1851

<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-demeyer-7bb50946/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=lawn-doctor-franchisee-takes-over-family-business-to-continue-his-parents-legacy-2726354" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">John Demeyer Jr.’s</a> venture into business ownership was over three decades in the making. It all started when his dad, unhappy with his current career, decided to seek out an entrepreneurial opportunity.&nbsp;Growing up, Demeyer worked for his parents’&nbsp;<a href="https://lawndoctorfranchise.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=lawn-doctor-franchisee-takes-over-family-business-to-continue-his-parents-legacy-2726354" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Lawn Doctor*</a> franchise on and off throughout the years, while trying out a few ventures of his own along the way. He always knew that, eventually, he would buy out his parents and take on the family business; he officially did so in 2020, also buying out the neighboring franchise territory for good measure.1851 Franchise spoke with Demeyer about his journey into franchising with&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/lawndoctor/info">Lawn Doctor</a> and his plans for the future.1851 Franchise: Frame your personal story for us.&nbsp;How did you become a franchisee with Lawn Doctor?John Demeyer Jr.:&nbsp;My parents started the business in 1987. They found out about the concept because Lawn Doctor was servicing my grandmother's lawn. At the time, my dad hated his job, so my grandmother suggested he come and talk to the franchise owners who took care of her lawn because she thought it might be something he’d like to do.&nbsp;We’ve grown very close with that adjoining franchise over the years. When they found out that my parents were retiring, they said, “Well then, we want to retire, too!” I ended up buying out both of them within a month of each other.&nbsp;In my younger years, I’d worked on and off with them. I had my own landscape business and a few other projects through college. My plan was always, at some point, to buy my parents out and take over the family business.My wife— or rather, soon-to-be wife at that time — was working for my parents to get through nursing school. There were a lot of technological changes and my parents asked me to come back and help out. I ended up coming back and working with my parents in 2009 and continued working with them until we bought them out in 2020.&nbsp;1851:&nbsp;What do you love most about this company?Demeyer:&nbsp;The brand is supported well by the parent company, which is a great working relationship to have. I can count on them for anything I need.&nbsp;This is a great industry to be in, as well. It’s something that people are generally happy to have as a service. Mainly you are dealing with people who want their house and lawn to look nice, and that is something we can really help them achieve.&nbsp;1851:&nbsp;What do you hope to achieve with your business? What are your plans for growth?&nbsp;Demeyer:&nbsp;We are focusing right now on increasing the services we provide for each customer within our existing territories. We do tick control, for example, on top of lawn care, so we want our customers to be aware of all of our service lines.1851:&nbsp;What is the one thing about your story you want us to know?Demeyer:&nbsp;Working in a family business can be very rewarding and sometimes tough. I was fortunate to work closely for years with my parents while I was taught how they had been doing things successfully for 30-plus years. We sometimes had disagreements on how things should be done but we always worked through it and the power of the new ideas and years of experience generally led us to a good outcome. Purchasing the business from them in the end was a great life decision for myself, my family and [my parents] as it provided them with retirement income for years to follow!1851:&nbsp;What advice do you have for other people thinking about becoming a franchise owner?Demeyer:&nbsp;Consider your franchise choice carefully and do your research. It’s nice to have that support and the brand awareness. As a startup, that name recognition is really helpful.1851: Do you have any plans to pass the business down once again some day?Demeyer:&nbsp;My children are young and they seem interested right now, but there is no pressure whatsoever. If they are interested, that’s great. If not, that’s fine too. If they are interested, I have to keep working longer!&nbsp;About Lawn Doctor:&nbsp;Since its first franchise in 1967, Lawn Doctor has established itself as a leader in the lawn care services industry through innovative technology, its ability to satisfy the needs of consumers on a national level, and its development and expansion within the industry. Lawn Doctor specializes in treatment and conditioning services, such as fertilization, weed control, seeding, aeration and tree and shrub care. The Lawn Doctor brand has hundreds of locally owned and operated franchises and is the #1 ranked lawn care franchise in the United States.&nbsp; Lawn Doctor is a 2023 Franchise 500 brand, ranking no. 79 for its financial strength and stability, unit growth and brand power.&nbsp;

Lawn Doctor Franchisee Takes Over Family Business 

1851 Franchise

John Demeyer Jr.’s parents bought a Lawn Doctor franchise in 1987. Now, over 35 years later, he is the business owner of 10 territories across Connecticut.

