Lawn Doctor vs The Grounds Guys
Lawn Doctor vs The Grounds Guys: Lawn Doctor costs $20K to $211K to open; The Grounds Guys costs $75K to $225K. Lawn Doctor has 87 units, The Grounds Guys has 191. SBA loan history: Lawn Doctor = 115 loans (7.0% 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.
Lawn Doctor 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
Lawn Doctor requires the lower minimum capital commitment ($20K vs $75K for The Grounds Guys), a 73% spread. Initial franchise fees come in at $20K for Lawn Doctor versus $35K for The Grounds Guys, Lawn Doctor has the lower entry fee. Ongoing royalty load is 10% for Lawn Doctor 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 Lawn Doctor's 87, roughly 2× the system size. Lawn Doctor has been operating 59 years (founded 1967) versus 39 for The Grounds Guys (founded 1987), a 20-year tenure gap that affects unit-economics maturity and FDD revision history.
SBA Lending Profile
The Grounds Guys has the deeper SBA lending track record, with 241 7(a) approvals compared with 115 for Lawn Doctor. Lawn Doctor's peak SBA year was 2021 (11 loans); The Grounds Guys's peak was 2021 (38 loans). The Grounds Guys'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 Lawn Doctor deals is $192K vs $171K for The Grounds Guys, useful as a sizing anchor when modeling your own unit.
Risk Signal
SBA default rates are 7.0% for Lawn Doctor and 15.8% for The Grounds Guys, Lawn Doctor has the cleaner SBA loss record by 8.8 points. PeerSense FPI scores come in at 58 (Moderate) for Lawn Doctor and 67 (Strong) for The Grounds Guys, giving The Grounds Guys the stronger composite signal across SBA performance, lender appetite, and operational consistency.
Health & Performance
FPI Score | 58/100 | 67/100 |
Health Tier | Moderate | Strong |
Confidence | N/A | N/A |
Lending Trend | Declining | Stable |
SBA Lending
SBA Loans | 115 | 241 |
SBA Volume | – | – |
Default Rate | 7.0% | 15.8% |
Peer Tier | major | major |
Investment & Costs
Total Investment | $20K to $211K | $75K to $225K |
Franchise Fee | $20K | $35K |
Royalty Rate | 10% | 6% |
Ad Fund | 4% | 2% |
Liquid Capital | $50K | $30K |
Net Worth Required | $200K | N/A |
Financial Performance (Item 19)
Item 19 Status | Disclosed | Disclosed |
System Size & Operations
Total Units | 87 | 191 |
Franchised Units | 87 | 191 |
Company Owned | – | – |
Term Length | 10 yrs | 10 yrs |
Brand Information
Year Founded | 1967 | 1987 |
Franchising Since | 1960 | 2010 |
Years Franchising | 66 yrs | 16 yrs |
Headquarters | TOMS RIVER, NJ | Waco, TX |
Category | Landscaping Services | Landscaping Services |
Website | ||
FDD Year | 2026 | 2026 |
Which Is Better, Lawn Doctor or The Grounds Guys?
Lower upfront capital required
Lawn Doctor
Lawn Doctor: $20K starting · The Grounds Guys: $75K starting
More SBA lender confidence
The Grounds Guys
Lawn Doctor: 115 SBA loans · The Grounds Guys: 241 SBA loans
Lower SBA default rate
Lawn Doctor
Lawn Doctor: 7.0% · The Grounds Guys: 15.8%
Larger system & brand presence
The Grounds Guys
Lawn Doctor: 87 units · The Grounds Guys: 191 units
Lower ongoing royalty load
The Grounds Guys
Lawn Doctor: 10% · The Grounds Guys: 6%
More lender financing options
Lawn Doctor
Lawn Doctor: 51 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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About These Franchises
Lawn Doctor vs The Grounds Guys: Franchise Funding Comparison
Comparing Lawn Doctor 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 $20K to $225K.
Lawn Doctor has 115 SBA loans on record and The Grounds Guys has 241. Those totals are cumulative history rather than a measure of current appetite. Recent lending activity is trending down for at least one of these brands, so current lender appetite has to be checked deal by deal rather than assumed from the totals.
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.
Lawn Doctor vs The Grounds Guys, Frequently Asked Questions
Which is a better franchise investment, Lawn Doctor or The Grounds Guys?
How much does a Lawn Doctor franchise cost compared to The Grounds Guys?
Can I finance Lawn Doctor or The Grounds Guys with an SBA loan?
Which has a lower SBA default rate, Lawn Doctor 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; it does not lend, fund, or approve loans, and 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