Lawn Franchise Ownership: Pros and Cons
Many Kiwis are starting to reevaluate their careers, especially as it can sometimes seem like you spend every waking hour working rather than enjoying life to the fullest. With that in mind, there can be value in exploring your options around lawn franchise ownership. Alongside working for yourself, many other benefits might pique your curiosity.
Before you dive right into making a decision, why not weigh up the pros and cons of a lawn franchise? We’ve listed a few of the most obvious ones below.
Pro: Limitless Earning Potential
When you work for someone else, you often only earn as much as they’re willing to pay per hour or as part of a salary package. Even as costs rise, along with inflation, your earning potential doesn’t always rise with them.
However, that can all change when you own a lawn franchise. You really can earn as much as you want. You have the freedom to set your rates, hire workers to expand your reach and profit potential, and work as many or as few hours as you please.
Pro: Work Hour Flexibility
Many parents hate missing out on their children’s schooling and sports events. But as they often take place during the working day, it can be nearly impossible to make time for them all.
Flexible working hours are one of the most desirable benefits associated with a lawn mowing franchise. You can choose to be an early riser and keep your afternoons free, or sleep in and work later into the day. You can also set your own breaks and lunch hours and have the complete freedom to attend any meeting, appointment, activity, or errand without having to run it by a boss.
Pro: Full Support and Training
Starting a new business can be daunting, especially when you’ve never been your own boss before. However, compared to a startup, a franchise can be a breeze. You can take advantage of a proven business system that works, especially since multiple franchisees are usually already under a national brand.
You can also benefit from training to learn the ropes, a support system for those trying times, and all the help you need to familiarise yourself with the average day in business until you build up confidence. If you were to start a lawn mowing business in NZ on your own, very little of that support would be available to you.
Pro: Customer Leads
You can provide lawn mowing services for as many or as few customers as you would like while advertising to your heart’s content in your local area. However, you don’t need to rely on your own efforts alone.
Often, when you align yourself with a franchise, you benefit from customer leads provided by your head office. This benefit can be extremely valuable during your early days in business when you’re trying to establish a name and reputation for yourself.
Pro: Help With Health and Safety
Understanding and learning how to follow the various health and safety guidelines can be daunting. You know you must keep yourself safe, but now you also have to think of your customers and their needs.
When you align yourself with some of the best brands in the industry, you’re provided with all the information you need. Before long, you can be skilled and well-informed of the latest health and safety codes so that you can provide a safe and reliable service for your clients.
Con: Inquiries Can Drop Off In Winter
Lawn mowing services can be in hot demand during the warmer months of the year, but inquiries can tend to drop off once winter arrives in earnest. Many franchise owners find it helpful to spread their earnings over the year to compensate for the decreased revenue.
Although, that’s not to say you can’t earn as much in winter as in summer. Many franchises have national contracts, which means you can retain the same clients throughout the year.
You also have the freedom to diversify your offerings and provide other services like garden tidy-ups, tree and bush pruning, hedge trimming, water blasting, and more.
Con: You Don’t Get to Choose Your Own Business Name
When you decide to start your own business, you get to play around with fun business names and branding. Aligning yourself with an already-established brand means you don’t.
Although, that’s not necessarily a bad thing. All your marketing materials are taken care of for you, and you get to build on your national brand’s reputation rather than starting from scratch. You also don’t need to worry about putting all of the hard work into establishing brand recognition since many locals would already be familiar with your business name and what you’re all about.
Is It Time to Buy a Lawn Mowing Franchise in NZ?
If you’re tired of working for someone else and want more control over your working life, now might be the right time to review your franchise options. While starting a new business can be scary, you might be surprised at just how well-supported and encouraged you are when a national franchise takes you under its wing.