Ed’s Garden Services

About Ed’s Garden Services

Ed’s Garden Services is the UK’s largest garden maintenance franchise, with over 35 ‘Business Operators’, and a business that is growing.

The main services offered are lawn moving and lawn cutting, hedge trimming and pruning, garden tidy ups and clearance, driveway and patio cleaning and returfing.

The Ed’s Garden Services franchisees are often local and will be able to give new customers a free estimate, often on the same day they call — and if the customer is happy with the price, they may even be able to do the required work there and then. Total cost will depend on the size of the lawn and its condition. A fixed-price regular service can be arranged which will keep a garden maintained for a lower fixed fee.

Ed’s Garden Services is a full member of the British Franchise Association (BFA).

Who is behind the Ed’s Garden Services franchise?

After studying engineering at university and taking an advanced course in design manufacture and management, Edward Mauleverer was working in a management consultant job in London when his love of the outdoors encouraged him to take up a new challenge. He set up a gardening business in January 2003 and soon found that it was not only profitable, but that he had more customers than he could handle.

It was then, in 2006, that Ed decided to set up Ed’s Garden Maintenance Ltd. to share his business approach with others. The first Ed’s Garden Services franchisee joined in 2007 and the network has been growing steadily ever since, now numbering over 35.

Ed is a Qualified Franchise Professional (QFP), a formal recognition of professional knowledge and experience in franchising run by the BFA.

How does the Ed’s Garden Services franchise model work?

Ed’s Garden Services offers comprehensive gardening services and same-day delivery wherever possible at a reasonable price with no hidden costs. All of Ed’s Garden Services franchisees benefit from a shared administration centre that receives and distributes customer enquiries. Calls are answered professionally and information is gathered and verified before details are passed on to the franchisee.

The franchisee then contacts the customer directly to arrange a meeting and provide a free estimate and a time in which to complete the work. If the customer agrees to the estimate, the work can then be carried out at a time convenient to the client. It is this kind of professional service that is effective in turning one-off jobs into regularly scheduled, repeat business for an Ed’s Garden Services franchisee.

Should the franchisee have the requisite skills or qualifications, they can also offer additional services such as tree removal, fencing, paving, lawn treatment or other garden-related jobs.

The cost of a Ed’s Garden Services franchise varies depending on a number of factors. The franchise fee is £10,995 + VAT, and equipment and start-up costs can add another £3,000 + VAT. The hire or lease of a van suitable or the hire or purchase of a trailer for the business may add to a franchisee’s total investment.

Is financial aid available for a Ed’s Garden Services franchise?

Typically banks will provide up to 70 per cent of the funding, with the franchisee required to provide the rest of start-up costs from their own capital and resources

What support and training does Ed’s Garden Services offer franchisees?

Before making the big decision to invest in this new venture, Ed’s Garden Services invites all its potential franchisees to meet with Ed and spend time shadowing an experienced Ed’s Garden Services operator. That way they will know exactly what is involved in running a franchise.

Training includes use of equipment, use of the Ed’s Jobs scheduling system, how to understand fee structure and contracts, how to estimate jobs effectively, how to market the business, and how to keep business records such as customer contracts, costs and revenue.

Once a territory has been agreed, franchisees will continue to receive ongoing training, support and business coaching once they have begun their business. Franchisees also benefit from a tried-and-tested business model and from the experiences of the company’s other operators. There are regular operator meetings that will allow franchisees to review their business and understand where improvements can be made.

Did you know?

Ed’s Garden Services has outlets available across the UK

Request free information in just 60 seconds!

Take the first step in becoming your own boss!

Middle Name Your Name Your Email

Keep me up to date with franchising news and promotions

Send me free information

By sharing your email, you're agreeing to our privacy policy, cookie policy and terms & conditions.

All franchisees are provided with a bespoke internet-based scheduling system — called Ed’s Jobs — specifically designed to save franchisees administrative time and to enable them to focus on delivering the best possible service to their clients. The system works through a smart phone in real time.

What potential profits can be made from a Ed’s Garden Services franchise?

Because Ed’s Garden Services offers an Initial Work Guarantee for new franchisees, operators are guaranteed enough work to provide them with instant revenue to get them started. As well as work generated locally, new work is also generated centrally through the Ed’s Garden Services website, which generated on average over £10,000 per operator in 2014.

Solid marketing plans created by Ed’s Garden Services and its operators mean that most franchisees will turnover more than £35,000 in their first year and in exceptional cases over £60,000.

There are opportunities to put more than one van on the road and hire staff to take on work should the workload increase to a point where a franchisee cannot cover the whole of their designated territory.

Are there currently any Ed’s Garden Services franchises for sale?

Ed’s Garden Services states that its franchisees can build a thriving operation using its business model and can then cash in by selling the business to another operator when they decide to move on. Ed’s Garden Services has seen examples of resales to both new operators or already established operators wishing to expand their territory.

Ed’s Garden Services also allows its franchisees to split their territory, selling off part of their business to a new or existing operator. Ed’s will be happy to offer guidance from its experience of resales over the years and invite franchisees looking to expand or newcomers wishing to take on an already established business to get in touch to see if there is a franchise currently for sale in the area of their choice.

What is Ed’s Garden Services looking for in their franchisees?

Ed Garden Services is looking for franchisee’s who don’t mind hard work and have green fingers. Franchisees will enjoy a healthy outdoor job and have the right attitude to thrive when they are delivering high quality work. Professionalism and reliability is a must in any job where you work closely with clients at their residence.

The ideal franchisee will have a reasonable level of physical fitness but need not have any experience at professional gardening as the in-depth practical training will provide all you need to deliver the core services of the company.

What territories does Ed’s Garden Services franchisees currently cover?

Ed’s Garden Services franchisees can be found in the following areas: Andover, Ascot, Bournemouth, Brighton & Hove, Bristol, Camberley, Chelsea, Christchurch, Ealing, East Grinstead, Eastleigh, Epsom, Folkestone, Hampton, Harlow, Hemel Hempstead, Hersham, Horsham, Leighton Buzzard, Lewisham, North London, North Maidenhead, West Maidenhead, North and West Norfolk, East Norwich & Broadland, Petts Wood, Ramsgate, Raynes Park, Rustington, Sevenoaks, Sheffield, Sidcup, Southampton, Southbourne, St Ives, Stratford-upon-Avon, Streatham, Sutton Coldfield, Swindon, Thames Ditton, Thurrock, Twickenham, Wimbledon, Woking, Worcester Park and Worthing.

What are Ed’s Garden Services’ terms of agreement and renewal?

The Ed’s Garden Services franchise runs for a five-year term, which can be renewed for a further five years at the end of that period.

How can I get started on investing in my own Ed’s Garden Services franchise?

Ed’s Garden Services says that training starts the moment a new franchisee meets the team. To find out more, or to request further information on franchising with Ed’s Garden Services, click on the ‘Send Enquiry’ button now.