Lawn Care Opportunity

Our Top 10 Quotes on Entrepreneurship

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Entrepreneurship

Entrepreneurship isn’t easy and making the decision to start your own business can sometimes be daunting. Franchising gives you everything you need to succeed – the network, the systems, the reputation and so much more. All you need to do is make the decision to get started. If you need some motivation to help you take that first step, we’ve gathered our favorite Top 10 Quotes on Entrepreneurship. Enjoy!

“To any entrepreneur: if you want to do it, do it now. If you don’t, you’re going to regret it.” – Catherine Cook

“The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now.” – Chinese proverb

“A person who never made a mistake never tried anything new.” – Albert Einstein

“Success is how high you bounce after you hit bottom.” – General George Patton

“If you can dream it, you can do it.” – Walt Disney

“Desire is the key to motivation, but it’s determination and commitment to an unrelenting pursuit of your goal – a commitment to excellence – that will enable you to attain the success you seek.” – Mario Andretti

“Entrepreneurship is living a few years of your life like most people won’t so you can spend the rest of your life like most people can’t.” – Warren G. Tracy’s student

“You can’t fall if you don’t climb. But there’s no joy in living your whole life on the ground.” –  Unknown

“Build your own dreams, or someone else will hire you to build theirs.” – Farrah Gray

“The secret to getting ahead is getting started.” – Mark Twain

Take the first step to entrepreneurship today! What are you waiting for? If you are interested in learning more about the Weed Man franchise opportunity, 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.

Meet Weed Man’s Regional Franchisors

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At Weed Man, out team of regional franchisors is comprised by some of the biggest names in the green industry. When you become a Weed Man franchisee, your personal franchisor is always ready to help, providing you with expert advice and guidance as your company takes off. With the support of our franchisors and corporate team, you will have access to local support, regular business planning meetings, ongoing training and weekly teleconferences to make sure you’re on the right track; and it doesn’t stop there – when you become a Weed Man franchisee, you are becoming a part of the extended Weed Man family. Feel comfortable knowing you can rely on other franchisees for mutual support and advice. Meet our proven, successful Weed Man consultants!

Steve and Chuck Russell
MN, IN, KY, TN & Southern IL

Steve has over 15 years of experience as an active advocate for the green industry and small businesses, while his brother Chuck has thorough industry experience, as well as a high level of expertise when it comes to small business. Together, they provide direct support to local Weed Man franchises. Their varied experience have allowed them to offer franchisees exceptional support in all areas of the business.

Read more about their experience in the industry HERE.

Ken Heltemes
NC & GA

Ken has an extensive background in the green industry, having ran a large, multi-unit franchise operation with Barefoot Lawn Care. With years of small business management experience under his belt, along with his education in Agricultural Economics, Ken is able to provide exceptional support to local franchisees in every aspect of the Weed Man system.

Read more about his experience in the industry HERE.

Terry and Andy Kurth
WI, MN, ND, SD & Northern IL

Terry’s resume boasts a long history both of lawn care operations and franchising. He has extensive experience as a gold course superintendent and also holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Agronomy. His son, Andy, has been involved with Weed Man since his college years, where he graduated with a degree in Soil Science, specializing in Turf Management and Agribusiness. His advanced technical and managerial experience has allowed him to set a prime example for fellow Weed Man franchise owners and mangers.

Read more about their experience in the industry HERE.

John Sanders
NJ, Eastern NY & Eastern PA

John  has been known as a green industry entrepreneur since he was a teen. Later, during his years spent studying at Yale University, he started his own lawn care company, which grew to over 2,500 customers prior to merging with ServiceMaster (the parent company of TruGreen Chemlawn). With his green industry experience and educational background, John is able to support local franchisees through the various stages of their business.

Read more about his experience in the industry HERE.

