Naturalawn Of America vs The Grounds Guys
Naturalawn Of America vs The Grounds Guys: Naturalawn Of America costs $78K to $153K to open; The Grounds Guys costs $75K to $225K. Naturalawn Of America has 20 units, The Grounds Guys has 191. SBA loan history: Naturalawn Of America = 23 loans (8.7% 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.
Naturalawn Of America 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 $78K for Naturalawn Of America), a 5% spread. Initial franchise fees come in at $40K for Naturalawn Of America versus $35K for The Grounds Guys, The Grounds Guys has the lower entry fee. Ongoing royalty load is 9% for Naturalawn Of America 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 Naturalawn Of America's 20, roughly 10× the system size. The Grounds Guys has been operating 39 years (founded 1987) versus 39 for Naturalawn Of America (founded 1987), a 0-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 23 for Naturalawn Of America. Naturalawn Of America's peak SBA year was 2023 (2 loans); The Grounds Guys's peak was 2021 (38 loans). Naturalawn Of America's more recent peak generally indicates fresher lender appetite. Naturalawn Of America has the most SBA funded units in PA, with 2. The Grounds Guys leads in TX, with 49. Borrowers should pick the brand whose strongest SBA state matches their own state for warmer lender introductions. Average SBA loan size on funded Naturalawn Of America deals is $356K vs $171K for The Grounds Guys, useful as a sizing anchor when modeling your own unit.
Risk Signal
SBA default rates are 8.7% for Naturalawn Of America and 15.8% for The Grounds Guys, Naturalawn Of America has the cleaner SBA loss record by 7.1 points. PeerSense FPI scores come in at 54 (Moderate) for Naturalawn Of America 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 | 54/100 | 67/100 |
Health Tier | Moderate | Strong |
Confidence | N/A | N/A |
Lending Trend | Declining | Stable |
SBA Lending
SBA Loans | 23 | 241 |
SBA Volume | – | – |
Default Rate | 8.7% | 15.8% |
Peer Tier | growing | major |
Investment & Costs
Total Investment | $78K to $153K | $75K to $225K |
Franchise Fee | $40K | $35K |
Royalty Rate | 9% | 6% |
Ad Fund | 1% | 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 | 20 | 191 |
Franchised Units | 20 | 191 |
Company Owned | – | – |
Term Length | 5 yrs | 10 yrs |
Brand Information
Year Founded | 1987 | 1987 |
Franchising Since | N/A | 2010 |
Years Franchising | N/A | 16 yrs |
Headquarters | Frederick, MD | Waco, TX |
Category | Landscaping Services | Landscaping Services |
Website | ||
FDD Year | 2025 | 2026 |
Which Is Better, Naturalawn Of America or The Grounds Guys?
Lower upfront capital required
The Grounds Guys
Naturalawn Of America: $78K starting · The Grounds Guys: $75K starting
More SBA lender confidence
The Grounds Guys
Naturalawn Of America: 23 SBA loans · The Grounds Guys: 241 SBA loans
Lower SBA default rate
Naturalawn Of America
Naturalawn Of America: 8.7% · The Grounds Guys: 15.8%
Larger system & brand presence
The Grounds Guys
Naturalawn Of America: 20 units · The Grounds Guys: 191 units
Lower ongoing royalty load
The Grounds Guys
Naturalawn Of America: 9% · The Grounds Guys: 6%
More lender financing options
The Grounds Guys
Naturalawn Of America: 19 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
Naturalawn Of America vs The Grounds Guys: Franchise Funding Comparison
Comparing Naturalawn Of America 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.
Naturalawn Of America has 23 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.
Naturalawn Of America vs The Grounds Guys, Frequently Asked Questions
Which is a better franchise investment, Naturalawn Of America or The Grounds Guys?
How much does a Naturalawn Of America franchise cost compared to The Grounds Guys?
Can I finance Naturalawn Of America or The Grounds Guys with an SBA loan?
Which has a lower SBA default rate, Naturalawn Of America 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