How does your garden grow?

Flipping the concept of traditional gardening on its head, family-run business Urban Planters has created fabulous interior aesthetics, and has cemented its position as forerunner in the interior landscaping sector.

Furnishing anything from hotel lobbies to shopping centres with its real and replica plant installations, Urban Planters has demonstrated that you don't need to be outside braving the elements to make a tidy profit from gardening and landscaping.

Established over 40 years ago, Urban Planters has caused a steady revolution in interiors, turning dour environments into vibrant, verdant spaces. The real boost to the network began in 1996 when the company made its business available as a franchise opportunity.

Urban Planters sources and secures a large number of national contracts with big companies, plus businesses with multiple outlets; any secured national work is passed on to franchisees who can service the contracts at a local level.

Candidates don't need to have any prior experience in the field, as full training is given. However, an eye for composition, some creative flair, a good head for business, and passion for plants are all welcome attributes.

Once on board, all franchisees benefit from initial and ongoing support to ensure that they are comfortable in their new role. Training is extensive, with new recruits going on an induction course that is a precursor to gaining an NVQ in interior landscaping. The franchise package also includes the licence to operate under the Urban Planters brand name and livery in an exclusive territory, plus initial stock and setup costs.

Minimum total investment: £55,000 including working capital
Website: www.urbanplanters.co.uk
Phone: 0800 358 2245

Scenic Blue

For those with an artistic nature, a love of the great outdoors and a hankering for business autonomy, Scenic Blue offers a package that ticks all three boxes.

With 38 UK franchises, Scenic Blue is the only national franchise in the domestic landscaping arena. For those looking to start a reputable landscaping business with a recognised brand, Scenic Blue is the number one starting point.

As a Scenic Blue franchisee, you will manage both people and projects, with a primary focus on building dream outdoor spaces for your customers.

To cover the role effectively you'll need to have ambition, excellent sales skills, and a passion for the landscaping process. These attributes are important, as they will enable you to build your business, and execute your client's vision with confidence and accuracy.

You will be in charge of an allocated territory overseeing staff and projects. But even though you are running your own business, you are never alone. Backing from head office, as well as support from other franchisees, is only a phone call away. Full training is also given covering each area of the franchise.

Although this is a management role, you won't spend all of your time based in the office. Much of your time will be spent on the job, so you should enjoy working outside, and tackling unexpected challenges that arise.

Importantly, Scenic Blue's head office will handle many administrative tasks like client tracking and recruitment, enabling you to focus on managing projects. Also, experienced garden designers, architects and other skilled workers handle the landscape and design side of things under your direction.

Minimum total investment: £50,000
Website: www.scenicblue.co.uk
Phone: 01795 533266

Nicenstripy

With the company's acquisition by Myhome Group plc last year, Nicenstripy is on track to be a star performer in the franchised gardening sector this year. Founded in 1996, Nicenstripy has pushed steadily into the UK's domestic grass-cutting and garden maintenance arena. Now, with improved systems, improved administration and added financial backing, its network is rapidly spreading.

One of the problems of running a garden-based business is that the work is seasonal. Nicenstripy has avoided this problem by having two sides to its franchise model. First, there is its summer grass-cutting service, which runs from the beginning of March to the end of October, and then there is its Winter Tidy service, covering November to February. The Winter Tidy service offers, among other things, a hedge-cutting and leaf-clearing service and ensures cash flow problems are kept at bay for franchisees in the colder months. Reduced downtime means more profitability, and will appeal to franchisees who want to work steadily all year round.

While, in the early part of your franchise, you will need to assume a hands-on role, your long-term aim should be to position yourself as a manager overseeing employed gardeners in your fixed territory. So, any passion for gardening should run a close second to your intention to grow a profitable business into a multi-van territory.

As a Nicenstripy franchisee, you will gain from cash-positive repeat business, year on year. You will also gain full training over 90 days, which covers everything from staff recruitment to customer acquisition, as well as accreditation from leading trade institutions.

Minimum total investment: £30,000
Website: www.nicenstripy.com
Phone: 0845 838 3075

Complete Weed Control

This is a business that does exactly what it says on the tin. It provides much-needed weed control service to businesses that range from local authorities and industrial sites to a host of sporting facilities. And with more than 200 operators in 48 regions, the franchise has a solid network servicing both regional and national contracts.

Set up 35 years ago by agrochemical specialist Roger Turner, Complete Weed Control has grown in size and strength due to its consistency and professionalism.