Phil Fogarty
OH, Western NY & Western PA

With over 30 years of industry experience, Phil is able to share his vast industry knowledge with Weed Man franchisees across the country. He established the first Weed Man franchise in the U.S. in early 2000, making a great foundation for the rest of the company to grow. Then and now, he offers franchisees his unparalleled team building and management skills, which have earned him repute across various industry channels throughout the country.

Read more about his experience in the industry HERE.

Bruce and Brandon Sheppard
VA, WV, MD, DC, DE, SC, LA, MS, AL & Northern FL

Bruce started with Weed Man as a supplier early on, and eventually went on to help launch the company into the U.S. market. His educational background in Agricultural Science, experience in the industry and current owner of the highly successful Weed Man Winchester franchise, he has been a sounding board for new franchisees everywhere. His son, Brandon, joined Weed Man full-time in 2004 after receiving his Juris Doctorate from the West Virginia University College of Lawn. He plays an instrumental part in developing Weed Man’s brand strategy and promoting the company within his markets. Together, Bruce and Brandon provide all-around support to local franchisees.

Read more about their experience in the industry HERE.

Jon Cundiff
MO, KS, IA, NE, AR, OK & Northern TX

Jon has over 30 years of experience, actively participating in every aspect of running a lawn care business. Since joining Weed Man in 2001, he is an excellent advocate for the company, providing dedicated support to Weed Man owners in his area. Being a member of the Mid America Green Industry Council for over 20 years, he effectively mentors franchisees on leadership, customer service, business management and staff development.

Read more about his experience in the industry HERE.

Jennifer Lemcke and Turf Holdings, Inc.
WA, OR, UT, CO, MY, WY, Southern TX, Southern FL, MA, VT, NH, RI & CT

Jennifer is highly regarded in the lawn care industry, both in Canada and the U.S. With over 20 years experience in the industry and currently Chief Operating Officer for Weed Man USA, she is responsible for training and supporting all of Weed Man’s sub-franchisors. She has worked in every position within the company, from marketing to administration to field technician, providing her with the insight required in order to run some of the largest Weed Man Lawn Care operations to date, which she has done.

Read more about her experience in the industry HERE.

If you’re interested in learning more about franchising with Weed Man, visit us online at www.weedmanfranchise.com or call 1-888-321-9333.

Franchising With Weed Man USA

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Are you looking for a new, exciting business opportunity? Maybe you’re sick of the 9-5 office job you currently work and want to plan for your future? Leave a legacy for your children? Whether you’re experienced in the green industry or don’t know a thing about agronomics, Weed Man Lawn Care could be for you!

Weed Man has been one of the best in the biz for over 45 years. Recently being ranked #1 in Home Services by Franchise Business Review, Weed Man franchisees across the country are extremely satisfied with their decision to partner with North America’s #1 Franchise in Lawn Care (according to Entrepreneur magazine). Also, having been named One of the Best Franchises to Buy by Forbes magazine, it’s no order our franchisees have seen so much success throughout their entrepreneurial journeys. Their locally owned and operated businesses are testament to the company’s overall, consistent success in the industry.

The Weed Man franchise opportunity is all about growth! In everything we do, there are systems that have been conceived, tested, refined and ultimately proven to increase efficiency and profitability. The entire Weed Man network is dedicated to providing you with the best possible franchise opportunity available. Every franchisee is supported by their local and experienced franchisor, serving as a personal consultant and mentor, providing guidance and encouragement every step of the way.

Take charge and be your own boss with Weed Man USA, giving you the support you need to ensure a successful business.

For more information on franchising with Weed Man, visit us at http://www.weedmanfranchise.com or call 1-888-321-9333.

Reasons to Love Entrepreneurship with Weed Man

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Weed Man has a robust marketing system that is scalable and allows you to grow at the pace you want.

“We became a Weed Man franchisee because we wanted brand recognition, marketing, support and growth.  Weed Man truly has a robust marketing system that is scalable and allows you to grow at the pace you want. I found their commitment to franchisee support, in every aspect of the business, to be outstanding. Our business has grown over 10 times since we became a franchisee.”

