Clean Air Lawn Care
38 franchisees
Overall initial investment: $61,000 to $117,000
Clean Air Lawn Care is the country’s largest environmentally friendly lawn care service.
The company says its mission is to “change the way America cares for lawns by empowering local owners and managers to deliver an exceptional lawn care service that improves the quality of life in their communities.” It was started in 2006 by Kelly Giard, who left his career as a stockbroker to form the company in his Colorado garage. This year, Clean Air Lawn Care will add franchises in seven cities, for a total of 40 locations across the U.S.
Clean Air Lawn Care uses electric and biodiesel-powered equipment for lawn mowing and landscape maintenance. They charge their equipment during the day with solar panels mounted on their trucks. Like College Hunks Hauling Junk’s goal of becoming the Home Depot of junk hauling, Clean Air Lawn Care hopes to become the Whole Foods (WFM) of the lawn care industry. Entrepreneurs looking for a green company with strong consumer trends underlying the business might want to consider Clean Air Lawn Care as a business.
“Local owners of Clean Air franchises find independence, flexibility, fun, financial freedom and the ability to make a difference on the environment,” the company says. Other benefits include a recurring revenue stream due to high customer retention and customers willing to pay “premium pricing” that equals higher margins, it says.
Franchisees must demonstrate a proven record of business success, enjoy working outdoors and maintain a commitment to environmental issues.
Along with a designated territory, a new Clean Air franchisee gets up to four mowing trucks and one organic soil treatment truck and a mix of residential and commercial properties chosen by a franchisee, it says.
by Laurie Kulikowski, Small Business Reporter, The Street
Original Story: Ready for Spring Cleaning? Use These Franchises
Source: The Street, Thursday, March 22, 2012
http://www.thestreet.com/story/11465089/5/ready-for-spring-cleaning-use-these-franchises.html