Franchisees interested in branching out into this more specialised area of the landscaping and gardening sector will benefit from extensive training. From aquatic and selective weed control to growth regulation and hydroseeding (the distribution of seeds to encourage rapid plant growth), franchisees swiftly become experts in the field, ready to start running a profitable business.

No experience is needed, as full training is given in the use of the machinery and the safe handling of chemicals. Franchisees also benefit from regular ongoing investment in new technology that keeps pace with changing environmental and health and safety policies and developments.

Minimum total investment: £16,750
Website: www.completeweedcontrol.com
Phone: 0800 783 2884

Stumpbusters

Still struggling to see the wood for the trees? Stumpbusters is a neat little concept that gives franchisees real autonomy, and a tidy income to boot.

Stumpbusters started out when its founders noticed that tree surgeons would often fell trees but leave the stumps behind. It was this observation that led to the formation of the company, now a successful national franchise network.

Set up in 1994, Stumpbusters gets rid of unwanted tree stumps in both domestic and commercial settings, ranging from private gardens with a single stump to building development and land clearance sites with potentially dozens.

No experience is required to become a Stumpbusters franchisee, though it's important to remember that you will be working outside on a daily basis, sometimes braving the elements. You will also work with heavy machinery that will need to be navigated to wherever it is that stumps need removing - sometimes awkward spots surrounded by muddy ground. But you'll get all of the training you need to handle any type of situation and, should you get stuck in a rut, help is always on hand from the franchisor.

As part of the franchise package, you'll get a fully liveried, customised Stumpbusters trailer to operate in your own exclusive territory, plus all of the necessary equipment including protective clothing and goggles. You'll also benefit from ongoing support in every area of running your business, from promotions and marketing to back-end administration.

Minimum total investment: £23,000
Website: www.stumpbusters.co.uk
Phone: 01844 342851

Countrywide Grounds Maintenance

In business now for more than 20 years, Countrywide Grounds Maintenance is one of the most prominent franchising operators in the gardening sector. Concentrating on commercial entities, as well as utility and public authority properties, the company has secured many lucrative national contracts, and today maintains a staggering 20,000 sites for about 3000 customers.

Daily tasks for franchisees - and/or their team - range from line marking, pitch renovation and top dressing at sports grounds to landscaping, pruning, weeding on anything from golf courses, retail parks and industrial estates to schools and hospitals. But working big means earning big, and with existing company contracts ranging from £500 to £1 million a year, franchisees are assured an attractive income once they are up and running.

For a modest investment, franchisees buy into an operation that includes full training in all business areas, such as pricing contracts, a fixed and exclusive territory, plus a fully liveried vehicle. As part of the package, franchisees also get the necessary trade tools. From back blowers, hedge trimmers and edgers to chemical sprayers and lawn mowers, the list of required tools has been painstakingly devised to ensure that franchisees are well prepared for any job.

To become a Countrywide franchisee, you'll need to be committed to getting your new business up, running and profitable as quickly as possible, with real ambitions to grow a fixed territory into a multi-van operation in the first few years.

Minimum total investment: £54,950
Website: www.countrywidegrounds.com
Phone: 01844 342851

TruGreen

Servicemaster is a large holding company with a host of recognisable franchised brands under its wing. One of these brands, TruGreen, blossomed in the US where it was established more than 30 years ago, and the company is now undergoing rapid growth in the UK. Set up here as a pilot scheme in 2003, TruGreen was then launched as a full franchise operation in 2004, and within a year 60 licences were snapped up, leaving just 90.

As a franchisee, you'll learn everything there is to know about lawn care from fertilisation to weed control. And you'll be encouraged to work as an owner-operator for the first year while you get to grips with the business. Thereafter, you'll aim to grow into a multi-van operation run from commercial premises, and will concern yourself with managing a team of staff as well as scheduling a higher volume of jobs for clients and contractors.

Initially, you'll be encouraged to operate from home, and so you will need to have sufficient space for this - a garage for your equipment plus a desk space for paperwork are ideal.

Having paid your licence fee (this is a lifetime licence with no renewal fees to speak of), you begin by attending TruGreen's five-week training course. You will receive TruGreen's franchisee starter kit, which includes marketing and stationery products, mowers and machines, a sign-written vehicle plus accounting and scheduling software.

Once you start taking on commercial jobs, you'll also benefit from TruGreen's centralised sales team, which will gather clients on your behalf and pass them on to you.

Minimum total investment: £25,500
Website: www.trugreen.co.uk
Phone: 0116 275 9000