For seasoned landscapers and outdoor service operators, growth often comes with a familiar challenge: how to scale efficiently without adding operational complexity. Between labor shortages, inconsistent service quality and the unpredictability of project-based work, many owners begin looking for a more structured, repeatable way to expand.
That’s where Lawn Squad, the fast-growing lawn care franchise under the Authority Brands portfolio, is finding a niche, not as a replacement for existing businesses, but as a strategic addition that enhances them.
For Tim Lake, a longtime landscaper and architect with nearly four decades in the industry, that decision came from both experience and frustration.
“I am a landscaper and architect by trade. I started in that profession because I loved how it combined engineering, architecture and conservation all into one,” Lake said. “Gradually, my company T-Lake added construction, grounds maintenance and more. We became a true design-build-maintain entity. This year will be 36 years with my business.”
Despite his success, Lake saw clear gaps in traditional lawn care, particularly in consistency and scalability. “We were already doing lawn care, but I was never happy with the other people we hired,” he said. “Lawn Squad became a vehicle for getting it right and growing that piece of the pie for us.”
Having known Lawn Squad founder Rob Palmer personally, Lake had a front-row seat to the model's development. “I watched what he did with the company and always told him to franchise the business,” Lake said. “I told him I’d love to be the first franchisee.”
When that opportunity came, Lake didn’t hesitate. “I invested in the franchise around three years ago,” he said. “I got into it because I believed in the systems in place and the way Rob was doing things. He had really built a better model for the lawn care industry.”
One of the biggest differentiators for Lawn Squad, especially for experienced operators, is its service model, which is built for efficiency. “Rob’s technicians were all using ride-on machinery,” Lake said. “That meant you could hire more mature, older operators. From an efficiency standpoint, they could cover a lot more ground than other competitors.”
That operational shift does two things: it increases productivity per technician and opens the labor pool, a major advantage in today’s hiring environment.
Combined with Lawn Squad’s treatment-only model focused on fertilization, weed control and turf health, franchisees can build route density quickly without the variability of mowing or landscaping projects.
For independent operators, building a recognizable brand can take years. Lawn Squad accelerates that process from day one.
“When it comes to marketing, I saw how the brand was selling and how they were already using all the tools to build a brand presence,” Lake said. “There was a lot of support in place already. They were outperforming and outselling the big guys.”
Backed by Authority Brands, Lawn Squad provides franchisees with access to centralized marketing systems, a national call center and proven lead-generation strategies — allowing owners to focus on service delivery rather than chasing every inbound call.
Labor is also one of the biggest challenges in home services, and Lawn Squad addresses it with a structured approach. “When people can see that there is an organized component to the brand, there is more confidence in the permanence of the brand,” he said. “When you look at home services, employees can begin as a tech, grow into a sales manager or a route manager and can also potentially become a franchise owner themselves,” Lake said. “The more of a path you have in place, the better.”
For landscapers and outdoor service companies, Lawn Squad can fit into an existing business rather than forcing a full reset. That gives owners a way to add services without disrupting their existing operations.
“We’ve been able to integrate the business with our existing clients and ensure that they knew everything was staying the same in terms of ownership,” Lake said. “That combination can be especially attractive for owners who want growth that feels more structured and less dependent on adding complexity to the day-to-day business.
“When we look on the ground, our lawns and everything look better. The properties are better, the turf quality is better — real proof in the pudding that the system is right,” Lake said. “It is a system that people can believe in.”
Lawn Squad is increasingly attracting multi-brand and portfolio operators — particularly those already in home services — because it aligns with how modern franchise portfolios are built: scalable, system-driven and supported by infrastructure.
Lawn Squad gives existing operators a way to expand the business they already know, pairing a more efficient service model with marketing support and a revenue stream that relies less on one-off project work.
For more information on franchising with Lawn Squad, visit https://1851franchise.com/lawn-squad.
