Franchise Opportunities

The Danger of Doing Everything Yourself

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Dangers of Doing Everything Yourself

Starting a business is no easy feat, but taking the road to entrepreneurship is a dream for many. The idea of being your own boss is appealing and being in control of your own destiny only makes the pie taste sweeter. But before you sit down and write up your business plan, consider your options. Franchising, in any industry, can offer you everything you’ve dreamed of, including business success and the chance of owning your very own business.

If you decide to start from the bottom, on your own…

  • Beware of product risk. It’s important that you’re 100% confident in the product you’re selling. Choosing your product(s) may sound like a simple task, but make sure you do your research so you can clearly explain the product itself, as well as what problem it solves and why your customers should invest in it.
  • Know your market. Study your potential customers, learn about their personalities, likes, dislikes, buying habits, demographic etc. This can take up a lot of time, but it’s imperative to know who you’re selling to and whether the market is big enough to even pursue.
  • Be prepared financially. You never know what unexpected costs are going to pop-up when you’re starting your own business from the ground up. Have more than you need in the bank prior to your launch. To be fully prepared, you’ll need to create a detailed business plan with weekly, monthly and yearly schedules. This will also be time-consuming, but it will help build confidence in your potential investors, if you plan to seek financial help elsewhere.
  • Recruit the right people. The idea of leading a one-man show is ideal, no doubt; but if you’re planning to grow your business, it’s important to have a reliable, knowledgeable staff to lean on. Employee retention is a concern when it comes to many business owners, so make sure you hire people who are knowledgeable in your industry of choice and ones who plan to be long-term employees.
  • Lastly, execution. New entrepreneurs can easily get distracted by the excitement of starting their own business and often lose sight of the important stuff. It’s important that you stay calm, organized and keep your overall strategy in mind while running your business.

What franchising can offer…

  • Weed Man’s exclusive blend fertilizer cannot be bought in stores. It has served our customers’ needs for over 45 years and that is priceless. Because we purchase in bulk, our franchisees get to take advantage of our national buying power and receive the best pricing available.
  • We know our market. In fact, we utilize data management software to pin-point the exact demographic of our customers, right down to their income, number of children (if any), occupation, what type of car they drive, specific buying habits and more. We offer an impressive customer retention rate of 75-80% and our franchisees also enjoy recurring revenues year after year.
  • Once we determine that the Weed Man franchise opportunity is a good fit for both parties involved, we are happy to help provide financing assistance, if needed.
  • Our network of Weed Man franchisors represents decades of lawn care operation experience, which has been fine-tuned into a system that allows franchisees to run a successful lawn care company with no prior lawn care or agronomic training or knowledge.
  • The entire Weed Man organization is 100% dedicated to providing franchisees with the best possible opportunity available. We’ve developed a training, systems and support network unlike any other and when you join the Weed Man family, we work together to ensure that you receive all of the support you need in order to excel in your new business.

For more information on the Weed Man franchise opportunity, visit us online at www.weedmanfranchise.com or call 888-321-9333.

Why Lawn Care?

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Why Lawn Care

Are you considering starting your own business? Franchising could be the option for you! Become a part of an already-established company in the green industry. But, why lawn care?

A greater percentage of homeowners are hiring professional lawn and landscape maintenance companies. Dual income families and maturing Baby Boomers alike, people with more disposable income, are employing the services of the green industry so they can spend more time enjoying life and to ease the burdens of maintaining their homes. In addition to the increased priority of living life to the fullest, consumers are starting to recognize the value of a home lawn and a professionally maintained one at that! Many “do-it-yourselfers” are proof enough – the price of the products, the hassle of mixing and applying those products and, of course, the angst of uncertain results are all viable factors as to why Weed Man services over 350,000 customers. A lush and healthy turf also promotes a healthy environment and can even increase the value of a home, further increasing the demand for our services.

As a Weed Man franchisee, you’ll have access to our proven business model, exclusive software, an unparalleled support system and so much more! You’ll have all of the tools required to take advantage of the success the green industry is seeing. Not to mention, you can count on majority of your customers automatically renewing their contract with you each year, providing you and your business with recurring revenues and allowing the company to focus marketing efforts on net growth rather than repeat sales, leaving you with the confidence of knowing your business is constantly expanding.

And despite the ongoing vulnerability of the economy, our business plan is as recession-resistant as possible. Lawn care services continue to be a desired service by many homeowners. Across all demographics, consumers understand the value of a healthy looking lawn and our services allot for only a small slice of -the average consumer’s disposable income. While nothing is 100% recession-proof, many of our franchisees have flourished during recessions.