This brand page has been paid for by 1851. Content within this page that is paid will showcase a Sponsored icon. This means the brand has engaged 1851 FRANCHISE to write the content. Content without the Sponsored Icon is aggregated media placements the brand earned. Questions can be sent to editorial@1851franchise.com

Lawn Doctor Franchisee Takes Over Family Business To Continue His Parents’ Legacy

lawn-doctor-franchisee-takes-over-family-business-to-continue-his-parents-legacy

TruBlue Home Service Ally

Build a Business That Supports Your Lifestyle Goals With TruBlue Home Service Ally Franchise

 trublue-home-service-ally-lifestyle-franchise-success

Layne's Chicken Fingers

Photo of Layne's Chicken Fingers restaurant with "Now Open" inflatable on roof

Layne’s Chicken Fingers Opening Blueprint Drives Success From Day One

franchise-opening-playbook

Right at Home

Veterans, Army, Navy, Right at Home franchisees, Veterans Day

Veterans Excel as Right at Home Franchisees: Here's Why

veterans-in-franchising-right-at-home-success

The Cleaning Authority

Why This Corporate McDonald’s Rep Decided To Open His Own Franchise With The Cleaning Authority

kent-lewis-franchise-success

KidStrong Franchising, LLC

KidStrong Wraps Up Q3 With First Manhattan Location, 45 New Franchises and Record-High Attendance

kidstrong-q3-growth-2025

Buying a Franchise Masterclass

 Franchise Opportunities

Get Support Buying a Franchise

How to Buy a Franchise White Paper

How to Buy a Franchise

How to Sell Franchises

How to Grow a Franchise

Find a Franchise Supplier

1851 Franchise Opportunities

Franchisor News

Franchisor Power Rankings

FranCamp Mastermind Summit

Franchise Development Website Builder

Franchise Resources

What ALEC-Laffer's Report Means for Franchising

Website Awards

Power Rankings

About 1851

Advertise on 1851

Contact 1851 Editorial

Terms of Use

1851 Login

GROWTH CLUB LOGIN

facebook

instagram

twitter

linkedin

youtube

houses, Why Top Franchises of 2025 Outperform Independent Businesses

Why the Top Franchises of 2025 Outperform Independent Businesses

how-franchises-outperform-independent-business-2025-tech-data

Photo of Happinest Brands teams standing together in front of branded vehicles

Happinest Brands Continues Strong 2025 Trajectory With Major Q3 Growth and Strategic Wins

happinest-brands-q3-franchise-growth

Franchise Owners Step Up To Support Communities During Government Shutdown - 1851 Franchise

Franchise Owners Step Up To Support Communities During Government Shutdown

franchise-community-support-shutdown

Slim Chickens Opens R&D Center at World Headquarters To Drive Menu Innovation

slim-chickens-rd-center-fayetteville

Nearly 40% of Americans Are Eating Out Less as High Prices Redefine Dining Habits

nearly-40-of-americans-are-eating-out-less-as-high-prices-redefine-dining-habits

image of jerome hanway from right at home Las Cruces, New Mexico 1851 franchise franchisee spotlight

Jerome Hanway Is Building His Right at Home Franchise Around His Mission To Serve

right-at-home-franchise-las-cruces-jerome-hanway

image of michael panos and michel panos, owners of mellow mushroom in Atlanta

The Panos Family’s Role in Preserving Mellow Mushroom’s Character — and Expanding in Atlanta

mellow-mushroom-franchise-panos-restaurant-group-metro-atlanta

1851 Franchisee Spotlight graphic with Nisha Patel, Disha Barot, and BIGGBY COFFEE logo

Two Women Bring BIGGBY® COFFEE to Georgia With a Mission to Create Community-Focused Gathering Spots

biggby-coffee-georgia-franchise-launch

photo-of-laynes-chicken-fingers-dalton-dennis-southern-oregon

23-Year-Old Entrepreneur Brings Soon to Be Famous Chicken™ to Southern Oregon With 3-Unit Layne’s Chicken Fingers Franchise Signing

laynes-chicken-fingers-dalton-dennis-southern-oregon

A Practical Playbook: Who To Call First When Franchising Your Business

franchising-your-business-who-to-call-first

Photo of group of dogs standing together in day care facility

Top Pet Boarding and Day Care Franchise Opportunities for 2025

top-pet-boarding-daycare-franchises

NJCAR v. Ford - New Jersey Supreme Court Limits Standing Under Franchise Practices Act

New Jersey Supreme Court Limits Standing Under Franchise Practices Act

new-jersey-franchise-practices-act-njcar-v-ford

image of franchise deep dive from 1851 franchise on doody calls franchise authority brands

DoodyCalls Franchise Costs, Fees, Profit and Data for 2025

doodycalls-franchise-deep-dive

Lawn Doctor Franchisee Takes Over Family Business To Continue His Parents’ Legacy

MORE STORIES LIKE THIS