Countrywide Grounds Maintenance: Countrywide open

Countrywide Grounds Maintenance is part of the largest franchise group operating in the horticulture, gardening and landscaping sectors. Established in 1984, the Countrywide group comprises two separate franchise networks - Countrywide Lawn Doctor, which offers a specialist all-year-round range of lawncare treatments to the domestic marketplace, and Countrywide Grounds Maintenance, which provides all-year-round grounds maintenance services to the commercial and utilities sector.

With a £20 million group turnover, Countrywide is a full member of the British Franchise Association (bfa) and has become one of the most successful and respected companies within the UK, winning international business and industry awards including:

l    Gold Winner: bfa Franchisee of the Year
l    Finalist: bfa Franchisor of the Year
l    Independent Newspaper: Fastest Growing Private
    Company
l    The Times & Virgin Atlantic: Fast Track 100
    Companies

As a multi-award winning management franchise, Countrywide Grounds Maintenance is not only one of the UK's most successful franchise networks, but also the market leader within its own industry. With 43 franchised outlets and over 500 personnel, Countrywide Grounds Maintenance has a network turnover of £17 million and is currently maintaining over 12,000 sites ranging in contract value from £500-£2 million per annum.

With large exclusive territories, an impressive blue chip customer base, extensive national accounts and low market penetration, each Countrywide Grounds Maintenance franchisee has considerable growth potential within their own territory. Its franchisees are building high revenue businesses in excess of £1.5 million with net profits of over 20% and ensuring strong financial security for their future.

Countrywide Grounds Maintenance's franchisees in South Wales are cases in point. Ian Michael and Richard Ball have seen their business grow so consistently since they started in 1997 that they have had to move to larger premises for the third time. They believe that they have laid the seeds for still further growth with the move to the new purpose built depot in Port Talbot.

The business, which currently employs 46 staff, with turnover of nearly £2 million, is one of the largest ground maintenance suppliers in Wales. Mr Ball says: "We hope to grow the business to employing over 100 staff in the next couple of years and increase the fleet to over 50 vans."

Mr Michael adds: "The future looks promising as the business hopes to expand services into the education sector. With schools having more and more control over their own budgets, we are able to provide a more competitive service than the current providers. This then enables schools to free up some of their budget for other activities. We have big plans for the future but keep our feet firmly on the ground, especially in the current climate."

Franchisees provide an extensive range of all-year-round grounds maintenance services to the commercial marketplace. Their extensive range of services include grass cutting, pruning, hedge cutting, road sweeping, litter and leaf clearance, hard and soft landscaping, fencing, turfing, gritting, snow clearance and tree surgery.

This concept is unique to Countrywide Grounds Maintenance and its nationwide franchise network makes it the only company able to provide such a service to these sectors on a truly national basis.

The customer list reads like the Who's Who of business, with many national account contracts and a variety of blue chip clients ranging across the business spectrum, including hotels, schools, business parks, hospitals, military bases, housing associations, offices, retail parks, theme parks, sports grounds, motorway services and heritage sites.

Countrywide Grounds Maintenance also has the  double advantage of thriving during an economic recession and being unaffected by seasonal variances. Although customers vary in sector and size, all of their clients need to maintain the external physical and visual standards of their premises and facilities throughout the year. This not only improves their customer's experience but also dramatically increases the overall value of their business. Accordingly, Countrywide Grounds Maintenance has a very impressive 95% customer retention rate which provides its franchisees with continuous repeat business year after year.

Countrywide Grounds Maintenance is recognised for its excellent initial and ongoing training and support. New franchisees benefit from three weeks' initial training (at head office and on-territory), spend time shadowing an existing franchisee to fully understand the business and head office provides a telesales marketing launch.

Ongoing support includes on-territory training, centralised sales and marketing, centralised tendering and negotiation, centralised invoice and credit control, annual business reviews, monthly newsletters and the centralised customer freephone answering service.

The cost to join Countrywide Grounds Maintenance is £44,950 + VAT.  About a further £15,000 is required as working capital to enable franchisees to run and develop the business.

Included within this franchise package is everything needed to start a business - all horticultural equipment and chemicals, uniforms, vehicle livery, training, stationery, marketing literature and Countrywide's bespoke Virtual Office software package, which automatically controls administration including route, scheduling and marketing. 

The company also has an excellent relationship with the main franchising banks who can offer financial support should it be required.  It carefully selects its franchisees to maintain its brand reputation and to ensure a mutually successful future for both parties. Previous gardening, horticulture or lawn care experience is not required and is provided through the training. However, Countrywide is looking for candidates who are ambitious, motivated, enthusiastic, fit and possess good people skills. 

Classification: Gardens/Landscaping
Investment level: Franchise fee: £44,950 + VAT +£15,000 working capital
Websites: www.countrywidelawndoctor.com
www.countrywidegrounds.com/franchise
Email: franchise@countrywidelawndoctor.com
franchise@countrywidegrounds.co.uk
Phone: 0161 485 6666