Clean Air Lawn Care Franchise History: From a Fort Collins Garage to a National Brand
Clean Air Lawn Care was founded in 2006 by Kelly Giard in Fort Collins, Colorado, and has been franchising since 2008. In 2009, Entrepreneur magazine called it the nation’s first sustainable lawn care franchise. Today, locally owned Clean Air teams across the country care for lawns with organic products and quiet electric equipment.
The Clean Air Lawn Care Timeline
We started as a small rebel in a stable industry, with little support, skeptical customers, and electric equipment that wasn’t ready yet. Here’s how it grew.
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2005
The idea
Kelly Giard, then working a white-collar career, sketches out a lawn care company built on organic soil care and quiet electric equipment instead of gas engines and synthetic chemicals.
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2006
Founded in a Fort Collins garage
Kelly launches Clean Air Lawn Care part-time out of his garage in Fort Collins, Colorado. According to Entrepreneur, first-year sales came to about $7,000.
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2008
Franchising begins
Kelly leaves his career to run Clean Air full time, and the first franchise owners bring the model to their own communities.
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2009
Emerging Entrepreneur of 2009
Entrepreneur magazine names Kelly its Emerging Entrepreneur of 2009 and calls Clean Air the nation’s first sustainable lawn care franchise. Clean Air was also working with Black & Decker to push electric equipment to perform on par with gas.
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Along the way
Our own products and tools
Clean Air develops custom organic fertilizers and Moose Juice weed control with Colorado State University turf and soil scientists, plus its own solar charging unit for work trucks.
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Today
Two brands, one mission
Locally owned Clean Air Lawn Care and Clean Air Mosquito Control teams serve communities across the country. Kelly also publicly backed Colorado’s plan to phase out the dirtiest gas-powered lawn tools in the Denver region.
Built on Great People
Clean Air Lawn Care didn’t succeed because the timing was easy. It succeeded because of the people who signed on early, and that’s still true. Our owners are dedicated, detail-obsessed, hard-working people who are good at what they do and enjoy doing it. They’re risk-takers who aren’t afraid to stand apart from the status quo, yet they stay humble. Don’t get us wrong, they’re very proud of their work and they’ll celebrate a win after a long day outside.
The support owners give one another is rare in business today. The typical Clean Air owner loves being outdoors, is proud to be a steward of their community, is driven to achieve, and is a bit of a goofball. Those qualities have been the pillars of our success from the start, and that won’t change.
Meet Kelly Giard, Founder and CEO of Clean Air Lawn Care
Kelly came up with the idea for Clean Air Lawn Care in 2005, launched it in 2006, and left his white-collar career to run it full time in 2008. He’s still the active CEO, coaching owners on the business model, leading training, and working with a committee of local owners to steer the company. He also trains new owners in person in their own markets.
In 2009, Entrepreneur magazine named Kelly its Emerging Entrepreneur of 2009. He named his grandfather, who built a big apple farm from nothing, and Patagonia founder Yvon Chouinard as his entrepreneurial idols.
Leadership lessons from Kelly
In episode 56 of the From Founder to CEO podcast, Kelly talked about building Clean Air. A few of the takeaways:
- “You want to follow owners who have their own money on the line.”
- “Letting go of control was probably the biggest thing I had to learn…developing the ultimate confidence in your team members…”
- “Invite criticism early and take it on as a positive thing…”
- “It’s better to work with the talent within…versus bringing someone in cold…”
- “The startup phase and the people associated with it aren’t necessarily going to be the same people that execute the business…longer term…and that’s ok.”
Listen on the From Founder to CEO website or Apple Podcasts.
Write the next chapter with us
Clean Air was built by local owners who wanted to do lawn care differently. If that sounds like you, let’s talk.
Own a Clean Air franchise Watch our story
Just need your lawn cared for? Find your local team
Frequently Asked Questions About Clean Air Lawn Care’s History
Who founded Clean Air Lawn Care?
Clean Air Lawn Care was founded by Kelly Giard, who is still the company’s CEO. He came up with the idea in 2005, started the business part-time out of his garage in Fort Collins, Colorado in 2006, and went full time in 2008.
When did Clean Air Lawn Care start franchising?
Clean Air Lawn Care has been franchising since 2008. Every location is independently owned and operated by a local owner who uses Clean Air’s organic and electric system.
Was Clean Air Lawn Care the first sustainable lawn care franchise?
In 2009, Entrepreneur magazine described Clean Air Lawn Care as the nation’s first sustainable lawn care franchise when it named founder Kelly Giard its Emerging Entrepreneur of 2009.
Where is Clean Air Lawn Care headquartered?
Clean Air Lawn Care is headquartered in Fort Collins, Colorado, where the company was founded. Our custom organic fertilizers and Moose Juice weed control were developed with Colorado State University turf and soil scientists.
Does Clean Air also offer mosquito control?
Yes. Clean Air Mosquito Control is our sister brand, offering natural, plant-based mosquito and tick control. Many locally owned Clean Air teams offer both lawn care and mosquito control.
How do I become a Clean Air Lawn Care franchise owner?
Start on our franchise site, where you can learn about the business model, training, and support, then connect with our franchise development team. New owners train with the Clean Air team before launching in their own community.