Naturalawn Of America vs U.s. Lawns
Naturalawn Of America vs U.s. Lawns: Naturalawn Of America costs $78K–$153K to open; U.s. Lawns costs $30K–$825K. Naturalawn Of America has 20 units, U.s. Lawns has 49. SBA loan history: Naturalawn Of America = 23 loans (8.7% 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.
Naturalawn Of America 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
U.s. Lawns requires the lower minimum capital commitment ($30K vs $78K for Naturalawn Of America), a 160% spread. Initial franchise fees come in at $40K for Naturalawn Of America versus $25K for U.s. Lawns — U.s. Lawns has the lower entry fee. Ongoing royalty load is 9% for Naturalawn Of America and 4% for U.s. Lawns, giving U.s. Lawns the lighter per-unit drag on operating income.
System Scale & Tenure
On scale, U.s. Lawns operates 49 units to Naturalawn Of America's 20 — roughly 2× the system size. U.s. Lawns has been operating 40 years (founded 1986) versus 39 for Naturalawn Of America (founded 1987) — a 1-year tenure gap that affects unit-economics maturity and FDD revision history.
SBA Lending Profile
U.s. Lawns has the deeper SBA lending track record with 78 historical 7(a) approvals versus 23 for Naturalawn Of America. Naturalawn Of America's peak SBA year was 2023 (2 loans); U.s. Lawns's peak was 2025 (10 loans). U.s. Lawns's more recent peak generally indicates fresher lender appetite. Geographically, Naturalawn Of America concentrates in PA (2 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 Naturalawn Of America deals is $356K vs $424K for U.s. Lawns — useful as a sizing anchor when modeling your own unit.
Risk Signal
SBA default rates are 8.7% for Naturalawn Of America and 9.0% for U.s. Lawns — Naturalawn Of America has the cleaner historical loss profile by 0.3 points. PeerSense FPI scores come in at 54 (Moderate) for Naturalawn Of America and 57 (Moderate) for U.s. Lawns, giving U.s. Lawns the stronger composite signal across SBA performance, lender appetite, and operational consistency.
Health & Performance
FPI Score | 54/100 | 57/100 |
Health Tier | Moderate | Moderate |
Confidence | N/A | N/A |
Lending Trend | Declining | Declining |
SBA Lending
SBA Loans | 23 | 78 |
SBA Volume | — | — |
Default Rate | 8.7% | 9.0% |
Peer Tier | growing | established |
Investment & Costs
Total Investment | $78K – $153K | $30K – $825K |
Franchise Fee | $40K | $25K |
Royalty Rate | 9% | 4% |
Ad Fund | 1% | 2% |
Liquid Capital | N/A | $50K |
Net Worth Required | N/A | $150K |
Financial Performance (Item 19)
Item 19 Status | Not Disclosed | Not Disclosed |
System Size & Operations
Total Units | 20 | 49 |
Franchised Units | 20 | 49 |
Company-Owned | — | — |
Term Length | 5 yrs | 10 yrs |
Brand Information
Year Founded | 1987 | 1986 |
Franchising Since | N/A | 2023 |
Years Franchising | N/A | 3 yrs |
Headquarters | Frederick, MD | FORT MYERS, FL |
Category | Landscaping Services | Landscaping Services |
Website | ||
FDD Year | 2026 | 2025 |
Which Is Better — Naturalawn Of America or U.s. Lawns?
Lower upfront capital required
U.s. Lawns
Naturalawn Of America: $78K starting · U.s. Lawns: $30K starting
More SBA lender confidence
U.s. Lawns
Naturalawn Of America: 23 SBA loans · U.s. Lawns: 78 SBA loans
Lower historical default rate
Naturalawn Of America
Naturalawn Of America: 8.7% · U.s. Lawns: 9.0%
Larger system & brand presence
U.s. Lawns
Naturalawn Of America: 20 units · U.s. Lawns: 49 units
Lower ongoing royalty load
U.s. Lawns
Naturalawn Of America: 9% · U.s. Lawns: 4%
More lender financing options
U.s. Lawns
Naturalawn Of America: 19 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
Naturalawn Of America vs U.s. Lawns: Franchise Funding Comparison
Comparing Naturalawn Of America 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 $30K to $825K.
Both brands have active SBA lending histories — Naturalawn Of America with 23 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.