Fresh air franchises - swapping the office for the outdoors

When it comes to franchising, one of the most critical factors for success is finding a franchise brand that aligns with your passions, expertise and abilities. After all, with approximately 90,000 hours of our lives spent working¹, it’s crucial to find something you love doing.

Here, Cheryl Harper, Managing Director of Greensleeves Lawn Care, explores the benefits of embracing the outdoors and why owning an outdoor franchise could be the perfect career move for those seeking a rewarding business venture – and hoping to finally escape the corporate confines of an office-based 9-5!

Investing in a franchise can cost a significant portion of your personal wealth, so not only is it important that you have a strong rate of return but also that your franchise brings you personal fulfilment. This means carefully considering how the business aligns with your passions and values. A franchise that not only generates profit but also provides a sense of purpose is likely to be more rewarding and successful in the long term.

The mental health charity Mind found that nearly two-thirds of UK adults (63%) say spending time gardening or in nature helps their mental health². This growing awareness of the benefits of outdoor spaces has created a significant market opportunity for businesses that can provide products or services to help people connect with the natural world. Many outdoor franchises involve physical work, contributing to a healthier lifestyle and potentially boosting the overall wellbeing of the franchise owner as well.

One of the appealing aspects of owning an outdoor franchise is the flexibility it offers. Whether you desire a seasonal venture, like a pool services business that’s more in demand during warmer months, or a year-round operation, such as a lawn care service like Greensleeves, there's an option to suit your lifestyle. While certain lawn care treatments are seasonal, maintaining a healthy lawn is a year-round commitment, as are many other outdoor franchise opportunities. Finding the right one for you depends on your interests, skills and desired work-life balance.

The increasing focus on health, wellness and outdoor living has created a thriving market for outdoor services. According to projections, the lawn and garden market is expected to grow annually by 1.78% (CAGR 2024-2028)³. Compared to traditional indoor businesses, outdoor franchises often have lower operational expenses. Factors such as reduced rent, utilities and maintenance costs can reduce overheads and increase profit margins.

Tired of the traditional nine-to-five? Greensleeves franchisee David Davison is the perfect example of somebody who made a career switch when he joined us in 2019.

“My professional background was firmly rooted in corporate sales,” said David. “While I enjoyed the challenges, I always harboured an ambition to start my own business. I was actually a Greensleeves customer before I was a franchisee. A couple of guys came over to do some treatments on my lawn and we got chatting and something just clicked in my head. I didn’t have a lot of lawn care experience, but it was something I could easily envision myself doing, and I didn’t want to go back to an office job. Jump forward to today and I’m now managing three territories and serving over 2,000 customers. It’s the best decision I’ve made; franchising gives you so many opportunities. The flexibility to decide my own hours has been great for my work-life balance; I highly recommend franchising to those that are considering it.”

While the allure of fresh air and autonomy is undeniable, it's natural to have concerns about transitioning from a traditional office setting to a more independent role. To ease these anxieties, franchises offer comprehensive training and ongoing support to equip franchisees with the tools and knowledge they need to succeed. And don’t worry if you think stepping away from a corporate environment and opting for a business that will see you working in the great outdoors means your connection with the modern world is a thing of the past. Running a franchise still comes with a whole host of operational responsibilities – in fact, you may find yourself splitting your time equally between delivering your services and managing the daily administrative tasks that come with being a business owner. But the benefit of operating any business in a digital age is that automation and technological developments means paperwork can be done from almost anywhere – whether that’s your home office or the driver’s seat of your work van.

At Greensleeves, our new customer portal is designed to streamline communication and operations, ensuring franchisees can focus on delivering exceptional service while maintaining a strong connection with clients. With modern tech solutions being developed day by day, what used to be some of remote workings’ biggest issues have become increasingly manageable, if not obsolete.

So if you are finding yourself tied to a desk and battling with a crippling commute, now may be the time to invest in your own fresh air franchise. It might be the best thing you ever did for your future.

• 1 – Gettysburg College, One third of your life is spent at work, 2022.
• 2 - Mind, Over 7 million have taken up gardening since the pandemic, 2022.
• 3 – Statista, Lawn & Garden United Kingdom, 2024.

Interested and want to know more about Greensleeves Lawn Care?

The Greensleeves Lawn Care profile outlines all aspects of their franchise opportunity and allows you to contact them for further information or to ask a question.

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