The Grounds Guys franchise

Opening costs and fees

$107,650–$252,850

Low equipment allowance assumes existing equipment; additional territory fees and snow equipment can add to this range.

Operating formats

Opening investment

The 2026 filing lists $107,650–$252,850 to establish the business, plus any additional territory-based franchise fee. The low equipment allowance assumes you already own a similar business and its equipment; it is not a from-scratch equipment budget. Snow equipment is excluded, with another $17,000 indicated if purchased initially. An acquisition or conversion needs its own budget, including the negotiated business purchase price and transition costs.

Source and scope

2026 U.S. FDD · Item 7, printed p. 32; Item 7, printed p. 33; Item 7, printed p. 34; Item 7, printed p. 35

• The Grounds Guys · April 1, 2026 U.S. FDD · Minnesota registry

Working capital and exclusions

The table includes $30,000–$50,000 of additional funds labelled for 12 months, but its note also describes three months as a minimum. The note excludes personal living expenses, owner salary, debt, ongoing working capital and receivables financing. This allowance is not assurance that the business can fund a full first year.

Source and scope

2026 U.S. FDD · Item 7, printed p. 32; Item 7, printed p. 34

• The Grounds Guys · April 1, 2026 U.S. FDD · Minnesota registry

Initial franchise fee

The startup table uses a $43,750 base initial franchise fee and adds $350 per additional 1,000 people. Confirm the actual territory, discounts and fee calculation before treating the base figure as your quote.

Source and scope

2026 U.S. FDD · Item 7, printed p. 31; Item 7, printed p. 32

• The Grounds Guys · April 1, 2026 U.S. FDD · Minnesota registry

Financial qualifications

Advertised liquid capital

The franchisor’s website advertises a minimum of $50,000 in liquid capital for U.S. applicants. This qualification is separate from opening investment and does not establish financing approval or territory availability.

Source and scope

Official website observed October 29, 2026; effective date not stated.

• Official investment page · Liquid Capital Needed

Net-worth qualification to confirm

We have not established a net-worth requirement from the selected investment webpage. Confirm the current qualification with the franchisor.

Source and scope

Selected webpage review · October 29, 2026

• Official investment page

Key ongoing fees

License and marketing-fund fees

Standard license fees are 5%–6% of Gross Sales, with the percentage based on the prior calendar year’s sales and applicable minimums. The marketing fund generally adds 2%. Existing businesses converted into the system have separate roll-in rules. The fee table describes weekly payment, while a note says currently monthly; payment timing remains a source conflict to resolve.

Source and scope

2026 U.S. FDD · Item 6, printed p. 19; Item 6, printed p. 28; Item 6, printed p. 29; Item 6, printed p. 30

• The Grounds Guys · April 1, 2026 U.S. FDD · Minnesota registry

Local marketing commitments

Local marketing requires at least $25,000 in each of the first two years, including $15,000 during each year’s high season. The franchisor reserves the right to require later annual spending of the greater of $20,000 or 5% of prior-year Gross Sales. Specified local-group and other approved spending can count toward these requirements; do not add overlapping allowances twice. Marketing-fund fees are separate.

Source and scope

2026 U.S. FDD · Item 6, printed p. 26; Item 6, printed p. 27

• The Grounds Guys · April 1, 2026 U.S. FDD · Minnesota registry

Technology costs

The filing lists $654.45 per month for software, with additional-user, email, optional messaging and accounting-software charges. Obtain a complete configuration-specific quote rather than treating the base fee as the full technology cost.

Source and scope

2026 U.S. FDD · Item 6, printed p. 20; Item 6, printed p. 21

• The Grounds Guys · April 1, 2026 U.S. FDD · Minnesota registry

Selected ongoing charges, not a complete fee schedule. Confirm the current FDD and the terms for your format.

Running the business

Owner involvement

An individual owner ordinarily must operate or directly supervise the business. A manager can substitute only with franchisor consent and required training. Entities normally need a trained designated owner for on-site supervision unless consent is given, and principal owners must provide guarantees.

Source and scope

2026 U.S. FDD · Item 15, printed p. 65

• The Grounds Guys · April 1, 2026 U.S. FDD · Minnesota registry

Premises and opening

A home base is permitted if it is within the territory and local zoning allows it; leased office space is another option. The site still needs approval. Opening is required within six months of signing, after training and other pre-opening obligations are satisfied.

Source and scope

2026 U.S. FDD · Item 11, printed p. 51

• The Grounds Guys · April 1, 2026 U.S. FDD · Minnesota registry

Training and support

At least one owner or designated manager must complete required initial training. The filing describes Phase II as generally four to five days, followed by one to five days of field training. Travel and living costs are yours. Support includes site guidelines, approved-supplier lists, manuals, opening assistance and ongoing communications.

