U.S. Lawns Franchise Costs, Fees & FDD

Year Business Began: 1986

Franchising Since: 1986

Headquarters: Orlando, Florida

Estimated Number of Units: 210

Franchise Description: U.S. Lawns, Inc. is the franchisor. The franchisor’s parent company is Clintar, Inc. (d/b/a EverSmith Brands). U.S. Lawns franchisees operate a business to provide landscape maintenance and related services to commercial and residential customers.

Training Overview: The initial training is approximately five to six days. The training program is scheduled approximately one month before the opening of the business at a time designated by the franchisor. The program will be held at the franchisor’s offices in Orlando, although the training program may also be conducted virtually or in the field. If franchisees plan to use a manager as a primary operator of the business rather than themselves as the owner-operator, then the manager must also successfully complete the training program. In addition to the initial training program, franchisees must attend, at their expense, all annual franchise conventions and all meetings relating to new services or products, new operational procedures or programs, training, business management, sales or sales promotion, or similar topics, including any system-wide teleconferences or web-conferences.

Territory Granted: A geographic territory will be identified in the Franchise Agreement when franchisees sign it. The location of the territory will be decided on by discussions between the franchisee and the franchisor. The size of the territory will be based upon the opportunities within the territory to provide landscape maintenance services. The minimum territory will be a 10-mile radius from the center point. Franchisees will have protected rights within the territory to provide “landscape maintenance services” (as defined in the Franchise Agreement) under the U.S. Lawns marks. During the term of the Franchise Agreement, the franchisor will not, without the franchisee’s consent, offer or provide landscape maintenance services using the “U.S. Lawns” mark within the territory, and it will not license others to do so (except as described with respect to regional accounts as defined in the FDD), although the franchisor or another franchisee may from time to time service particular customers in the territory in the event the franchisee is unable or unwilling for whatever reason to meet the service needs of those customers, all as set forth in the operations manual.

Obligations and Restrictions: Franchisees do not have to participate personally in the direct operation of the franchise, even though the franchisor recommends that they do. Franchisees or one or more of their employees must successfully complete the initial training program. Franchisees must keep the business under the direct full-time supervision of the franchisee or of a trained and competent manager who has completed the training program or equivalent training to the franchisor’s satisfaction. Franchisees may provide landscape maintenance services to any customer in their territory. Franchisees must meet the franchisor’s requirements when operating their business. Franchisees may not sell any product or service which the franchisor has not approved in advance. If franchisees do not meet minimum annual gross billings, the franchisor has the right to terminate the Franchise Agreement.

Term of Agreement and Renewal: The length of the initial franchise term is 10 years. Two renewal terms of 10 years each are available if requirements are met.

Financial Assistance: The franchisor does not offer direct or indirect financing. The franchisor does not guarantee a franchisee’s note, lease or other obligation.

Estimated Initial Investment

Name of Fee	Low	High
Initial Franchise Fee	$49,000 ($44,000 for veterans)
Grand Opening Advertising	$4,000	$4,000
Training Expenses (travel, lodging, meals, incidentals)	$2,500	$6,000
Real Estate	$3,000	$6,000
Service Vehicle and Trailer	$8,000	$12,500
Equipment	$4,000	$16,500
Tools, Supplies, Office Equipment	$2,500	$6,000
Additional Funds (3 months)	$40,000	$100,000
ESTIMATED TOTAL	$113,000	$200,000
ESTIMATED TOTAL FOR VETERANS	$108,000	$195,000

 
Other Fees

Type of Fee	Amount
Royalty	The Royalty is based on a sliding scale: - If the gross billings in the calendar month are $62,500 or less, franchisees pay 6% of gross billings. - If the gross billings in the calendar month are over $62,500 but equal to or less than $125,000, franchisees pay 6% of gross billings up to and including $62,500, plus 5% of the gross billings between $62,500.01 and $125,000. - If the gross billings in the calendar month are over $125,000, franchisees pay 6% of all gross billings up to and including $62,500, plus 5% of the gross billings between $62,500.01 and $125,000, plus 4% of the gross billings in excess of $125,000. If franchisees provide landscape maintenance services to customer locations which are located outside their territory, they pay 6% of gross billings for such services regardless of their gross billings in the calendar month.
Marketing Contribution	Currently, the lesser of 2% of gross billings or a “marketing cap” of $650 per month.
Technology Fee/CRM Fee	The then-current monthly fee (currently, $299). Separate from the technology fee is a CRM (customer relationship management) fee between $250-$450 annually and a fee for accounting software the franchisor specifies (currently QuickBooks), with an annual amount equal to $215-$400, as determined by the third-party supplier.
Regional Account Management Fee	Variable.
Transfer	The then-current transfer fee.
Audit	Cost of audit plus interest of 1.5% per month or the highest legal rate for open account business credit, whichever is greater on the unpaid amount at the rate.
Indemnification	Will vary under circumstances.
Penalty, Late Fee and Interest	The franchisor may assess a $5.00 per day penalty for late submission of reports or financial information. There is a minimum $25 late fee for payments and reports plus the greater of 1.5% per month and the highest legal rate for open account business credit.
Costs and Attorneys’ Fees	Will vary under circumstances.
Resale Assistance Fee	An amount equal to the greater of (i) $10,000; or (ii) the franchisor’s actual costs, including but not limited to any broker commission that may be incurred, due, or required arising from the transfer.
Renewal Fee	The then-current renewal fee. Currently, $5,000
Additional and Ongoing Training Fees	The then-current fees. Currently, not imposed.
Annual Convention Fee	The then-current fee. Currently, $0.
Failure to Maintain Insurance	The franchisor’s actual costs and expenses, together with a $5.00 per day penalty for each day that such costs and expenses are not repaid to the franchisor, with a minimum $25 late fee, plus the greater of 1-1/2% per month and the highest legal rate for open account business credit.

The above information has been compiled from the FDD of U.S. Lawns. Year of FDD: 2025.
Franchise Direct's Disclaimer