Best Franchises to Buy by Forbes magazine and with an initial investment of under $150,000, it’s no wonder the lawn care franchise has seen so much success.

“Our strategy in the U.S. has never been to differ from quality. We do have some good competitors at a national level…but between us and [them], I would boil it down to [the quality of] our fertilizer…and that’s been a staple [for us],” says Lemcke when asked about Weed Man’s strategy.

You can learn more about Weed Man’s exclusively-blended, golf course quality fertilizer HERE.

There are several things that set Weed Man apart from other lawn care franchises. For instance, during our off-time,“[In November, we do budgeting and] our business planning, which is unreal – top of class, not only in our industry, but top of class in probably most industries. We do zero-based budgeting with our franchisees and a business plan with each and every one of our franchisees – the crutch to all of our systems,” Lemcke states.

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To listen to the entire podcast and learn more about the Weed Man opportunity, click HERE.

For more information on opportunities in your area, visit us online at www.weedmanfranchise.com or call 1-888-321-9333.

Weed Man Ranked #1 in Home Services by FBR

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Looking for a great opportunity?

Every year, Franchise Business Review surveys franchisees across hundreds of today’s leading franchise brands – Weed Man USA being one of them. This year, we are honored to be ranked #1 in Home Services. 

Do you want a franchisor who is honest and ethical?

Weed Man was given an overall score of 93.2%, 13/5% above FBR‘s 2016 benchmark.

What about long-term growth? Is that something you’re interested in?

Weed Man franchisees rated the long-term growth opportunity provided by the business at an 84.2%, 13.1% above FBR‘s 2016 benchmark.

How do our franchisees rate the overall quality of Weed Man’s products and services?

Weed Man franchise owners rate the overall quality of the products and/or services provided at 86.8%, which is 11.8% above FBR’s 2016 benchmark.

At Weed Man USA, we pride ourselves on offering franchisees ongoing support.

Franchisees agreed, ranking ongoing support at 84%, a whopping 18.4% above FBR‘s 2016 benchmark.

For more information on Weed Man’s rankings, conducted by Franchise Business Review, click HERE.

Take control of your future with the leading lawn care company in North America. We invite you to visit www.weedmanfranchise.com or call 1-888-321-9333 to find out why our franchisees continue to give us top ratings, year after year.

Three Reasons Why Weed Man Businesses are Awesome

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Are you an aspiring entrepreneur, but can’t decide on what industry you want to delve into? Do you own an existing business, but are interested in ramping up your growth? Weed Man could be your solution! Lawn care may not be ‘sexy,’ but it sure is profitable. We have managed to grow our annual revenue by over $40 million in just the last five years! People are hiring Weed Man to ease the burdens of maintaining their homes, and to help them free up more time to enjoy life’s pleasures. And by all means, we are happy to help!

Consumers recognize that hiring Weed Man is a truly compelling value when compared to the retail costs of products, as well as the labor that goes into mixing and applying those products. It is not uncommon for Weed Man franchisees to receive phone calls from prospective customers dealing with the angst of uncertain results incurred by “DIY-ing” their lawn. There are also environmental benefits of maintaining a lush and healthy green space, which further increases the demand for professional lawn care services.

Aside from these favorable demographic trends, there are a few other reasons why Weed Man businesses are, to put it bluntly, awesome!

Recurring Revenues

Recurring Revenues

A well-run lawn care company can count on the vast majority of its customers automatically renewing each year. For instance, fertilizer needs to be applied multiple times throughout the season and weeds don’t come and go on a schedule – they need to be tended to! This brings in recurring revenues and allows us to focus marketing efforts on net growth rather than repeat sales. Weed Man offers top-of-the-line customer care and so, majority of our customers are repeat business. In fact, Weed Man boasts an impressive customer retention rate of approximately 75-80%.

Economic Stability

Economic StabilityWeed Man businesses offer limited exposure to recession. While no business is recession-proof, lawn care is a low-cost and high-valued service, a small slice of the consumer’s disposable income that can add as much as 15% to a home’s value. In addition to these undeniable facts, Weed Man franchisees are always building on a growing database of renewing customers, creating equity and expanding their business in the process.

Facts & Figures

Year after year, research shows a significant increase in the use of professional lawn and landscape services. Some of these statistics include:

Lawn care services continue to be a desired service by dual-income families and maturing baby boomers. Across these demographics, consumers understand the value of a healthy looking lawn and landscape and enjoy the tranquility that a lush, green lawn can provide.

