Franchise Today & Weed Man USA COO Jennifer Lemcke

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.

franchise-today

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.

Success Profile: Grant & Kyle Faulk

Weed Man - arms crossed.png

Market: Weed Man Dothan and Montgomery, AL

Number of Locations: 2

Education: The twin brothers graduated from Auburn University – Grant in Building Science and Kyle in Landscape Design.

Career Background: After graduating, Grant worked for Manhattan Construction and Kyle with Post Properties, both in Atlanta. Three years post-grad they decided to move back to their hometown of Dothan. They had always wanted to own their own business and decided to join forces to open a landscaping business, Lakewood Landscape Group in 2005. In 2010, the Faulks’ decided to purchase Weed Man Dothan as an add-on business.

Family: Grant is married to Elizabeth and they have two kids, Laura and Will. Kyle is married to Melissa and they have two kids, Whit and Libby, and are expecting this fall.

Why Weed Man? Our independent business had reached its five-year mark and we saw that the business would benefit from structured systems. We created our business from thin air and the lack of systems made it difficult for things to function smoothly and consistently. When we found Weed Man, we found a 40-year old business with proven systems and experience. We were attending a landscape conference in Tennessee to help our business and Weed Man was one of the sponsors. Franchising was never a thought of ours before but after the company’s presentation, we knew we found the missing link. Two years later we pulled the trigger and opened our franchise.

What are you most proud of so far as a Weed Man franchisee?

There have been many satisfying moments as a Weed Man franchisee and as an independent business owner.   From a customer standpoint, when they renew their services with us and trust us to care for their lawn again the following year, we take pride in that.  It fuels us to do better and continue to earn their business.  From a business owner standpoint, seeing our team develop is the most rewarding thing.  When you go from doing all the work, to training and coaching others to do that same work it is very rewarding.  It continues to drive us to get better and provide room for growth for our entire team.

What is the key to your success?

We foster a culture of gratitude, hard work and respect.  We expect a lot from our team but we try hard to show them how much we appreciate them.  When people know they are appreciated and respected they are more likely to stick around and be a part of the future.

What’s next for you and your franchise?

We’re focused on growing and developing our team right now.  There are many areas for us to improve and that is where we are putting our energy.

How do you balance both the independent business and Weed Man? That is a challenge that we get better at each year.  We’re learning to set clear lines of responsibility that we can both operate within.  We work closely with two consultants, Jason Cupp and Bob Coulter.  Their leadership and wisdom along the way has been crucial.

Any entrepreneurial advice? The business model and systems at Weed Man work.  There is no need to reinvent the wheel.  It requires relentless energy, money, time and support from home to begin with.  There will be many obstacles along the way but if you persevere and find good people for your team, you will be successful.

If you’re interested in learning more about franchise opportunities in your area, visit us online at www.weedmanfranchise.com or call 1-888-321-9333 today!

 

5 Reasons Why Keeping It Simple Works

Keeping it Simple

In today’s day and age, technology is constantly evolving and making our lives more fun and certainly more interesting, but at the same time, it can sometimes make life just a little more complicated. Don’t you agree? Weed Man boasts over 45 years of experience in the industry. We are constantly innovating, but our core values and ideologies have always remained the same. The Weed Man system provides protected territories, comprehensive training, exclusive computer and marketing systems, dominant purchasing power and a commitment to training…the roots to our successful green industry business and some of the largest factors that contribute to being nationally recognized by Forbes magazine as One of the Best Franchises to Buy, by Entrepreneur as the #1 franchise in lawn care, by CNBC as one of nine franchises that can make you rich, as well as many other impressive accolades!

How do we do it? We keep it simple!  Here’s why:

  1. Everyone can grasp it. Not everyone is as technologically-inclined as Mark Zuckerberg and at Weed Man, we are well aware of that. The more complicated the systems are, the greater the risk. By keeping our systems user-friendly, we are increasing the network’s chance of success.
  2. It’s easier to duplicate our successes. As they say, if something works, why change it?! Last year alone, Weed Man USA reported over $82 million in system-wide revenue. We must be doing something right!
  3. The results are measurable. In everything we do, our systems have been conceived, tested, refined and ultimately proven to increase efficiency and profitability. We have taken the time to create standardized procedures that are based upon measurable results to ensure success. It’s imperative to know what’s working and what isn’t.
  4. It requires less to achieve greater. Keeping the strategy simple is effective because it allows everyone to better understand the use of our systems, as well as the results, ultimately shortening the necessary training process and accelerating the time to overall business success; and thus, watching the company experience exponential growth.
  5. Customer retention. As written by Harvard Business Review ‘Many brands lead consumers down confusing purchase paths. The savviest ones simplify and personalize the route.’ We couldn’t have said it better ourselves! Keeping the sales process straight forward, makes it easier to for the customer to understand and therefore, increases revenue and helps the business achieve success.