– Stephen Hillenmeyer, Weed Man Lexington, KY and Stephen Hillenmeyer Landscape Services, Weed Man franchise owner since 2002

Weed Man is proven to be a recession-resistant business that experiences growth year over year.

“We started our business in the fall of 2008, at the beginning of the economic downturn.  However, we built a business plan with an aggressive marketing outline and followed that plan to meet our goals.  In the first several years, we have seen tremendous growth in our company.  In fact, we doubled our customer count from year 1 to year 2. In our 4th Year, we were almost at 5 times the amount of customers as we did in our first year.  Looking forward, based on our historical data, we are predicting many more years of extensive growth, even in a down economy.”

– Andy Behrens, Weed Man Champaign, IL, Weed Man franchise owner since 2009

As a Weed Man owner you are building equity in a marketable business.

“We have been able to show growth year over year since we bought our Weed Man franchise.  It has proven to be a recession-resistant business.  Anyone looking at buying any type of business, regardless of if they are already in the green industry or not should definitely consider a Weed Man franchise!  The value of our renewing customer base and outstanding products/services is unmatched in our industry.  We know that we are building a sustainable legacy to pass along to our family and provide a very nice retirement lifestyle in the future.”

– Kim & Mark Kosberg, Weed Man Midland, MI., Weed Man franchise owner since 2007

Being part of Weed Man instantly offers group purchasing strength.

As soon as we purchased our first Weed Man franchise, we immediately saw the benefits of the purchasing power.  Our small lawn care company could not compete with some of the larger companies such as Weed Man, because we would go to local service centers and basically be spending double on any of the products that we needed.  We realized that our profit margins were not where we wanted them.  Now that we are a Weed Man franchise, we have seen our profit margins skyrocket and it is all because of the number of Weed Man dealers out there, driving prices down.  We are no longer that small fish in the large sea!”

– Thomas Ladd, Weed Man Louisville, Ky. Weed Man franchise owner since 2006

Questions to Ask Your Potential Franchisor

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Questions to Ask Franchisor

Starting your own franchise can be intimidating for a number of reasons, but one of the biggest perks that franchisees get to enjoy when investing in a business, is the fact that it is already established and likely, a reputable company. However, just like any ordinary job interview, when you’re preparing to speak with your potential franchisor to learn more about the opportunity and the company itself, there a number of questions you should ask to really determine whether it is a good fit for you. Here are some important Questions to Ask Your Potential Franchisor. And assuming you’re interested in the possibility of owning a Weed Man franchise, we’ve even given you some answers to a number of frequently asked questions!

Why should I invest in a franchise in _______________?

Weed Man was recently named One of the Best Franchises to Buy by Forbes magazine. Aside from our great reputation in the industry, Weed Man also offers:

  • An impressive customer retention rate of approximately 75-80%
  • Recurring revenues
  • In-depth business planning to help keep your business current, within budget and on track for long-term success
  • National buying power
  • Cross-marketing opportunities that can help existing companies bring new customers through the door
  • Proven systems that help increase efficiency and profitability
  • Comprehensive, ongoing training
  • Unparalleled support, provided by sub-franchisors across the country, as well as our corporate team
  • Advanced marketing systems that have been proven to work
  • High profit margins and asset-building to help you secure your future and retirement
  • And so much more!

What are the capital requirements to become a  _________________ franchisee?

Capital requirements are different depending on the business, the industry and what the initial franchising fee includes, but at Weed Man, it is as follows:

Single Territory (Population up to 150,000)

 Double Territory (Population up to 300,000)

Franchise Fee: $20,000

 Franchise Fee: 33,750

Initial Investment: $43,700

Initial Investment: $58,540
Capital Investment: $103,700

Capital Investment: $118,450

 

What is included in my initial franchising fee?

