Case Study
Sam and Darren
Peterborough
Already work in lawn care or a similar trade, but want to be your own boss? For this husband and wife team, a Lawnkeeper franchise was not only their way of escaping the corporate grind, but the start of more than 10 years of running their own successful and profitable business!
As one of our longest running teams, Sam & Darren have a special place in our hearts here at Lawnkeeper as 2023 will be their 11th year as franchisees!
Their story is fairly unique, as Darren is one of the few members of the Lawnkeeper network – aside from Sam, the founder – to actually come directly from a career in lawn care. Our comprehensive training means our franchise opportunity is open to anyone, regardless of their background, but it is also ideal for those with experience in the industry who are ready to take things to the next level with their own company. While Darren was busy out working on customer’s lawns, we caught up with his wife, Sam, who handles all the admin and sales side of the business.
“Darren spent a good 8-10 years working for a big name lawn care company before he decided it was time to do it for himself in the local area.” Sam explained. “I have a lot of experience as an office manager so, together, our skill set was perfect for running our own lawn care business. We saw an advert for Lawnkeeper in one of the national newspapers, and then spoke to Sam himself at a franchise exhibition not long after. We were very impressed by both his experience and his attitude.”
A Lawnkeeper franchise is a great opportunity for a team like this. As a simple business model with very streamlined systems, it is easy to run and be the main lawn care operator, too. It is a great way to run a compact business where you can be both your own boss and only key employee, keeping overheads and admin time low. However, with a little extra work, it also has the potential to be so much more and can rapidly grow into a very lucrative multi-van operation. With Sam taking charge in the office, and Darren out on the lawns, the Peterborough team were able to take on a second van and employee as soon as year three.
“It was always our intention to expand the business, but thanks to the amount of work we received, we were able to achieve our goal of taking on a second van even earlier than we expected. In fact, our new employee was someone Darren had already worked with in his last job! Customers really love how he and Darren come across as so experienced when they visit. They can add that personal touch to their customer service, which is something you just don’t get with a bigger company.”
This focus on customer service is absolutely essential in lawn care, especially if you want to take advantage of one of the biggest benefits of working in this industry: long-term, repeat business. By offering a friendly, professional service which is both affordable and has very tangible results, Lawnkeeper franchisees can enjoy year-round business and a very loyal customer base who are always more than happy to make recommendations to friends and family.
“Most of our business has come from recommendations and word-of-mouth, and most of them stay with us for many years. Some come and go due to changing circumstances, such as moving house, but many more have come back to us to help out at their new properties in the area too!”
Even the pandemic didn’t slow business down for Sam and Darren. In fact, they saw customer numbers rise during that time! There was a definite increase in how many people wanted their lawns taken care of, and customers spending time at home were even more able to see the immediate effects of a quality lawn care service.
“Customers might be cutting out the big expenses, like going away on holiday, but that just means they are spending even more time at home and want their gardens ready to enjoy when the weather is nice. We are able to offer a great value service, so that is something which never goes out of demand!”
We can’t wait to see what Sam & Darren’s 11th year with Lawnkeeper will bring for them!
Could you be next in building a long-term, rewarding new business with the Lawnkeeper franchise? Whether you are an experienced lawn expert, or just aspire to becoming one, we can give you everything you need to succeed. Schedule a call today to find out more about how it could work for you.