Join Weed Man today! For more information on opportunities in your area, visit us at www.weedmanfranchise.com or call 888-321-9333.

Leadership: An Interview with Weed Man’s C.O.O.

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Leadership.jpg

“True leadership lies in guiding others to success – in ensuring that everyone is performing at their best, doing the work they are pledged to do and doing it well.”
–Bill Owens

Weed Man USA C.O.O Jennifer Lemcke believes that “positive thought leadership is so important – not focusing on just the problem, but bringing up solutions.” Being the C.O.O. of the largest franchised lawn care company across North America, Lemcke has a lot on her plate, but she does it well. Not only does she exude several character traits of a true born leader, she also puts the work in to better herself, the company and the success of Weed Man franchisees.

What is the most important question leaders should ask themselves to gauge their effectiveness, and why?

 It is the role of a good leader to always be asking themselves, “What is my end goal?” Whether it is a long-tern or short-term goal or project, it’s important to have that in mind to help prioritize what is important on any given day. Business leaders tend to get pushed and pulled in so many directions over the course of a day that they may start to equate the amount of work – no matter what it is – as progress. When in fact, a lot of that work is busy work and isn’t helping them to reach that end goal. The best way to stay on track is to make sure metrics are implemented. At Weed Man, we use metrics for everything and it’s what keeps me focused on where my time needs to be spent. When the metrics are telling our team that something is not working right on a big project, I know that I need focus my efforts on figuring out what the metrics are communicating to our team and where we need to adjust – but always with the goal in mind.

How can this kind of self-assessment and introspection help you become a better leader?

 Staying focused on the end goal and following the metrics designed to get me there has helped me become a leader that really takes ownership of projects. I am always thinking about work and how we can be doing things better. Instead handing something off, I really immerse myself in the project until it’s complete. Even if that means putting on a uniform to go out into the field! Sometimes that’s the only way to get a real answer for any problems and as leader that kind of attention to detail will filter through the whole organization.

As M.D. Arnold once said, “A good leader leads the people from above them. A great leader leads the people from within them.”

Do you have any general advice for leaders who are trying to improve?

 Align the work you do with the goal you are trying to achieve. Ask yourself whether the work you’re doing is getting you closer to your goal or is it just busy work? Whenever I oversee a project, I want to show to my team that I have our ultimate goal in mind, whether that be driving more customers to our service or supporting our franchisees in growing their business.

What do you think sells prospective franchisees on Weed Man USA? What do you hear from existing franchisees?

The fact that we’re a family. We are a close-knit group. We know each other’s kid’s names, hobbies, what the weather’s like etc. Sometimes, I’m probably too engaged, but we have trust, which is something we take pride in, especially within the sub-franchisor group. When we say we’re going to do something, we do it and if we mess up, our franchisees know we will fix it. In addition to that, our systems are a large factor of our franchisees’ success. Prospects are encouraged to contact existing franchisees and they always open up about financials and back up their success. We really don’t have to sell it anymore.

If you are interested in learning more about franchise opportunities in your area, visit us at www.weedmanfranchise.com or call 888-321-9333.

 

Franchisee Success Profile: Tom Mauer

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FRANCHISEE SUCCESS PROFILE: TOM MAUER

Tom Mauer

Market: Weed Man Springfield-Hartford in Massachusetts

Number of Locations: In January 2016, I purchased four additional territories, so we now operate nine territories in Western Massachusetts and Northern Connecticut.

Education: I received an Associate’s Degree in Landscape Management from Springfield Technical Community College, and graduated from UMass Amherst with a Bachelor Degree.

Career Background: Prior to becoming a Weed Man franchisee, I owned a landscape company with my partners. We operated a full-service landscape business—complete with lawn care, snow plowing, etc.—and were trying to grow the lawn care side of our business. We were struggling to achieve our growth marks and had worked with marketing companies, but I wanted more than just good looking brochures and signage that they provided. I started looking at franchises for help with branding and marketing, as well as improving efficiency in our operations. That’s when we were introduced to Weed Man USA and decided to purchase a franchise.

I’ve always had a love for the green industry and my partners and I owned the landscaping business for 20 years before we purchased Weed Man as on add-on business. Once I saw the depth of support from Weed Man and the experience of the people driving the franchise, I sold my share of the landscaping business to focus solely on the growth of my Weed Man territories.

What are you most proud of so far as a Weed Man franchisee? Creating a great growth opportunity for my employees and building a team who was awarded the 2015 Weed Man Award of Excellence.

