The Grounds Guys Franchise Cost, Revenue and Closure Rate (2026 FDD)
The Grounds Guys is one of the franchises we compare in our lawn care guide. Here is what it costs to open, what it charges every month, what its franchisees report taking in, and how many outlets closed in a year.
Where these numbers come from
The figures come from The Grounds Guys's 2026 Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD), the document every franchisor must give buyers before they sign. Revenue figures are sales as the brand reports them, before royalties and costs. They are not profit, and not a promise of what you would earn.
Preview: figures awaiting verification
Some numbers on this page haven't been checked against their sources yet.
What it costs
- Initial investment (FDD Item 7, includes the franchise fee)
- $107,650 – $252,850Pending verificationSourceThe Grounds Guys 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued April 1, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 30, 2026Last verified October 30, 2026FDD Item 7. Includes $45,000 paid to the franchisor and affiliate. This brand does offer mowing, alongside landscaping and irrigation.
- Franchise fee
- $43,750Pending verificationSourceThe Grounds Guys 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued April 1, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 30, 2026Last verified October 30, 2026FDD Item 5: minimum fee for up to 125,000 population; $350 per extra 1,000 people.
- Royalty
- 5% – 6% of revenuePending verificationSourceThe Grounds Guys 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued April 1, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 30, 2026Last verified October 30, 2026FDD Item 6: called a license fee, 5% to 6% of gross sales.
- Marketing fund
- 2% of revenuePending verificationSourceThe Grounds Guys 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued April 1, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 30, 2026Last verified October 30, 2026FDD Item 6: MAP fee, 2% of gross sales.
- Fixed monthly fees
- $654.45 a monthPending verificationSourceThe Grounds Guys 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued April 1, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 30, 2026Last verified October 30, 2026FDD Item 6: software system fee, plus smaller add-ons.
Compared with starting your own
- The Grounds Guys initial investment
- $107,650 – $252,850Pending verificationSourceThe Grounds Guys 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued April 1, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 30, 2026Last verified October 30, 2026FDD Item 7. Includes $45,000 paid to the franchisor and affiliate. This brand does offer mowing, alongside landscaping and irrigation.
- Independent lawn care startup cost
- $5,199 – $16,510*Pending verificationSourcesCutler's — Toro 22297 commercial 21-inch heavy-duty self-propelled mower(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 30, 2026Central Maine Equipment — Toro 22297 heavy-duty 21-inch self-propelled mower(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 30, 2026Causeway Mower — Toro 22297 heavy-duty 21-inch self-propelled mower(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 30, 2026STIHL USA — FS 91 gasoline grass trimmer(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 30, 2026STIHL USA — professional edgers (FC 91 edger)(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 30, 2026STIHL USA — BR 600 gasoline backpack blower(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 30, 2026Family Farm & Home — Carry-On 5 ft x 8 ft utility trailer(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 30, 2026Exmark — Radius commercial zero-turn mowers(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 30, 2026Load Runner Trailers — new 2027 Hook & Line 6 x 12 enclosed trailer, 3.5k GVWR(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 30, 2026California Secretary of State — LLC forms and fees(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 30, 2026California Franchise Tax Board — limited liability company(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 30, 2026Last verified October 30, 2026Computed from 10 startup budget line items: lean plan low to professional plan high. Some lines are not sourced yet and are excluded.
The independent figure is our startup budget from the guide, lean plan low to professional plan high, with no franchise fee and no royalties afterwards. * Some startup lines aren't sourced yet and are left out, so the real figure is higher.
What franchisees report taking in (FDD Item 19)
The 2026 FDD reports 2025 gross sales for 105 franchises open at least 3 years and 56 open under 3 years; it leaves out 44 seasonal businesses that reported under 9 months and 20 that closed.
- Average 2025 gross sales, 105 franchises open 3+ years$820,392 a yearPending verificationSourceThe Grounds Guys 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued April 1, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026Last verified October 31, 2026FDD Item 19, Tables 1A and 1B. Gross sales, not profit. Only businesses reporting at least 9 months of 2025 are included; 9 new, 5 transferred, 20 closed and 44 seasonal businesses are left out. 37 of 105 (35%) of the older group reached the average. Your results may differ.
