Lawn Doctor Franchise Costs, Fees & FDD

Year Business Began: 1967

Franchising Since: 1967

Headquarters: Holmdel, New Jersey

Estimated Number of Units: 660


Franchise Description: The franchisor is Lawn Doctor, Inc. The primary activity of the business is to establish, care for and maintain lawns and other vegetation in an identified territory. The franchisor also may require franchisees to provide other services, including mosquito control. Lawn Doctor businesses also are authorized to design, install, maintain, remove, and store holiday lighting and décor under the “Holiday Lighting Heroes” trademark.
Training Overview: Franchisees may designate up to two persons (the principal owner is required to attend) to participate in the franchisor’s mandatory training program. Currently, the initial training program is conducted at LDI’s headquarters (or at nearby facilities) and at LDI’s manufacturing facility, located in Marlboro, New Jersey. The current training program is a five-day program which includes approximately 37 hours of actual classroom and/or hands-on instruction, and approximately 20-25 hours for classroom preparation, homework, test taking, and planned group events. The franchisor currently offers new “strategic-partners” a mentorship program that supplements LDI’s initial training program with practical experience in operating a Lawn Doctor business. Franchisees must also attend and complete to the franchisor’s satisfaction the required training program to offer and sell Holiday Lighting Heroes holiday lighting and décor services. The franchisor plans to conduct this training program in the Holmdel, New Jersey area, and is expected to occur at a different time of year from the training program for the lawn care and related services. The Holiday Lighting Heroes training program currently is scheduled to last for a total of approximately 2 to 3 days. The franchisor periodically may conduct conventions or conferences for some or all of its franchisees.

Territory Granted: A geographic territory will be identified in the Franchise Agreement in which franchisees will initially conduct the business. The territory will contain no less than 10,000 single family residences. After franchisees have been operating the business for four years, if their “market share” falls below the required level, the franchisor may reduce the size of the territory by redrawing its boundaries in its sole discretion. If franchisees are in compliance with the Franchise Agreement, but except as provided in clauses given in the FDD, the franchisor will not operate or grant a franchise for the operation of a Lawn Doctor business with a territory which overlaps in any material respect with the territory.

Obligations and Restrictions: Franchisees (or, if they are an entity, the owners) must continuously use their best efforts to promote the business and devote their full time, energies and attention to the operation of the business. Franchisees must not engage in any business or activity that competes with LDI, the business or the Lawn Doctor system. However, the franchisor may permit franchisees to engage in other non-competitive business activities if they obtain the franchisor’s written consent, which may be withheld in LDI’s sole discretion. Franchisees must offer and sell all lawn care and conditioning services, tree and shrub care services, and related products and services that LDI authorizes for sale by the business in the territory (which may include mosquito control). Franchisees also will offer and sell holiday lighting and décor services under the Holiday Lighting Heroes trademark as part of their Lawn Doctor business. Franchisees must conduct the business within the territory, such that none of the net revenues of the business are derived from customers whose properties are located outside their territory.

Term of Agreement and Renewal: The length of the initial franchise term is 10 years. The renewal right permits franchisees to obtain a successor franchise for the business for a term of 10 years after the initial term of the Franchise Agreement expires if they meet certain requirements.

Financial Assistance: Franchisees must enter into equipment leases (Turf Tamer Stand-On Applicator Lease and Turf Tamer Power Seeder Lease) before their initial training. Under the equipment leases, the franchisor retains title to the equipment, but it may, at its sole option, require franchisees to sign and file a Form UCC-1 in all applicable jurisdictions. Except as provided, the franchisor does not offer direct or indirect financing. The franchisor does not guarantee a franchisee’s note, lease, or obligation. The franchisor is a participant in the “VetFran,” “MinorityFran,” “Green Fran,” and “First Responder” initiatives and offers a 10% reduction in the $50,000 initial license fee portion of the initial franchise fee to qualified U.S. military veteran, minority, green industry, and first responder candidates, respectively (but these discounts cannot be combined).

Estimated Initial Investment

Name of Fee	Low	High
Initial License Fee	$50,000	$50,000
Initial Marketing Program, Training Supply and Support Fee	$70,600	$70,600
Turf Tamer Stand-On Applicator Lease Deposit	$3,350	$3,350
Turf Tamer Power Seeder Lease Deposit (not applicable in certain situations)	$0	$3,050
Service Vehicle	$1,800	$2,400
Shipping of Turf Tamer Power Seeder	$0	$500
Computer Software	$225	$500
Computers	$0	$2,000
Opening Inventory (for lawn care products/materials)	$500	$500
Rental Space	$0	$3,000
Bookkeeper	$325	$400
Training Expenses (per attendee)	$2,500	$4,000
Utility/Security Deposit	$200	$200
Insurance	$800	$1,000
Opening Holiday Lighting Inventory	$6,000	$14,000
Start-Up Equipment Package for Holiday Lighting (tools, ladders, safety equipment)	$2,400	$2,800
Uniforms	$250	$500
Utility/Security Deposit	$200	$200
Additional Funds - 3 Months	$10,920	$18,052
ESTIMATED TOTAL	$150,070	$177,052

 
Other Fees

Type of Fee	Amount
Royalty and Service Fee	10% of net revenues.
Technology Fee	Currently starts at $150 with a scheduled increase to $250 (subject to additional potential increases).
Out-of-Territory Royalty Fee	15% of net revenues earned outside of strategic partner’s territory.
Local Marketing Fund	Maximum of 5% of net revenues.
Marketing and Promotion Fund	Maximum of 5% of net revenues.
Local Advertising	Unspent amount of required local advertising activities.
Centrally Managed Media Boost Program	$5,000
Holiday Lighting Heroes Advertising / Marketing	Greater of $6,000 or 5% of immediately preceding calendar year’s net revenues from offer, sale, and provision of Holiday Lighting Heroes holiday lighting and décor services by the Lawn Doctor business.
Call Center Fees	Currently $750 per month (monthly charge begins after the 1st year of operation).
Turf Tamer Stand-On Applicator Lease	$335.40 per month plus sales tax.
Turf Tamer Power Seeder Lease	$305.96 per month plus sales tax.
Equipment, Product, and Service Purchases	Varies depending on products and services franchisees buy from the franchisor or its affiliates.
Transfer Fee	75% of the then-current initial license fee component of the initial franchise fee payable by a strategic partner who is new to the Lawn Doctor system.
Broker Fee	Then-current amount (currently $25,000).
Interest on Late Payments	Highest legal rate for open account business credit, not to exceed 1.5% per month.
Inspections and Audits	Cost of an audit (amount of which depends on circumstances and extent of the franchisee’s noncompliance).
Indemnification	Will vary under circumstances and depend on nature of third-party claim.
Costs and Attorneys’ Fees	Will vary under circumstances and depend on nature of the franchisee’s noncompliance.
Fine for Failure to Provide Materials for Inspection	$500 per day.
Fine for Use of Unauthorized Advertising	$250
Customer Complaint Reimbursement	Out-of-pocket cost reimbursement.
Tax Reimbursement	Actual cost reimbursement.

The above information has been compiled from the FDD of Lawn Doctor. Year of FDD: 2025.
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