Heroes Lawn Care vs The Grounds Guys
Heroes Lawn Care vs The Grounds Guys: Heroes Lawn Care costs $159K to $215K to open; The Grounds Guys costs $75K to $225K. Heroes Lawn Care has 25 units, The Grounds Guys has 191. SBA loan history: Heroes Lawn Care = 43 loans (0.0% default); The Grounds Guys = 241 loans (15.8% default). The franchise with more SBA funded units, a lower SBA default rate, and a lower royalty load is the safer financing bet; see the comparison below.
Heroes Lawn Care vs The Grounds Guys: Capital, Scale & Lending Analysis
Analysis based on FDD filings and SBA 7(a) loan level data. Each pairing reflects a unique combination of capital intensity, system scale, and financing path.
Capital Intensity
The Grounds Guys requires the lower minimum capital commitment ($75K vs $159K for Heroes Lawn Care), a 114% spread. Initial franchise fees come in at $60K for Heroes Lawn Care versus $35K for The Grounds Guys, The Grounds Guys has the lower entry fee. Ongoing royalty load is 6.5% for Heroes Lawn Care and 6% for The Grounds Guys, giving The Grounds Guys the lighter per-unit drag on operating income.
System Scale & Tenure
On scale, The Grounds Guys operates 191 units to Heroes Lawn Care's 25, roughly 8× the system size.
SBA Lending Profile
The Grounds Guys has the deeper SBA lending track record, with 241 7(a) approvals compared with 43 for Heroes Lawn Care. Heroes Lawn Care's peak SBA year was 2023 (30 loans); The Grounds Guys's peak was 2021 (38 loans). Heroes Lawn Care's more recent peak generally indicates fresher lender appetite. Both systems have the most SBA funded units in TX. Borrowers in that state will find the deepest lender familiarity with either brand. Average SBA loan size on funded Heroes Lawn Care deals is $301K vs $171K for The Grounds Guys, useful as a sizing anchor when modeling your own unit.
Risk Signal
SBA default rates are 0.0% for Heroes Lawn Care and 15.8% for The Grounds Guys, Heroes Lawn Care has the cleaner SBA loss record by 15.8 points. PeerSense FPI scores come in at 68 (Strong) for Heroes Lawn Care and 67 (Strong) for The Grounds Guys, giving Heroes Lawn Care the stronger composite signal across SBA performance, lender appetite, and operational consistency.
Health & Performance
FPI Score | 68/100 | 67/100 |
Health Tier | Strong | Strong |
Confidence | N/A | N/A |
Lending Trend | N/A | Stable |
SBA Lending
SBA Loans | 43 | 241 |
SBA Volume | – | – |
Default Rate | 0.0% | 15.8% |
Peer Tier | established | major |
Investment & Costs
Total Investment | $159K to $215K | $75K to $225K |
Franchise Fee | $60K | $35K |
Royalty Rate | 6.5% | 6% |
Ad Fund | N/A | 2% |
Liquid Capital | N/A | $30K |
Net Worth Required | N/A | N/A |
Financial Performance (Item 19)
Item 19 Status | Disclosed | Disclosed |
System Size & Operations
Total Units | 25 | 191 |
Franchised Units | 25 | 191 |
Company Owned | 1 | – |
Term Length | 10 yrs | 10 yrs |
Brand Information
Year Founded | N/A | 1987 |
Franchising Since | 2022 | 2010 |
Years Franchising | 4 yrs | 16 yrs |
Headquarters | CEDAR HILL, TX | Waco, TX |
Category | Landscaping Services | Landscaping Services |
Website | ||
FDD Year | 2026 | 2026 |
Which Is Better, Heroes Lawn Care or The Grounds Guys?
Lower upfront capital required
The Grounds Guys
Heroes Lawn Care: $159K starting · The Grounds Guys: $75K starting
More SBA lender confidence
The Grounds Guys
Heroes Lawn Care: 43 SBA loans · The Grounds Guys: 241 SBA loans
Lower SBA default rate
Heroes Lawn Care
Heroes Lawn Care: 0.0% · The Grounds Guys: 15.8%
Larger system & brand presence
The Grounds Guys
Heroes Lawn Care: 25 units · The Grounds Guys: 191 units
Lower ongoing royalty load
The Grounds Guys
Heroes Lawn Care: 6.5% · The Grounds Guys: 6%
More lender financing options
The Grounds Guys
Heroes Lawn Care: 5 unique lenders · The Grounds Guys: 29 unique lenders
Decision matrix uses publicly disclosed FDD and SBA loan data. Not a recommendation. Your best franchise depends on capital, market, operating capacity, and risk tolerance.
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Heroes Lawn Care vs The Grounds Guys: Franchise Funding Comparison
Comparing Heroes Lawn Care and The Grounds Guys is about more than brand preference. It's about which franchise fits your financial profile and funding strategy. Investment ranges from $75K to $225K.
Heroes Lawn Care has 43 SBA loans on record and The Grounds Guys has 241. Those totals are cumulative history rather than a measure of current appetite. There is not enough recent lending activity on record to judge current appetite for at least one of these brands, so it has to be checked deal by deal.
SBA 7(a) loans are the most common franchise funding vehicle, offering up to $5M with as little as 10% down. PeerSense connects franchise buyers with the specific lenders who have approved loans for these brands, not generic referrals, but lenders with actual franchise lending track records.
Data sourced from SBA loan records, Franchise Disclosure Documents, and public filings. Updated regularly. Not financial advice, consult with a lending professional before making investment decisions.
Heroes Lawn Care vs The Grounds Guys, Frequently Asked Questions
Which is a better franchise investment, Heroes Lawn Care or The Grounds Guys?
How much does a Heroes Lawn Care franchise cost compared to The Grounds Guys?
Can I finance Heroes Lawn Care or The Grounds Guys with an SBA loan?
Which has a lower SBA default rate, Heroes Lawn Care or The Grounds Guys?
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Page Review
Reviewed by Edward L. Freeman, Founder and Managing Director, PeerSense
- PeerSense is a capital advisory firm that places commercial financing with direct capital sources; the capital source sets final terms.
- Edward L. Freeman founded PeerSense in January 2020.
- He is a Registered Franchise Consultant with Business Alliance, Inc., a credential issued in March 2022, and worked as a franchise consultant there from March 2022 to May 2023.
- His recorded experience includes a $22 million SBA construction loan, with about $16 million funded on the deal.
- In the 12 months through September 30, 2026, PeerSense tracked 912 publicly announced financings with a disclosed size of $361.32 billion. PeerSense Capital Data Report · Methodology page
Last reviewed LinkedIn profileAbout Edward Freeman