- Median 2025 gross sales, same 105 franchises$533,092 a yearPending verificationSourceThe Grounds Guys 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued April 1, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026Last verified October 31, 2026FDD Item 19, Tables 1A and 1B. Gross sales, not profit. Only businesses reporting at least 9 months of 2025 are included; 9 new, 5 transferred, 20 closed and 44 seasonal businesses are left out. 37 of 105 (35%) of the older group reached the average. Your results may differ.
- Average 2025 gross sales, 56 franchises open under 3 years$392,054 a yearPending verificationSourceThe Grounds Guys 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued April 1, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026Last verified October 31, 2026FDD Item 19, Tables 1A and 1B. Gross sales, not profit. Only businesses reporting at least 9 months of 2025 are included; 9 new, 5 transferred, 20 closed and 44 seasonal businesses are left out. 37 of 105 (35%) of the older group reached the average. Your results may differ.
- Median 2025 gross sales, same 56 franchises$294,312 a yearPending verificationSourceThe Grounds Guys 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued April 1, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026Last verified October 31, 2026FDD Item 19, Tables 1A and 1B. Gross sales, not profit. Only businesses reporting at least 9 months of 2025 are included; 9 new, 5 transferred, 20 closed and 44 seasonal businesses are left out. 37 of 105 (35%) of the older group reached the average. Your results may differ.
Copied exactly from the brand's disclosure. These are sales before royalties, wages and other costs, not profit.
Outlets and closures (FDD Item 20)
- Franchised outlets at the start of 2025
- 229Pending verificationSourceThe Grounds Guys 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued April 1, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026Last verified October 31, 2026Closures = terminations + non-renewals + outlets that stopped operating in 2025 (FDD Item 20, Table 3). 2025 closures: 19 terminations, 1 non-renewal and 2 ceased operations. The FDD also discloses 19 more terminations in the first quarter of 2026.
- Franchised outlets at the end of 2025
- 219Pending verificationSourceThe Grounds Guys 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued April 1, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026Last verified October 31, 2026Closures = terminations + non-renewals + outlets that stopped operating in 2025 (FDD Item 20, Table 3). 2025 closures: 19 terminations, 1 non-renewal and 2 ceased operations. The FDD also discloses 19 more terminations in the first quarter of 2026.
- Closed during the year (terminated, not renewed, or stopped operating)
- 22Pending verificationSourceThe Grounds Guys 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued April 1, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026Last verified October 31, 2026Closures = terminations + non-renewals + outlets that stopped operating in 2025 (FDD Item 20, Table 3). 2025 closures: 19 terminations, 1 non-renewal and 2 ceased operations. The FDD also discloses 19 more terminations in the first quarter of 2026.
- Closure rate (our calculation)
- 9.6%Pending verificationSourceThe Grounds Guys 2026 FDD (Minnesota CARDS), issued April 1, 2026(opens in a new tab)Tier 1 · Primary source · Accessed October 31, 2026Last verified October 31, 2026Our calculation: 22 closures ÷ 229 franchised outlets at the start of 2025. Closures = terminations + non-renewals + outlets that stopped operating in 2025 (FDD Item 20, Table 3). 2025 closures: 19 terminations, 1 non-renewal and 2 ceased operations. The FDD also discloses 19 more terminations in the first quarter of 2026.
The closure rate is closures divided by franchised outlets at the start of the year. Outlets sold to a new owner aren't counted as closures. Closure rates for every brand.
Risk Meter for lawn care
2.3 out of 5 (Moderate risk)
The score covers the kind of business, not this brand alone, from 6 factors with data (1 is the lowest risk). See every factor · How we score risk
What the franchise gives you
- Mowing and maintenance plus landscaping, irrigation and lighting under one brand
- Part of Neighborly, a large home-services franchise group
- Buying network through ProTradeNet
- Local marketing resources and ongoing support
- 20% off the franchise fee for veterans
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