What is the key to your success? My key to success is just to be absolutely committed to following the plan and systems set in place by Weed Man. It’s important to trust the franchise– there is nothing to be gained by trying to do it on your own when you have proven tools and processes to grow your business.

What’s next for you and your franchise? I was recently honored as Weed Man USA’s 2015 Award of Excellence recipient and received the Marketing Performance (over $1.5 million) award at the company’s annual conference. Both awards are testament that I made the right decision to go with Weed Man to achieve the business growth I was seeking, along with the support system of meticulous planning and marketing plans. I’ve recently purchased an additional franchise territory and am thrilled to be expanding our service area. With continued growth, our team is excited about new opportunities for employees to grow with the company. As we develop our people and build bench strength in our staff, we plan to look for additional areas to consider for expansion.

If you’re interested in learning more about franchise opportunities in your area, visit us at www.weedmanfranchise.com or call 888-321-9333.

Franchisee Success Profile: Andy Kurth

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Andy Kurth

FRANCHISEE SUCCESS PROFILE: ANDY KURTH

Market: Madison, Wisconsin

Number of Locations: 6

Education: I attended the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and received my degree in Soil Science with an emphasis in Turf Management and Agri-business.

Career Background: I got involved in the lawn care business starting in high school. During the summers, I worked for a company full-time installing irrigation systems. I began attending college right around the same time that my father purchased his first Weed Man location in Madison and I spent my summers working for him. It was great to begin that way with the company because I was able to learn many different roles within the business. After college I began working full-time for Weed Man selling franchises. Then by chance, I was given the opportunity to work as a Sales Manager in my dad’s office, which I did for a couple more years before I was promoted to General Manager. Today, I am the president for our six offices in the Midwest.

How has your father influenced you as a business leader? My father Terry Kurth has been a great resource and someone that I go to simply to bounce ideas off of. I worked alongside my dad and together we grew our Weed Man from one location to six through building positive relationships with employees and customers. He is a great communicator, which is one of the areas where I try to model my leadership from the example he set. I’m very thankful that he allowed me the freedom to run the business my way and allowed me to make some mistakes along the way. Now that my dad has stepped back a little from the business I feel much more confident making decisions that impact the business because I have those personal experience to draw on. But there are still times when I need his advice and he’s always willing to help when I ask for it.

What are you most proud of so far as a Weed Man franchisee? Being able to provide opportunities for advancement to our most valuable team members and show how much we appreciate their dedication.  We work hard on generating a culture of talent development. When I took an operational role, I wanted to provide our team with a bigger vision of where we can go and who is going to help us get where we want to be. I truly believe that the backbone of this country is the small business because we are providing people within the community with an opportunity to give back to the communities in which they live. It’s amazing to think that we’ve been able to serve 16,000 customers in the past year and hire nearly 300 employees to help take our business to the next level.

Another proud moment for me and my team was receiving an American flag from an Iraq war veteran. While serving his 5th tour in Iraq we volunteered through an organization to care for his lawn so his family would have one less worry while he was away. One day he surprised us at the office with an American flag that had been flown in their camp in honor of our service to his family. The flag hangs in my office as a reminder of the impact that we are making every day.

What’s next for you and your franchise? The efforts at developing our team and providing them with new opportunities is starting to pay off. We put our valued team members in a position to expand into Texas and Colorado this year. We’ll be working on ways our team can stay informed and work together even though our network is a lot more spread out. It’s a great challenge to have and we look forward to leading the way in developing new systems and processes to accelerate our expansion.

If you are interested in learning more about franchise opportunities in your area, visit us at www.weedmanfranchise.com or call 888-321-9333.

New Year. New Technology. New Beginning?

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At Weed Man, we’re constantly aiming to improve the overall experience for our customers, all while helping our franchisees better their businesses and innovating to stay aligned with industry trends. Over the past 45 years, not a lot has changed in terms of Weed Man’s business plan, but with technology booming, it’s important that the brand continues to grow in the digital space.

Saying this, customers, franchisees and potential Weed Man owners can expect our new website to launch TODAY! Are you interested in seeing our new look? The easy-to-navigate design and image-based content is what the new and improved Weed Man site is all about. Visit us at www.weedmanusa.com!

Not only does Weed Man offer top-of-the-line marketing support, the head office team is also available for help in administration, agronomics, social media and so much more! We even take care of franchisees’ public relation needs. And to take results to the next level in 2016, our PR firm has added a wide array of new technologies to help extend our reach to thousands of additional media outlets, both traditional and online. The new platforms provide increased media monitoring and results tracking for the whole brand, nationwide.