Source and scope

2026 U.S. FDD · Item 11, printed p. 44; Item 11, printed p. 45; Item 11, printed p. 52; Item 11, printed p. 53

• The Grounds Guys · April 1, 2026 U.S. FDD · Minnesota registry

Territory, restrictions and agreement terms

Territory rights

The designated territory generally contains 125,000–500,000 people, with exceptions. It is not exclusive: conditional protection against another Grounds Guys franchise marketing there coexists with reserved rights for other brands, channels and key accounts. Neither the population range nor a brand match confirms local territory availability.

Source and scope

2026 U.S. FDD · Item 12, printed p. 59; Item 12, printed p. 60

• The Grounds Guys · April 1, 2026 U.S. FDD · Minnesota registry

Purchasing restrictions

Approved products, suppliers, software and call-center participation constrain operations. Alternative suppliers require written approval. A third-party bookkeeper is required unless a full-time staff bookkeeper can be demonstrated to the franchisor. Vehicles must meet specifications, but no particular dealer is required.

Source and scope

2026 U.S. FDD · Item 8, printed p. 35; Item 8, printed p. 36; Item 8, printed p. 37

• The Grounds Guys · April 1, 2026 U.S. FDD · Minnesota registry

Term and renewal

The initial term is ten years. One further ten-year renewal may be available subject to compliance, performance, timely notice, releases, training, a $5,000 renewal fee and signing the then-current agreement. Terms and fees may change materially.

Source and scope

2026 U.S. FDD · Item 17, printed p. 66; Item 17, printed p. 67

• The Grounds Guys · April 1, 2026 U.S. FDD · Minnesota registry

Selling or transferring

A sale requires franchisor approval, a qualified buyer with training arranged, releases, payment of obligations and a current agreement. The stated transfer fee is the greater of $7,500 or 5% of the total business sale price, including assets, with specified possible discounts or waivers. The purchase price paid to the seller and transaction costs are additional.

Source and scope

2026 U.S. FDD · Item 17, printed p. 69; Item 6, printed p. 22; Item 7, printed p. 35

• The Grounds Guys · April 1, 2026 U.S. FDD · Minnesota registry

Exit obligations

Exit requires de-identification, return of manuals and customer materials, transfer of specified phone and online identities, payment of obligations and compliance with post-term restrictions. Item 17 summarizes a two-year noncompete covering the territory, a 25-mile surrounding radius and other Grounds Guys territories, subject to applicable law and agreement terms.

Source and scope

2026 U.S. FDD · Item 17, printed p. 68; Item 17, printed p. 69; Item 17, printed p. 70; Item 17, printed p. 71

• The Grounds Guys · April 1, 2026 U.S. FDD · Minnesota registry

Revenue and performance

Performance disclosure and limits

For 2025, the 105 reporting businesses operating at least three years had median gross sales of $533,092 and mean gross sales of $820,392. The 56 reporting businesses under three years had a $294,312 median and $392,054 mean. These selected reporting cohorts exclude specified openings, transfers, closures and short-reporting seasonal businesses; the younger group is not a first-year forecast. The footnotes describe businesses open for the full 12 months and reporting for at least nine months; those are separate conditions. Sales do not establish profit or owner income.

Source and scope

2026 U.S. FDD · Item 19, printed p. 71; Item 19, printed p. 72; Item 19, printed p. 73

• The Grounds Guys · April 1, 2026 U.S. FDD · Minnesota registry

Revenue is sales before expenses, not owner income. Compare matching periods, formats and location samples.

Locations

219 U.S. locations (December 31, 2025 · franchised operating businesses).

Outlet trends

Systemwide franchised operating locations ended 2023 at 226, 2024 at 229 and 2025 at 219. The printed 2025 aggregate reports 12 openings, 19 terminations, one nonrenewal and two other cessations. Definitions include some ownership changes and consolidations, so these categories are not interchangeable with physical closures. Some state rows contain unresolved inconsistencies; the aggregate is reported as printed, not reconstructed from those rows.

Source and scope

2026 U.S. FDD · Item 19, printed p. 71; Item 20, printed p. 74; Item 20, printed p. 76; Item 20, printed p. 79

• The Grounds Guys · April 1, 2026 U.S. FDD · Minnesota registry

Events after year end

Separately, the filing reports 19 terminations in the first quarter of 2026. This is not a full-year figure. It does not by itself establish the current outlet count, and we do not subtract it from the 2025 ending count.

Source and scope

2026 U.S. FDD · Item 19, printed p. 71; Item 20, printed p. 76; Item 20, printed p. 79

• The Grounds Guys · April 1, 2026 U.S. FDD · Minnesota registry

Existing locations do not establish that a new territory is available. Confirm your market with the franchisor.