Franchise Business Changes the Landscaping Terrain

Industry Trends Of Growth, Diversification Expected To Continue

By Alan Devenish

You don't need to look far to see evidence of the landscaping industry's effects on our homes, communities and places of business. Even office parks are adding and augmenting landscaped relaxation and recreation areas, as managers look for affordable solutions to offer diversion in-house. In suburban communities throughout the country, empty nesters are converting that muddy play-paradise in their backyard into a peaceful, space-conscious garden area.

What may be more surprising is the fact that within the landscaping industry, franchises appear to be the wave of the future. An industry that once appeared impossible to organize a franchise brand around has become a lucrative, affordable, and market-driven business opportunity.

Landscaping Industry Development

The late 1990's brought on a lull in growth for small landscaping businesses. Market analysts attribute this largely to the rapid expansion of huge DIY home and garden chains like Home Depot, Friedman Brothers, Yard Birds and other formidable competitors.

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Going into the latter half of the 00's, however, the franchise landscaping industry has picked up once again. The latest available US census data shows impressive growth for landscaping firms of all sizes, with over 3% increase in the number of paid employees for firms with 20 or more workers, from 1998 to 2003.

New tools, techniques, and business structures have made it possible for many types of companies to operate larger, more profitable landscaping businesses.

What this means is that now is the best time in ten years to enter the landscaping industry. With the emergence of highly successful landscaping business models and brands, landscaping franchises can now offer their operators very competitive packages-including unprecedented levels of training as well as affordable equipment produced in-house.

The following are some of the industry trends that account for today's landscaping success stories:

Branding and Specialization

While landscaping can involve working with virtually any plant or material under the sun, the more successful franchises have discovered that focusing on a few things-and doing them very well-is a more sure way of earning the kind of reputation that keeps customers coming back for more.

Mr. Plant, Inc. is a great example. This company took its business indoors-with fantastic results. While it took this business a decade to grow from a small business to a full-fledged franchise, today eager landscapers can look to this company for support, expertise and a winning brand.

While the secret to Mr. Plant's success lies in earning a reputation for performing a few types of landscaping services with excellent results, other franchises have found that their company's philosophy may prove to be just as big a customer draw as their services.

Sustainable Growth, Inc. has a lot to be proud of. They've earned a distinguished place amongst landscaping franchises while doing high-quality work based on environment-friendly ideals that will help secure the future of the industry.

Expert knowledge and a broad range of services define Sustainable Growth's approach to landscape franchising. This company has the know-how to transform anything from a home garden to an entire farm into a more sustainable, healthier version of its former self.

Landscaping Market Definition

The landscaping industry has adapted to survive. Using analysis techniques previously unheard of within the industry, new franchisees can look forward to having a much better metric for determining where they should locate and what kinds of services to offer.

Urban areas were previously dead zones, while suburbanites fueled most landscaping businesses. But as landscaping companies become known for providing beautiful indoors and rooftop gardens, locations as diverse as banks, doctors' offices and private apartments are becoming serviceable areas for landscaping companies.

This trend of heightened geographical market awareness has enabled some of the industry's major franchises to expand. It has also given these companies more and better ways to help their franchisees establish successful, profitable businesses-no matter where they're located.

Niche Landscaping Products and Services

The combination of new markets and industry awareness of the need for stronger brands has expanded the range of products and services offered by landscaping franchises.

Some companies have made a name for their brand by offering unique materials such as concrete substitutes. Others include a free pool cleaning with major services, and still others-like Sustainable Growth-have staked their whole business on what less creative companies may consider an obscure and unprofitable niche.

Such companies would do well to reconsider. After all, Mr. Plant's services may have been considered a niche at one point as well. Franchises that can distinguish trends from fads will have great success. There must be few landscaping companies that regret offering stone gardens and bonsai trees-these Japanese imports have become regular fixtures in gardens coast to coast.

Landscaping Franchise Future

With the high growth rate the landscaping industry has recently enjoyed-as well as the current booming housing market-the stage is set for a lot of good work and development to emerge from the growing franchise sector.

In demand now are more creative, energetic people who can take the reins and bring strong business models and quality landscaping services to customers.

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