The numbers side by side
Lawn care franchises are mostly built around fertilizer and weed control programs sold by the season. Going solo usually starts with mowing and adds programs once you hold the license to apply.
| Up-front fee | Total start-up | Share of sales (royalty) | Marketing or ad fee | Software or tech fee | Card processing | Term | Cash asked for | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weed Man | $30,000 to $50,000 | $81,150 to $109,400 | 7% | 1.2% | 0.25% to 1.25% of sales | Not in the summary; your processor's rate | 10 years | $60,000 |
| Lawn Doctor | $50,000 | $135,820 to $163,902 | 10% | 10% | $150 a month and up | Not in the summary; your processor's rate | 10 years | $60,000 |
| Going solo on Koira's Office plan | $0, no franchise fee | Your own vehicle and kit; see the tools list | 0%, you keep every sale | None required; you set your own budget | $0 on the Office plan | 2.9% + 30¢ (Stripe) plus 2% (Koira) on card payments only | None; month to month | None asked |
Franchise figures are from each brand's listing in Entrepreneur's franchise directory, which summarizes the brand's Franchise Disclosure Document, and match the franchisor's own franchise page where it states them. Where a fee is a range, the disclosure document sets which end applies to you. Koira's figures are from koira.ai/pricing.
What the ongoing fees take
The up-front fee is paid once. The share of sales is paid on every job for the length of the agreement, before you pay yourself. Here is the arithmetic on an example year of $300,000 in sales, using the low end of each published rate:
| Brand | Royalty | Marketing or ad fee | Software or tech fee | Fees for the year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weed Man | $21,000 | $3,600 | $750 | $25,350 |
| Lawn Doctor | $30,000 | $30,000 | $1,800 | $61,800 |
| Going solo on Koira's Office plan | $0 | Your choice | $0 | $0, plus $6,000 if every sale were paid by card |
Weed Man's tech fee is 0.25% of sales; Lawn Doctor's tech fee is $150 a month. Card processing is left out of the franchise rows because the summaries do not set it; you would pay a processor either way. On Koira's Office plan, Koira keeps 2% of card payments on top of Stripe's processing, and nothing on cash or check.
The example sales figure is an example, not a promise of what either path earns. Use the calculator above with your own numbers.
What the fees buy
Weed Man has been franchising since 1976 and asks for $60,000 in cash. Lawn Doctor has franchised since 1967 and asks for $60,000 in cash and a $200,000 net worth. For that, a franchise sells a known name, a written system, training and a territory.
A lawn care franchise fits an owner who wants a ready-made program business with marketing behind it. It fits less well if you already have a mowing route, because a royalty on sales grows with every lawn you add.
Going solo in lawn care
A solo lawn care business starts with a mower, trimmer, blower and trailer and a route of weekly mows. Fertilizer and weed control programs come next, once you hold your state's applicator license. The work is building route density so the drive between lawns stays short.
See the lawn care tools list, the lawn care services and price list and insurance for lawn care.
Koira's free Office plan covers the office side a franchise system would: a website that books jobs, estimates with signing and deposits, invoices and card payments and your day plan. Paid plans add the phone and crew tools.
Before you sign anything
Federal rules require the franchisor to give you its disclosure document at least 14 calendar days before you sign or pay. Read the fee items and any sales claims with their footnotes, and call former lawn care owners. Our handyman franchise guide walks through the document item by item.
Sources
- Entrepreneur franchise directory: Weed Man, checked October 9, 2026
- Entrepreneur franchise directory: Lawn Doctor, checked October 9, 2026
- Lawn Doctor: Franchise investment, checked October 9, 2026
- eCFR: 16 CFR 436.2, when the disclosure document must be given, checked October 9, 2026
- Koira: Pricing (Office plan, card payments), checked October 9, 2026
- EPA: How to get certified as a pesticide applicator, checked October 8, 2026
- eCFR: 49 CFR 375.101, who must follow the household goods rules, checked October 8, 2026
Last checked October 9, 2026. This page is general information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change and differ by state and city, so confirm with the agency named before you act.