Lawn Squad
SPONSORED
Lawn Squad is an Authority Brands franchise offering a scalable, turf-health-focused model for landscapers to generate predictable, recurring revenue.
For seasoned landscapers and outdoor service operators, growth often comes with a familiar challenge: how to scale efficiently without adding operational complexity. Between labor shortages, inconsistent service quality and the unpredictability of project-based work, many owners begin looking for a more structured, repeatable way to expand.
That’s where Lawn Squad, the fast-growing lawn care franchise under the Authority Brands portfolio, is finding a niche, not as a replacement for existing businesses, but as a strategic addition that enhances them.
For Tim Lake, a longtime landscaper and architect with nearly four decades in the industry, that decision came from both experience and frustration.
“I am a landscaper and architect by trade. I started in that profession because I loved how it combined engineering, architecture and conservation all into one,” Lake said. “Gradually, my company T-Lake added construction, grounds maintenance and more. We became a true design-build-maintain entity. This year will be 36 years with my business.”
Despite his success, Lake saw clear gaps in traditional lawn care, particularly in consistency and scalability. “We were already doing lawn care, but I was never happy with the other people we hired,” he said. “Lawn Squad became a vehicle for getting it right and growing that piece of the pie for us.”
Having known Lawn Squad founder Rob Palmer personally, Lake had a front-row seat to the model's development. “I watched what he did with the company and always told him to franchise the business,” Lake said. “I told him I’d love to be the first franchisee.”
When that opportunity came, Lake didn’t hesitate. “I invested in the franchise around three years ago,” he said. “I got into it because I believed in the systems in place and the way Rob was doing things. He had really built a better model for the lawn care industry.”
One of the biggest differentiators for Lawn Squad, especially for experienced operators, is its service model, which is built for efficiency. “Rob’s technicians were all using ride-on machinery,” Lake said. “That meant you could hire more mature, older operators. From an efficiency standpoint, they could cover a lot more ground than other competitors.”
That operational shift does two things: it increases productivity per technician and opens the labor pool, a major advantage in today’s hiring environment.
Combined with Lawn Squad’s treatment-only model focused on fertilization, weed control and turf health, franchisees can build route density quickly without the variability of mowing or landscaping projects.
For independent operators, building a recognizable brand can take years. Lawn Squad accelerates that process from day one.
“When it comes to marketing, I saw how the brand was selling and how they were already using all the tools to build a brand presence,” Lake said. “There was a lot of support in place already. They were outperforming and outselling the big guys.”
Backed by Authority Brands, Lawn Squad provides franchisees with access to centralized marketing systems, a national call center and proven lead-generation strategies — allowing owners to focus on service delivery rather than chasing every inbound call.
Labor is also one of the biggest challenges in home services, and Lawn Squad addresses it with a structured approach. “When people can see that there is an organized component to the brand, there is more confidence in the permanence of the brand,” he said. “When you look at home services, employees can begin as a tech, grow into a sales manager or a route manager and can also potentially become a franchise owner themselves,” Lake said. “The more of a path you have in place, the better.”
For landscapers and outdoor service companies, Lawn Squad can fit into an existing business rather than forcing a full reset. That gives owners a way to add services without disrupting their existing operations.
“We’ve been able to integrate the business with our existing clients and ensure that they knew everything was staying the same in terms of ownership,” Lake said. “That combination can be especially attractive for owners who want growth that feels more structured and less dependent on adding complexity to the day-to-day business.
“When we look on the ground, our lawns and everything look better. The properties are better, the turf quality is better — real proof in the pudding that the system is right,” Lake said. “It is a system that people can believe in.”
Lawn Squad is increasingly attracting multi-brand and portfolio operators — particularly those already in home services — because it aligns with how modern franchise portfolios are built: scalable, system-driven and supported by infrastructure.
Lawn Squad gives existing operators a way to expand the business they already know, pairing a more efficient service model with marketing support and a revenue stream that relies less on one-off project work.
For more information on franchising with Lawn Squad, visit https://1851franchise.com/lawn-squad.
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