At Weed Man, your investment includes the following:

Initial Training Exclusive Computer System
Trained in all aspects of the business State-of-the-art system
Administration Developed especially for Weed Man
Computer Integral part of the Weed Man organization
Technical User-friendly
Marketing  
Business planning  
Long-term planning  

Additional fees include: royalties and contribution to Weed Man’s advertising fund, which provides national buying and brand awareness.

How do you royalty fees work?

At Weed Man, we offer franchisees a declining royalty structure, so you get rewarded for growing your business.

What is your training program like?

Weed Man’s initial training session is spread over a 10-day period, covering all of the essential topics to help steer you and your new business in the direction of success. From your initial training to ongoing seminars, to the constant support of your franchisor, you’re never alone! The Weed Man family goes above and beyond to make sure that you’re thoroughly trained and primed for success.

Do our values and culture align?

At Weed Man, we do our due diligence in finding new franchisees and we suggest that you do the same. Your initial consultation is only the beginning. Prepare yourself for a number of phone calls and meetings prior to becoming a Weed Man franchisee. We like to take the time to really determine whether the opportunity is a good fit for both parties.

Do you provide grand opening support?

We help provide you and your new business with all of the support needed, especially in your first months. Our public relations agency will do their best to secure local media to attend your grand opening.

How long have you been franchising your company?

Weed Man has been in business for over 45 years, opening our first location in 1970. Weed Man started franchising six years later, in 1976. Currently sold out in Canada, Weed Man has seen rapid growth across the U.S. since 2000.

Some other questions you may want to ask your potential franchisor:

Can I speak with some existing franchisees before I make a decision?

Do you offer assistance with financing?

What territories are open in my area?

For how long is the franchise granted and what happens at the end of that period?

What happens if I decide the business isn’t for me, once the contract has been signed?

Are franchisees experiencing success with your model?

What support do you offer beyond the initial training?

What are the profitability and cash flow projections for my market?

What kind of marketing support do you provide?

Why should I choose your business to franchise?

How do you resolve disagreements or disputes?

If you are interested in learning more about the Weed Man opportunity, please visit us online at www.weedmanfranchise.com or call 1-888-321-9333.

 

 

Our Top 10 Quotes on Failure

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In every aspect of life, including business, failure at one point or another is inevitable. Although many people fear failure, many entrepreneurs do not; and that helps provide them with the ingredients they need to succeed. Accepting any fear can be scary, but accepting the fear of failure, for many, can be too much to stomach, and instead, forces people to give up on their entrepreneurial aspirations. But with the right expectations, that fear can be powerful and lead you on a path to success – one that you will never look back on. Here are our Top 10 Quotes on Failure for a little bit of motivation for anyone considering leaving their dreams behind and living a life they don’t love.

“Only those who dare to fail greatly can ever achieve greatly.” – Robert F. Kennedy

“Giving up is the only sure way to fail.” – Gena Showalter

“Failure should be our teacher, not our undertaker. Failure is delay, not defeat. It is a temporary detour, not a dead end. Failure is something we can avoid only by saying nothing, doing nothing, and being nothing.” – Denis Waitley

“It’s failure that gives you the proper perspective on success.” – Ellen DeGeneres

“You build on failure. You use it as a stepping stone. Close the door on the past. You don’t try to forget the mistakes, but you don’t dwell on it. You don’t let it have any of your energy, or any of your time, or any of your space.” – Johnny Cash

“It’s fine to celebrate success but it is more important to heed the lessons of failure.” – Bill Gates

“I think you have to try and fail, because failure gets you closer to what you’re good at.” – Louis C.K.

“Many of life’s failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.” –  Thomas Edison

“You always pass failure on your way to success.” – Mickey Rooney

“Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm.” – Winston Churchill

If you are interested in learning more about the Weed Man franchise opportunity, visit us online at www.weedmanfranchise.com or call 1-888-321-9333.

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: 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.