The Grounds Guys vs U.s. Lawns
The Grounds Guys vs U.s. Lawns: The Grounds Guys costs $75K to $225K to open; U.s. Lawns costs $30K to $825K. The Grounds Guys has 191 units, U.s. Lawns has 49. SBA loan history: The Grounds Guys = 241 loans (15.8% default); U.s. Lawns = 78 loans (9.0% 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.
The Grounds Guys vs U.s. Lawns: 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
U.s. Lawns requires the lower minimum capital commitment ($30K vs $75K for The Grounds Guys), a 149% spread. Initial franchise fees come in at $35K for The Grounds Guys versus $25K for U.s. Lawns, U.s. Lawns has the lower entry fee. Ongoing royalty load is 6% for The Grounds Guys and 4% for U.s. Lawns, giving U.s. Lawns the lighter per-unit drag on operating income.
System Scale & Tenure
On scale, The Grounds Guys operates 191 units to U.s. Lawns's 49, roughly 4× the system size. U.s. Lawns has been operating 40 years (founded 1986) versus 39 for The Grounds Guys (founded 1987), a 1-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 78 for U.s. Lawns. The Grounds Guys's peak SBA year was 2021 (38 loans); U.s. Lawns's peak was 2025 (10 loans). U.s. Lawns's more recent peak generally indicates fresher lender appetite. The Grounds Guys has the most SBA funded units in TX, with 49. U.s. Lawns leads in FL, with 21. Borrowers should pick the brand whose strongest SBA state matches their own state for warmer lender introductions. Average SBA loan size on funded The Grounds Guys deals is $171K vs $424K for U.s. Lawns, useful as a sizing anchor when modeling your own unit.
Risk Signal
SBA default rates are 15.8% for The Grounds Guys and 9.0% for U.s. Lawns, U.s. Lawns has the cleaner SBA loss record by 6.8 points. PeerSense FPI scores come in at 67 (Strong) for The Grounds Guys and 57 (Moderate) for U.s. Lawns, giving The Grounds Guys the stronger composite signal across SBA performance, lender appetite, and operational consistency.
Health & Performance
FPI Score | 67/100 | 57/100 |
Health Tier | Strong | Moderate |
Confidence | N/A | N/A |
Lending Trend | Stable | Declining |
SBA Lending
SBA Loans | 241 | 78 |
SBA Volume | – | – |
Default Rate | 15.8% | 9.0% |
Peer Tier | major | established |
Investment & Costs
Total Investment | $75K to $225K | $30K to $825K |
Franchise Fee | $35K | $25K |
Royalty Rate | 6% | 4% |
Ad Fund | 2% | 2% |
Liquid Capital | $30K | $50K |
Net Worth Required | N/A | $150K |
Financial Performance (Item 19)
Item 19 Status | Disclosed | Disclosed |
System Size & Operations
Total Units | 191 | 49 |
Franchised Units | 191 | 49 |
Company Owned | – | – |
Term Length | 10 yrs | 10 yrs |
Brand Information
Year Founded | 1987 | 1986 |
Franchising Since | 2010 | 2023 |
Years Franchising | 16 yrs | 3 yrs |
Headquarters | Waco, TX | FORT MYERS, FL |
Category | Landscaping Services | Landscaping Services |
Website | ||
FDD Year | 2026 | 2025 |
Which Is Better, The Grounds Guys or U.s. Lawns?
Lower upfront capital required
U.s. Lawns
The Grounds Guys: $75K starting · U.s. Lawns: $30K starting
More SBA lender confidence
The Grounds Guys
The Grounds Guys: 241 SBA loans · U.s. Lawns: 78 SBA loans
Lower SBA default rate
U.s. Lawns
The Grounds Guys: 15.8% · U.s. Lawns: 9.0%
Larger system & brand presence
The Grounds Guys
The Grounds Guys: 191 units · U.s. Lawns: 49 units
Lower ongoing royalty load
U.s. Lawns
The Grounds Guys: 6% · U.s. Lawns: 4%
More lender financing options
U.s. Lawns
The Grounds Guys: 29 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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The Grounds Guys vs U.s. Lawns: Franchise Funding Comparison
Comparing The Grounds Guys 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.
The Grounds Guys has 241 SBA loans on record and U.s. Lawns has 78. 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.
The Grounds Guys vs U.s. Lawns, Frequently Asked Questions
Which is a better franchise investment, The Grounds Guys or U.s. Lawns?
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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