Putting down roots: Two Greensleeves franchise journeys

Like the lawns they care for, every Greensleeves Lawn Care franchise grows at its own pace. For some franchisees, success comes quickly through acquiring an established business and accelerating its growth. For others, it comes from building a customer base and team from the ground up.

Just over a year after joining the network, Dan and Holly Scott at Greensleeves Newmarket are already preparing to take on a second territory. David Fortune at Greensleeves Enfield, meanwhile, has spent more than a decade growing a business from an empty territory into an established operation supported by a trusted team. While their experiences differ, both highlight the flexibility of the Greensleeves franchise model and the opportunities it creates at every stage of business ownership.

After successful careers in publishing and graphic design, Dan and Holly knew they wanted a different future. Rather than continuing to build careers within large organisations, they wanted to invest their time and energy into something of their own. Following extensive research into franchising, they chose Greensleeves and deliberately purchased an established territory, giving themselves a solid platform from which to grow.

“We looked at a number of different franchises before deciding on Greensleeves,” said Dan. “Buying an existing territory gave us a meaningful customer base from day one. That recurring income and established cash flow meant we could focus on growing the business rather than spending several years building it from scratch.”

Although they inherited an experienced team, Dan immersed himself in the operational side of the business to understand how every part worked before introducing improvements to customer service and best practice. Holly focused on the office, managing enquiries, administration and customer communication while continuing to use her design and organisational skills to help drive the business forward. Together, they quickly established a clear division of responsibilities while sharing the wider strategic decisions.

Their first year has exceeded expectations. For the last four months, the Newmarket business has grown 30% year-on-year, revenue per customer has increased significantly through a stronger focus on service packages and cashflow is improved by signing up customers to recurring direct debits. Before celebrating their first anniversary, they also agreed to acquire a neighbouring territory in Huntingdon and Kettering, creating the next stage of their growth journey.

“We've both worked for large corporate organisations for most of our careers,” said Holly. “Now we feel like we're building something for our own future. That's been incredibly important to us and it's exciting to see what we can achieve together.”

David's journey into franchising followed a very different path. After nearly four decades in senior operational roles within major retail businesses, he chose a completely new territory, building the business customer by customer.

Those early years demanded commitment. Days spent visiting customers were regularly followed by evenings dealing with administration, emails and planning work for the following day. As demand increased, David reached the point every growing business eventually faces: recruiting a team.

Today, supported by experienced colleagues, David has not carried out lawn treatments for more than two years, allowing him to focus on leading the business and planning its future growth rather than delivering every treatment himself.

“Like any business, there have been challenges along the way,” said David. “But every stage teaches you something. Building the team has been one of the biggest changes because it allows me to concentrate on growing the business rather than trying to do everything yourself. But even though I’ve had my business for 14 years, I’m still looking ahead and investing for the future.”

For both franchisees, ongoing support from the Greensleeves network has remained a constant throughout their journeys. From structured training and business development support to sharing ideas with fellow franchisees, both agree the collaborative culture across the network is an important part of their continued success.

Cheryl Harper, Managing Director of Greensleeves Lawn Care, said: “One of the things I enjoy most about working with our franchisees is seeing how different every journey can be. Dan and Holly have embraced the model from day one and have already expanded into a second territory in little over a year. David's experience shows the value of long-term commitment, resilience and continually adapting a business as it grows.

“There isn't one definition of franchise success. Every owner brings different ambitions, experience and strengths. Our role is to provide the support, systems and opportunities that allow each franchisee to build a business that works for them, both today and in the years ahead.”

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