If owning a business is something that you’ve seriously considered, or if you already own a business and are looking for an additional profit center, Weed Man is a great option! We would be happy to meet you, guide you and help you form a strategic partnership. For more information on franchising with Weed Man USA, visit http://www.weedmanfranchise.com.

Exploring the Common Myths of Owning a Lawn Care Business

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A question we get asked a lot at Weed Man, especially from franchisee prospects, is ‘what do you do during the off-season?’ Many people believe that lawn and landscape companies put their businesses on hold in the colder months, which isn’t true. There are many things business owners can do to keep their business and employees thriving during the winter. With the summer months coming to a close, today we’re going to explore the most common myths of starting a lawn care business by discussing several things Weed Man owners do when, baby, it’s cold outside!

Myth: Lawn and landscape companies close during the winter.

Debunked! This is one of the biggest myths out there. In fact, lawn and landscape businesses that simply close during the winter months often have low employee retention rates and also experience difficulties when trying to gain momentum in the new season. Several business owners in our industry decide to diversify and offer season-relevant services, such as snow plowing or holiday lighting. However, there are still several ways to keep busy and generate revenue if companies do not offer winter services. The off-season is a great time to run a thriving sales room, meet and plan for the upcoming season, and make structural improvements in preparation for the following season.

Myth: Lawn care employees get laid off each winter season because they have no work to do.

Debunked! There is always something to be done during the winter season, regardless of whether or not technicians are needed in the field. The off-season gives businesses the chance to tend to vehicles and equipment, as well as focus on training. This is also a great time to acquire new customers for the upcoming season- a project that requires a steady employee base.  As a Weed Man franchisee, you’ll always be building on a growing database of renewing customers, creating equity and expanding your business in the process.

Myth: Lawn care businesses don’t generate revenue in the off-season.

Debunked! We’re sure there are probably lawn care businesses out there who don’t work at all during the off-season. At Weed Man, we believe the colder months are a great time to sell, sell, sell and plan for the upcoming season. We encourage franchise owners to offer early sign-on incentives to customers to keep the momentum going all year long. Offering discounted rates for pre-paying is a great way to generate revenue during the winter season. Additionally, our skilled corporate team has mastered the art of marketing lawn care, no matter the season. We are the #1 lawn care franchise, after all! Not to mention that our services run through to the fall months and start in early spring.

Myth: If a recession hits, lawn care companies will go out of business fast.

Debunked! Year after year, research shows a significant increase in the use of professional lawn and landscape services. Despite the ongoing vulnerability of the economy, lawn care services continue to be a desired service by dual-income families, maturing baby boomers and consumers who are choosing to enjoy vacations at home. Across all of these demographics, consumers understand the value of a healthy looking lawn and landscape and enjoy the tranquility that a lush, green lawn can provide. Lawn care is just a small slice of the consumer’s disposable income and one of the last budget items to be cut when belt-tightening is necessary. While nothing is recession-proof, many of our companies have flourished during recessions. Also shielding lawn care from exposure to recession is its high perceived value as a low-cost service that enhances both property value and pride of ownership. In fact, studies have shown that professional lawn and landscape services can add as much as 15% to a home’s value at resale.

Yes, lawn care businesses are booming in the spring and summer months. After all, this is when our lawns need the most care; however, as we’ve laid out above, there are still ways to successfully run your lawn care business in the winter. With the support of a franchise, especially, there are also ways to maintain recurring revenues.

If owning a lawn care business is something you’ve considered, or if you already own a business and are looking for an additional profit center, Weed Man is a great option and we would be happy to meet with you to determine whether it would be a good fit for us both. For more information on franchising with Weed Man USA, visit http://www.weedmanfranchise.com.

Why Proper Training and Support Are Imperative

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At Weed Man USA, we believe that proper training and support are imperative. Whether new employees are experienced in the industry or not, training is a great opportunity to expand the knowledge base of all staff members. We encourage franchisees to provide ongoing support to all of their staff, to support the success of employees and allow them to handle any issues they may have on the field or in the office, with more confidence. In a franchised business like ours, franchisees can utilize Weed Man’s large network of experienced and knowledgeable contacts to train appropriately, rather than spending a large part of their budget on development, like many independent businesses do. A little bit of training goes a long way, providing both the company and the employee with benefits that make regular training worthwhile. These benefits include:

Employee Satisfaction & Improved Performance

Giving employees the opportunity to learn while on the job is a great way to boost morale. Taking the time to work with staff will help improve the overall performance of your team. Supporting your team members in their roles will also provide them with more confidence that will ultimately result in a better overall employee retention rate. Everyone wins!