If you are interested in learning more about franchise opportunities in your area, visit us online at www.weedmanfranchise.com or call 1-888-321-9333. We look forward to hearing from you!

Weed Man Beats Out Competition Once Again

Named One of the Best Franchises to Buy by Forbes magazine

In 2015, Weed Man USA was honored with being named One of the Best Franchises to Buy by Forbes magazine. At that time, the company was ranked 10th, in the Lowest Investment Level < $150,000 category. One year later, Weed Man has made the cut again, but this year, taking 2nd place, out of ten available spots. Having risen eight spots on the list over the past 12 months proves what the company has been able to accomplish. The brand has an impressive track record of success and as we always say, we don’t plan on slowing down any time soon. Weed Man is accompanied by other franchise networks, but none of the company’s competitors were featured on any of Forbe’s three lists.

Forbes Best Franchises List.JPG

Weed Man, the #1 franchised lawn care company in North America, has spent over 45 years building our brand. Our network, comprised of decades worth of lawn care operation experience, has strived to create outdoor green spaces and landscapes for customers, while staying true to the company’s core values; and we have been successful in our venture. In everything we do, there are systems that have been tested and proven to increase efficiency and profitability and by taking the time to create these procedures, we ensure the ability to duplicate our successes throughout the Weed Man network. Accolades such as this one are testament to that.

>> View the full Forbes article HERE.

>> View Weed Man’s Awards, Accolades and Memberships HERE.

For more information on franchise opportunities in your area, visit us online at www.weedmanfranchise.com or call 1-888-321-9333. We look forward to hearing from you!

Myths & Misperceptions About Landscapes

There are many myths and misperceptions about the importance of maintaining a healthy yard; and if you’re considering starting your own lawn and landscape business, you might want to put them to rest before starting your venture. Weed Man has got you covered, with help from the National Association of Landscape Professionals.

Myths and Misperceptions About Landscape (2)

Owning a Weed Man franchise is not only financially rewarding; you can also be happy knowing you are contributing to a healthier environment, providing families in your community with a safe and fun place to create everlasting memories and so much more!

For more information on available franchise opportunities in your area, visit us at http://www.weedmanfranchise.com or call 1-888-321-9333. We look forward to hearing from you!

Our Top 10 Quotes on Entrepreneurship

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.

 

Meet the Team

The entire Weed Man organization is 100% dedicated to providing you with the best possible franchise opportunity available. We’ve used our years of experience to develop a support network that is proven to provide you and your family with a bright future in the growing green industry. When you become a Weed Man franchisee, you join the extended Weed Man family. We work together, all of us collectively, to ensure that you receive all of the support you need to excel in your new business.

Meet the Weed Man team! 

Roger MongRoger Mongeoneon – Chief Executive Officer, Turf Holdings Inc.
Roger is a chemical engineer by trade and has over 25 years of Green Industry experience. In 1987, his entrepreneurial spirit led him to purchase his first Weed Man franchise in Hull, Quebec. He expanded two years later with the purchase of seven Weed Man territories in Montreal. His continued and aggressive growth in the Canadian market quickly made him one of the leaders in the lawn care industry. Roger formed Turf Holdings Inc. in 1996 when he saw an opportunity to bring the Weed Man brand to the United States. His ability to grow a company from zero revenue to $30 million in 20 years gives him the expertise needed to lead the company’s U.S. franchise development.

Jennifer LemckeJennifer Lemcke – Chief Operating Officer, Turf Holdings Inc.
With over 20 years of experience, Jennifer is highly regarded in the lawn care industry in both Canada and the United States. During her first year with Weed Man, Jennifer worked in every position from marketing to administration to field technician. Since then, she has run some of the largest Weed Man Lawn Care operations to date, which has given her the unique ability to support franchisees from start up to million dollar operations. Currently, as Chief Operating Officer for Weed Man USA, Jennifer is responsible for training and supporting Weed Man’s U.S. subfranchisors and over 100 licensed dealers covering 400+ territories.

Steve RussellSteve Russell – Sub Franchisor (MI, IN, KY, TN, Southern IL)
For over 15 years, Steve has been an active advocate for the Green
Industry and small business through activities on various associations
and legislative committees. He is currently President and a member of
M.I.K Holding, L.L.C. and N.P.K. Holdings L.L.C. These firms provide direct
support to local Weed Man franchises. He is also Vice President and part owner of Eradico Services, Inc, a multi-million dollar service company. Steve’s varied experiences have allowed him to offer franchisees exceptional support in all areas of the business.

