Should a buy a franchise?

[Canary96]

I am thinking of buying a landscaping / design franchise however has the gardening bubble burst ? What is the current state of the market ?

[Octavius]

Definitely people are less inclined to gardening at this time of the year.  Although many people jumped on the groundforce et al bandwagon, there will still be people who won't find the time or just don't have the inclination to do their own gardening.  Generally they are the wealthy or older people who are unable to to do the 'heavy' stuff.  There will also be the housebuyers who want a garden overhaul but don't have the technical know-how.

I think it really depends on the area you would be running it from (is there an abundance of large residences with large gardens?  Is there a high population of old people who will need a gardener once a week? etc etc).  Also, look at the planned business turnover of the franchise, what competition is in the area. 

[Canary96]

The franchise does not include maintenance only design and landscaping. Do people really spend thousands of pounds on their gardens ?

[Octavius]

Near where I live, they might do (houses down the road from me are �1m+ and have massive gardens with pools).  Perhaps you could market a new landscaping and design service (for people like me) where they don't have to spend thousands unless they really want to.  I wouldn't discount a maintenance service though because the houses mentioned above have large lawns, trees and hedges etc that might need that specialist touch. 

[Canary96]

Are there lots of people like you then who would like a nicely designed garden but only want to spend a few thousands rather than 10's of thousands ?

[FastBarry]

Couldn't you just buy one of them CD computer garden design packages from PC World or somewhere and  use the money you would have spent on the Franchise for a bit of advertising. Don't rely on it to give you a full time income either. Hope you have a few irons in the fire.

[Canary96]

Mmm thnaks FastBarry i see they don't call you fast for nothing !! The franchise costs �40k I could do a lot advertising for that. The franchise is for a design and build company not just design. Do you think that being a landscape gardener wouldn't pay me a full time income - worrying - I hadn't thought of that.

[FastBarry]

Canary, I would have thought that would be a main concern that a business may or may not keep you in the style to which you have been accustomed.

How are you financing, cash? bank loan? mortgage?

You going to make enough to pay all the usual bills ?

How are other Franchisees doing?

How much professional guidance have you sought.

I don't want to put a damper on things,but,if it all goes T**ts up you are going to be paying off 40k for an awful long time.

Any way shouldn't the franchiser be giving you all this sort of advice. Nah, guess they just want your 40k.

All I'm saying is be very careful before making any commitment.

 

 

 

All I'm saying is, be very careful before making any commitment

[Canary96]

e saying and yes I have done all that you suggested. The issue I have is that the other franchises have done very well and I mean some have done very well turning over �140k in first year. It all seems to be too easy. I just wanted to get a reaction "from the street" as it where rather than hand picked people to speak to me. Whats your gut reaction. I am financing the deal myself I will have to use about 1/3rd of my redundancy money to do it and I do have a regular income from other sources so that's not the risk for me . I want this to be a success so I wanted to know what "real" people thought !