Less Supervision

As mentioned above, when employees are equipped with proper training, everyone benefits. Less supervision is required on behalf of the employer, eliminating the need for micromanagement. This also goes hand-in-hand with boosting employee morale, as your team will feel trusted and work harder to maintain that trust.

Chances of Promotion

Not only does ongoing training increase employee confidence, it is also a tried and true method of molding your employees into the brand ambassadors you want them to be, giving you the confidence to promote key players. This will save you time and stress when you need a position filled; rather than hiring externally and having to spend hours of time training a new employee, you can simply provide existing employees with increased responsibilities and career opportunities.

Opportunity to Address Weaknesses

Training is an integral part of bettering your business. Inevitably, employees will always have different personality traits, strengths and weaknesses. One-on-one training sessions will allow you, as a business owner, to address their weaknesses in an appropriate way, allowing them to learn and work with more confidence.

Fewer In-Field Accidents

Health and safety is always a concern. It is important that we keep our employees safe. Proper training helps lower the number of in-field accidents, especially in industries where large machinery is used.

When Weed Man USA brings a new franchisee on board, we provide extensive, 10-day training at our head office in Ontario, Canada. We take the time to really teach new franchisees about our systems and our business model as a whole. Additional training is always available down the road, anytime our ‘zees’ feel the need to spruce up their skills or take a refresher course in business systems, marketing, admin, or agronomics. Proper training and support largely contribute to the success of Weed Man, and remain one of the reasons we have become North America’s leading national lawn care franchise.

If you own a business in the green industry and are looking for an additional profit center, or if you’re an aspiring entrepreneur and are interested in learning more about franchise opportunities with Weed Man USA, visit http://www.weedmanfranchise.com.

Training and Support

How Weed Man Sets You Up For Success

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At Weed Man USA, our franchisees’ success and dedication are two of the most important aspects of our brand’s great reputation. Their success is our success, which is why we do all we can to train and support Weed Man owners across the country, to set them up to be the best they can be.

Building a profitable business isn’t easy, but after over 45 years in the game, we have what it takes to help franchisees rise to the top. Weed Man franchisees are set-up for success from the very beginning, and here are just a few reasons why:

  1. How do you do? New prospects are initially introduced to the Weed Man brand via an informative phone call with our Franchise Consultant. This call is used as a tool to get to know one another, on both a personal level and a business level. If both parties determine the partnership to be a good fit, potential franchisees go through an initial webinar to get a feel for our systems, what the franchising process looks like and to learn more about our brand.
  1. We offer extensive, continuous training. Once the mutual investigation process is complete and the FDD has been signed, new franchisees attend our 10-day long training at the Weed Man head office in Ontario, Canada. Several topics are discussed, including administration, technical, marketing, business planning and budgeting, as well as all of the training tools required to manage new employees. But it doesn’t stop there. We help franchisees stay current and on the cutting edge of lawn care with ongoing training and regular seminars. And through our team of regional franchisors, you’ll have constant access to an experienced consultant who wants your franchise to succeed.
  1. We’re swimming in a wealth of ‘green’ knowledge. When you become a Weed Man franchisee, you join the extended Weed Man family. Our network of Weed Man franchisors represents decades of lawn care operation experience. Their collective wisdom has been fine-tuned into a system that allows you to run a successful lawn care operation with no prior lawn care or agronomic training or knowledge.
  1. Forty-five years has been good to us. Weed Man has been around for over 45 years, so we have quite the history to back us up. Over those almost five decades, we have earned a solid reputation that we are very proud of. Not only are our customers happy, but we are also known in the business world for having outstanding franchisee satisfaction. Just recently we were named one of the “Best Franchises to Buy” by Forbes. Also, Weed Man has consistently ranked amongst the best of the best by Franchise Business Review and Entrepreneur.
  1. We teach fundamentals. It’s not all about knowing lawn care and agronomics! New franchisees are trained on how to build a successful Weed Man franchise, as well as how to manage growth and profitability. Head office provides ongoing support when it comes to all facets of the business.
  1. We make it easy for anyone. We have hundreds of franchisees, all with different career backgrounds and strengths. Whether you are currently a part of the green industry, or you are in a completely unrelated field, we make it easy for entrepreneurs with the right attitude to become Weed Man franchisees. It all comes down to your approach to ownership and your drive! Click here to read more about the diverse owners of Weed Man.