Chuck RussellChuck Russell – Sub Franchisor (MI, IN, KY, TN, Southern IL)
Chuck is Vice President and a member of M.I.K Holding, L.L.C. and
N.P.K. Holdings L.L.C. Alongside his brother, Chuck provides Weed Man
franchisees with direct support – from start up to day-to-day operations.
As President and part owner of Eradico Services, Inc, Chuck has thorough
industry experience and a high level of expertise when it comes to small business. He is former President of the Michigan Pest Control Association and an active member in committees with the National Pest Management Association.

Ken HeltemesKen Heltemes – Sub Franchisor (NC, GA)
Prior to joining Weed Man as a sub franchisor in 2001, Ken Heltemes
ran a large, multi-unit franchise operation with Barefoot Lawn Care.
This, combined with his education in Agricultural Economics, has given
him unique insight and expertise when it comes to running a lawn care business. Ken has also represented the Green Industry as a board member of the Turfgrass Council of North Carolina and the Professional Landcare Network. With years of small business management experience under his belt, Ken is able to provide exceptional support to local franchisees in every aspect of the Weed Man system.

Terry KurthTerry Kurth – Sub Franchisor (WI, MN, ND, SD, Northern IL)
As a past owner of Barefoot Grass franchises in the Midwest, Terry’s resume features a long history of both lawn care operations and franchising. In addition to holding a Bachelor of Science degree in Agronomy, Terry has extensive experience as a golf course superintendent, is a past president of the Professional Lawn Care Association of America, and is the recipient of an industry “Man of the Year” award. He currently works as Director of Development for Weed Man’s U.S. Operations and has ownership in the Madison, Milwaukee, Green Bay, Rockford and Chicago Weed Man franchises.

Andy KurthAndy Kurth – Sub Franchisor (WI, MN, ND, SD, Northern IL)
Andy Kurth graduated from the UW-Madison with a degree in Soil
Science (specializing in Turf Management and Agribusiness). After
selling part time for Weed Man throughout his college years, Andy went on to become a technician, sales manager, and finally General Manager of the Madison, Milwaukee, Fox Valley, Rockford and Chicago Weed Man franchises. His advanced technical and managerial knowledge have allowed him to set a prime example for fellow Weed Man franchise owners and managers. He was recently voted one of the “Top 40 Under 40” by InBusiness magazine.

John SandersJohn Sanders – Sub Franchisor (NJ, Eastern NY, Eastern PA)
A Green Industry entrepreneur since his early teenage years and a
graduate of Yale University, John is the Founder and President of WM NJ PA, Inc., a sub franchisor firm for Weed Man USA. He began his own lawn care company, Verde Lawn & Shrub Care, during his university years. The company grew to over 2,500 customers before merging with ServiceMaster (the parent company of TruGreen Chemlawn). Recognized for his experience as a large independent lawn care operator, John is able to support local franchisees through the various stages of business planning and implementation.

Phil FogartyPhil Fogarty – Sub Franchisor (OH, Western NY, Western PA)
Phil Fogarty has over 30 years of industry experience as both a lawn care provider and environmental advocate. In addition to purchasing Crowley’s Lawn Service in 1980, he established the initial Weed Man franchise in the Cleveland area in early 2000. His team building and management skills have earned him repute across various industry channels throughout the United States. As a Weed Man sub franchisor, Phil currently shares his vast industry knowledge with Weed Man franchisees across the country.

Bruce SheppardBruce Sheppard – Sub Franchisor (VA, WV, MD, DC, DE, SC, LA, MS, AL, Northern FL)
Upon graduating with a degree in Agricultural Science, Bruce worked in Crop Protection before starting his own lawn care company, Weedbusters, in 1988. He came into contact with Weed Man early on as a supplier, and eventually went on to help launch the company into the U.S. market. As the current owner of the highly successful Weed Man Winchester franchise, Bruce has been a sounding board for new franchisees everywhere. His over 20 years of direct lawn care experience and familiarity with Weed Man’s systems make him an exemplary representative of the brand.

Brandon SheppardBrandon Sheppard – Sub Franchisor (VA, WV, MD, DC, DE, SC, LA,
MS, AL, Northern FL)
Brandon joined the Weed Man team full time in 2004 after receiving his Juris Doctorate from the West Virginia University College of Law. Since then, he has been instrumental in developing brand strategy for Weed Man and promoting the company within the Southeastern United States. As Weed Man sub franchisors, he and his father, Bruce, own Tara Holdings LLC and Acacia LLC. These firms currently provide all-around support to local franchisees.