Check out some of our latest secured placements below:

When it comes to creating a name for ourselves online, it’s safe to say we’re doing a pretty good job. A new website, numerous secured placements, both local and national, and not to mention, we’re also very active on social media! Want to see for yourself?

Check us out on social:

A new year means new technology and many new things to come for Weed Man! Are you interested in a new beginning? If you’re interested in learning more about opportunities in your area, contact us today at 888-321-9333or visit www.weedmanfranchise.com.

New Year

 

Top 10 Reasons to Invest in a Weed Man Franchise

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There are many perks to franchising, especially with Weed Man! Check out our Top 10 Reasons to Invest in a Weed Man Franchise.

Brand Awareness

One of the most obvious reasons why franchising is a better option than starting from the bottom, is the fact that you’re buying into an already-established brand. Weed Man has been around for over 45 years. We are the fastest growing lawn care franchise in North America, having added 40+ territories to our roster in 2015 alone.

Proven Systems

With a strong brand and 45 years in the industry, comes a lot of conceiving and testing our systems. We are constantly innovating to provide our customers and franchisees with the most efficient and effective way of doing things. We offer Weed Man owners proprietary software and extensive business planning to ensure nothing but success.

Easier to Obtain Financing

With an extremely thorough business plan, obtaining financing is much easier. Don’t believe us? Listen to this testimonial where Brandon Burns, owner of Weed Man Arlington Heights, IL discusses his experience with applying for financing.

Track Record of Success

Weed Man has a great reputation in the franchise industry. Entrepreneur has ranked Weed Man the #1 Franchise in Lawn Care and we have also been named One of the Best Franchises to Buy by Forbes magazine. Over the 45 years in operation, we have witnessed several franchisees become successful and with our exponential growth and continuous innovation, we don’t plan on slowing down anytime soon.

Extensive Training Provided

When a new franchisee comes aboard, Weed Man hosts extensive training at our corporate headquarters located in Oshawa, Ontario. Everything from administration to marketing to technical and agronomics is covered. Meet the entire head office staff and learn more about why the Weed Man opportunity is so great!

Ongoing Support

New franchisee training isn’t the last you’ll hear from head office. The Weed Man team and your local sub-franchisor are always just a phone call or email away. Not to mention, when you invest in Weed Man, you are part of a family. Your fellow franchisees would be happy to lend a hand, if ever needed.

Marketing Assistance

Need help creating a marketing piece? Contact us! Need help with your social media efforts? We’re here for you. Interested in gaining some PR for your local initiative? No problem! Whatever your need, the Weed Man team is here to support you and the success of your business.

Purchasing Power

Purchasing power is a big advantage of buying into a big franchise such as Weed Man. We have approved vendors for just about everything new Weed Man owners require. When supplying for more than 455 territories, the savings are tremendous.

Hard Work is Rewarded

At Weed Man, we strive to be successful and when our franchisees do a great job, we let them know. Celebrating hard work is important and a great motivator for anyone. In addition to celebrating your everyday successes, we also distribute several awards at our Annual Conference and announce when a franchisee has become a part of our network’s coveted ‘Million Dollar Club.’

Exclusive Territory and Option to Own Multiple Locations

Weed Man has franchises across the country and is even sold out in Canada! When you join the Weed Man team, you invest in your own, exclusive territory, which typically services around 150,000 people. You also have the ability to buy more than one territory. In fact, most Weed Man owners start out with at least two. Want to expand in a different market? No problem! Become a multi-unit franchisee today!

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

Top 10 Reasons to Invest in a Weed Man Franchise

Weed Man’s Reputation

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With over 45 years of experience in the industry, Weed Man has always strived to give customers a beautiful and healthy lawn to enjoy. Not only do our integrated services provide peace of mind, but also result in increased property values. We know lawn care and we tailor our programs for each individual green space.

In everything we do, there are systems based upon measurable results, which have been tested, improved and ultimately proven to increase efficiency and profitability. Proprietary software and algorithms have also been created to ensure ease of operation and uniformity in the measurement of our franchisees’ results.

In addition to our experience as a company, our proven systems and ease of operation, the entire Weed Man organization is completely dedicated to providing franchisees with the best possible opportunity available. We’ve developed extensive training programs and have an unparalleled support network. Every Weed Man franchisee is supported by their local and experiences franchisor who serves as a personal consultant and mentor, providing experience, guidance and encouragement along the way.

With all of this in mind, there’s no doubting how we have achieved such a phenomenal reputation in the industry. Last year we were named One of the Best Franchises to Buy by Forbes magazine and year after year, Entrepreneur has named us the #1 Franchise in Lawn Care on the Franchise 500® list. In fact, Weed Man has jumped 5 spots from 2014 and a whopping 305 spots since 2009.

