Lawn Doctor vs U.s. Lawns
Lawn Doctor vs U.s. Lawns: Lawn Doctor costs $20K–$211K to open; U.s. Lawns costs $30K–$825K. Lawn Doctor has 87 units, U.s. Lawns has 49. SBA loan history: Lawn Doctor = 115 loans (7.0% default); U.s. Lawns = 78 loans (9.0% default). The franchise with more SBA-funded units, lower default rate, and lower royalty load is the safer financing bet — see the comparison below.
Lawn Doctor vs U.s. Lawns — Capital, Scale & Lending Analysis
Data-driven differentiation pulled from 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 $30K for U.s. Lawns), a 34% spread. Initial franchise fees come in at $20K for Lawn Doctor versus $25K for U.s. Lawns — Lawn Doctor has the lower entry fee. Ongoing royalty load is 10% for Lawn Doctor and 4% for U.s. Lawns, giving U.s. Lawns the lighter per-unit drag on operating income.
System Scale & Tenure
On scale, Lawn Doctor operates 87 units to U.s. Lawns's 49. Lawn Doctor has been operating 59 years (founded 1967) versus 40 for U.s. Lawns (founded 1986) — a 19-year tenure gap that affects unit-economics maturity and FDD revision history.
SBA Lending Profile
Lawn Doctor has the deeper SBA lending track record with 115 historical 7(a) approvals versus 78 for U.s. Lawns. Lawn Doctor's peak SBA year was 2021 (11 loans); U.s. Lawns's peak was 2025 (10 loans). U.s. Lawns's more recent peak generally indicates fresher lender appetite. Geographically, Lawn Doctor concentrates in TX (13 SBA-funded units) while U.s. Lawns leads in FL (21) — pick the brand whose strongest state matches yours for warmest lender introductions. Average SBA loan size on funded Lawn Doctor deals is $192K vs $424K for U.s. Lawns — useful as a sizing anchor when modeling your own unit.
Risk Signal
SBA default rates are 7.0% for Lawn Doctor and 9.0% for U.s. Lawns — Lawn Doctor has the cleaner historical loss profile by 2.0 points. PeerSense FPI scores come in at 58 (Moderate) for Lawn Doctor and 57 (Moderate) for U.s. Lawns, giving Lawn Doctor the stronger composite signal across SBA performance, lender appetite, and operational consistency.
Health & Performance
FPI Score | 58/100 | 57/100 |
Health Tier | Moderate | Moderate |
Confidence | N/A | N/A |
Lending Trend | Declining | Declining |
SBA Lending
SBA Loans | 115 | 78 |
SBA Volume | — | — |
Default Rate | 7.0% | 9.0% |
Peer Tier | major | established |
Investment & Costs
Total Investment | $20K – $211K | $30K – $825K |
Franchise Fee | $20K | $25K |
Royalty Rate | 10% | 4% |
Ad Fund | 4% | 2% |
Liquid Capital | $50K | $50K |
Net Worth Required | $200K | $150K |
Financial Performance (Item 19)
Item 19 Status | Not Disclosed | Not Disclosed |
System Size & Operations
Total Units | 87 | 49 |
Franchised Units | 87 | 49 |
Company-Owned | — | — |
Term Length | 10 yrs | 10 yrs |
Brand Information
Year Founded | 1967 | 1986 |
Franchising Since | 1960 | 2023 |
Years Franchising | 66 yrs | 3 yrs |
Headquarters | TOMS RIVER, NJ | FORT MYERS, FL |
Category | Landscaping Services | Landscaping Services |
Website | ||
FDD Year | 2026 | 2025 |
Which Is Better — Lawn Doctor or U.s. Lawns?
Lower upfront capital required
Lawn Doctor
Lawn Doctor: $20K starting · U.s. Lawns: $30K starting
More SBA lender confidence
Lawn Doctor
Lawn Doctor: 115 SBA loans · U.s. Lawns: 78 SBA loans
Lower historical default rate
Lawn Doctor
Lawn Doctor: 7.0% · U.s. Lawns: 9.0%
Larger system & brand presence
Lawn Doctor
Lawn Doctor: 87 units · U.s. Lawns: 49 units
Lower ongoing royalty load
U.s. Lawns
Lawn Doctor: 10% · U.s. Lawns: 4%
More lender financing options
Lawn Doctor
Lawn Doctor: 51 unique lenders · U.s. Lawns: 39 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 U.s. Lawns: Franchise Funding Comparison
Comparing Lawn Doctor and U.s. Lawns is about more than brand preference — it's about which franchise fits your financial profile and funding strategy. Investment ranges from $20K to $825K.
Both brands have active SBA lending histories — Lawn Doctor with 115 SBA loans and U.s. Lawns with 78. This means proven lender acceptance and established underwriting paths for franchise buyers.
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.