Jon CundiffJon Cundiff – Sub Franchisor (MO, KS, IA, NE, AR, OK, Northern TX)
Jon Cundiff has over 30 years of Green Industry experience and has actively participated in every aspect of the lawn care business. After selling his own lawn care company, Jon joined the Weed Man organization in 2001. He is currently a sub franchisor for Northern Texas and the Midwest region of the U.S. Locally, Jon has been an active member of the Mid America Green Industry Council for over 20 years. An excellent advocate for Weed Man, Jon provides dedicated support to Weed Man franchisees in the areas of leadership, customer service, business management, and staff development.

Mike RichardMike Richard – National Marketing Director, Turf Holdings Inc.
Prior to his role at head office, Mike became involved with Weed Man through his positions as lawn care technician, senior technician, sales manager, and eventually shareholder and general manager. He ran a very large, multi-unit operation in Canada for almost 10 years. Mike has helped franchisees grow exponentially in their marketing pursuits through the National Sales Analysis Program, which includes weekly conference calls, regular macro sales summaries, and franchise system benchmarks.

Chris LemckeChris Lemcke – National Technical Director, Turf Holdings Inc.
Chris manages vendor relations and product testing of all Weed Man materials. He has over 20 years of industry experience within the company, from operations to his current role at head office. He provides franchisees with dedicated technical support, regular product and vendor updates, and handles any issues relating to delivery or quality of products. He is also the company’s representative for proper product selection, application, and calibration on lawns.

Laurie YoungLaurie Young – National Administrative Coordinator, Turf Holdings Inc.
Laurie has been with Weed Man for over 15 years in various aspects of
the business. She ran a large Canadian franchise before making the move to head office as the National Administrative Coordinator. She currently works directly with our software support company (Shaco) in order to provide franchisees with the best systems in the industry. Laurie provides daily training and support in accounting, computer systems, and day-to-day administrative operations.

Dan MongeonDan Mongeon – Online Marketing Coordinator, Turf Holdings Inc.
Prior to his position at head office, Dan worked in operations and
within the marketing department of the largest Weed Man franchise
in North America. He currently manages all online properties for
franchisees across the United States. His varied experiences, coupled with his educational and professional background, allow him to provide franchisees with exceptional support. His roles range from website training, social media management, SEO, and reputation/online directory management.

Erica KnappErica Knapp – Content & Communications Coordinator, Turf Holdings Inc.
Erica Knapp holds a Master’s Degree in English and has been involved
with content marketing for a number of years. Before joining the Weed Man team, Erica worked for a digital publishing company and as a writer for a national online coupon website. Combining her education and experience, Erica manages both online and written content for all Weed Man franchisees. Additionally, she provides direct e-mail marketing support through the Get in Touch Online program and assists franchisees with advertising, design, and promotions.

Greg CupplesGreg Cupples – Marketing Coordinator, Turf Holdings Inc.
Greg Cupples started with Weed Man in 2000 as a lawn care technician.
He was promoted to Senior Technician/Telemarketing Supervisor after just one year, and then again to Production Manager for Weed Man’s Scarborough office. His hard work ultimately led him to Vancouver, where he went into training to become a General Manager. During training, he found success as a Marketing/Sales Manager, helping the Vancouver office hit its sales targets and increase its renewal rate year over year. Greg joined the corporate team in early 2014 and currently provides comprehensive marketing support to Weed Man franchisees.

Cindy CodeCindy Code – Creative Director, Turf Holdings Inc.
Cindy Code is an award-winning journalist who spent 22 years with Lawn & Landscape magazine. In her role as editor, publisher and editorial director, she helped build and publish print and online tools that helped contractors nationwide expand their businesses. She is an active ambassador for the green industry as a founding member of Project EverGreen and the Turf & Ornamental Communicators Association and also serves on the PLANET membership committee. Cindy’s key areas of expertise include: marketing and communications, social media, public relations, media training and research.

Scott DavisScott Davis – Director of Franchise Sales
Scott graduated from the University of Minnesota-Minneapolis with a
degree in Finance. He has over 15 years of franchise industry experience, from ownership of his own franchise to over 100 franchise sales. Scott is an ambassador of Weed Man and assists in guiding prospects through the franchise process, ensuring the potential franchisee has a comfort level with the Weed Man system and brand.

For lawn care franchise opportunity information, contact us today at 1-888-321-9333.