Weed Man's Reputation.jpg

Finishing up last year with $84 million in annual system sales, it is evident that our franchisees have been working hard and achieving success in their businesses. But, that doesn’t mean there isn’t room to grow! We plan to hit the $100 million mark by the end of this year. Are you interested in helping us meet our goal and making a name for yourself? We have many opportunities available across the U.S. Call us today at 888-321-9333 for more information, or visit us at www.weedmanfranchise.com.

>> View our franchising video below!

 

Weed Man’s 2016 Initiatives

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Happy New Year! With 2016 finally here and a new lawn care season just a few months down the road, the entire Weed Man team is excited for what has yet to come.

Last year was a great year for us. Collectively, the company secured an impressive $84 million in system sales, was named One of the Best Franchises to Buy by Forbes magazine, was ranked #7 on Entrepreneur’s Top 10 list and opened several new franchise locations across the United States.

With a new year, come new opportunities. There is so much that we have to look forward to for this coming year, including new technologies, new innovations, as well as new products.

Our 2016 Initiatives

We are getting ready to launch an exciting new website at the Weed Man headquarters. With an expected launch date of February 2016, our new site will boast a new and modern design and will offer similar functionalities as our current site, but new and improved for added convenience, making it extremely user-friendly.

We are excited to offer our franchisees new technology, which will Weed Man owners to target specific demographics and areas in their market, making marketing, advertising and recruitment a breeze.

All of our 2016 initiatives are being implemented to help our company, our franchisees, our business, reach a goal; and together, that goal is attainable. In 2016, Weed Man is on track to reach $100 million in system sales!

Join the Extended Weed Man Family Today!

If you’re looking for an exciting new opportunity that offers limitless growth potential, an unparalleled support system who are committed to helping you grow your business, an undeniable reputation in the industry and so much more, Weed Man may be for you!

If you own an existing business and are looking to diversify or are an aspiring entrepreneur who wants to secure your future and/or leave a legacy for your family, no matter your industry background, Weed Man can help you achieve your career aspirations. For additional information on franchise opportunities in your area, call us at 1-888-321-9333 or visit us online at www.weedmanfranchise.com.

2016 New Year Initiatives

Top 10 Tips for Running a Successful Business

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Have a vision. Most entrepreneurs have a vision prior to just up and starting a business, whether it a passion for something or a dream of leaving a legacy for their children. In order to be successful as a business owner, you must have a vision for your business and for your future.

Believe in what you’re selling. So many people make the mistake of starting a business that they’re not passionate about. If you don’t believe in what you’re selling, your customers won’t believe it in either. Love what you do and live what you love.

Focus on finding the right talent for your company. Finding star talent can be difficult, but if you put in the leg work now, it will pay off in the future. Remember, quality is better than quantity. Take the time to find great employees, rather than struggling with employee retention down the road.

Take the time to train your employees. Once you’ve started building your team, don’t forget to train, train, train. Knowledge is power and if your employees are confident in their role, customers will notice and be more confident in what they are buying. Don’t forget to motivate your staff as well. Keep the morale high by offering positive feedback, incentives and even promotions!

Take care of yourself. Being the business owner, it is imperative that you keep yourself and your family happy and healthy. Exercise, eat right and spend time with your family and friends. Encouraging your employees to do the same will benefit not only themselves, but your company as a whole.

Network. It is so important to network within your community, with customers, potential customers and even possible business partners. Keep an open mind and make a great reputation for yourself and your company. Not only will it look good on you, but it will also help business.

Put yourself in your customers’ shoes. Offering great customer service is imperative to running a successful business. If a customer has a complaint, suggestion and/or concern – listen to them, help them and put yourself in their shoes to really better the situation.

Be creative. Marketing plays a large role in the success of any business. Be creative with your efforts and utilize as many avenues as possible – social media, Internet, print, radio, public outreach, community events – you won’t know if it works until you try!

Be consistent and realistic. Remember, starting your own business is not a get-rich-quick solution. Building a successful business takes time. Be consistent with your efforts and realistic with your vision for the future.

Franchise. Franchising is a great alternative to starting your own business from the ground up. Weed Man knows our competition and we know how to excel in the green industry. We have been doing what we do for over 45 years, have a great reputation, a diverse skill set and a business model that has been practised and proven to be effective.

Looking to expand your current business or make a career change? Find out if Weed Man is right for you: call 1-888-321-9333 or visit www.weedmanfranchise.com.