If owning a business is something that you’ve seriously considered, or if you already own a business and are looking for an additional profit center, Weed Man can make franchise ownership easy for you, too. We would be happy to meet you, guide you and help you form a strategic partnership! For more information on franchising with Weed Man USA, visit http://www.weedmanfranchise.com/.

Weed Man Lawn Care Franchise

Making the Decision to Franchise

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When looking into franchising opportunities, it’s imperative that you develop a good feel for the company and the brand itself before making your final decision. Franchising is not a get-rich-quick solution, although if you work at it, you can certainly be successful. Just like starting any business, though, it is an investment – one that could change your life. So, do your research and get your feet wet before jumping right in! Here are some tips to review before taking the plunge.

1. Speak to existing franchisees (as many as you can). Even pay them a visit if it’s feasible. Make up a list of questions that could help you determine whether the franchise is for you or not. Ask questions like, ‘Why did you choose to franchise here?’ or ‘What did you do before you started with the company?’ or ‘How has this choice affected your day-to-day life?’ And lastly, one of the best questions to ask is, ‘If you could do it all over again, would you?’ This will allow you to get to know the franchise owner on a personal level, so you can relate to him or her and get a feel for whether or not the franchise brand in question would suit your lifestyle, values, and direction.

2. Next, talk business. Ask about franchise costs and revenue, how long it has taken other franchise owners to get where they are now, how they deal with their employees and what they are paid, etc. These are all questions that you can reference if you decide to buy into the company in the future; and the answers you receive will allow you to get a sense of how successful you could be.

3. Create a rating system. Another way to gauge their experience with the company is to ask franchisees to rate, on a scale of 1 to 10, how they feel about various aspects of the business. This could include anything from how useful initial training was to how effective the systems are. If you speak to a handful of franchisees and their ratings are similar, you can begin to rely on the numbers and develop a well-researched picture of what to expect. You can also do some digging to see if there are any reports, such as this one, where Franchise Business Review rates Weed Man.

4. Use the tools at your disposal. In today’s technology-driven world, the Internet is a great resource for doing research. Aside from speaking with franchisees, get online and check out the company website, customer reviews and how they compare to their competitors. Be thorough when reading over any important documents, such as the business plan and what your investment includes, so you can grasp where your money is going and what you’ll get out of it.

5. Don’t forget to reflect. Lastly, when all of your research is done, take some time to reflect on your findings. Determine whether you can relate to the company and the franchisees, whether you see yourself being successful with the material provided and whether or not you would enjoy owning a franchise with the company. If you are confident that the company can help you achieve your dreams and goals, you’ve got a winner!

If owning a business is something that you’ve seriously considered, or if you already own a business and are looking for an additional profit center, Weed Man is a great option. We would be happy to meet you, guide you and help you form a strategic partnership! For more information on franchising with Weed Man USA, visit http://www.weedmanfranchise.com.

The Top 10 Reasons to Join Weed Man

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Thinking about starting your own business? Why not consider opening a Weed Man franchise in your area? Here are just a few reasons why you should:

  1. Weed Man Lawn Care FranchiseNamed the #1 Franchise in Lawn Care by Entrepreneur magazine year after year.
  2. Ranked #98 out of 500 franchise opportunities by Entrepreneur magazine.
  3. Franchisees gave Weed Man an 85.55% overall satisfaction as reported by Franchise Business Review.
  4. Ranked #10 out of 100 companies by Lawn & Landscape, the industry’s largest trade magazine.
  5. Ranked #2 overall on Franchise Business Review’s 2014 Top Multi-Unit Franchises List.
  6. Recognized by G.I. Jobs as a Military Friendly Franchise®.
  7. Fox Business listed Weed Man Lawn Care as a franchise business that you can start for under $100K.
  8. High customer retention; strong recurring revenues.
  9. Twenty-four Weed Man franchise operations have exceeded the $1 million net sales milestone!
  10. Weed Man USA continues a great track record of year-over-year, double-digit revenue growth.

 Weed Man: creating opportunities for growth.