1851

After nearly a decade with&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/lawndoctor/info">Lawn Doctor*</a>, the lawn care franchise with 640 units nationwide,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/davesatcher/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=top-performing-lawn-doctor-franchisee-diversifies-with-holiday-lighting-heroes-2725722" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Dave Satcher</a> had noticed a trend. Though he’d seen significant growth through acquisition, coming to own six territories throughout Ohio, he consistently found himself navigating a dip in the colder months.This decrease in lawn care work decreased revenue, and seasonal layoffs didn’t allow Satcher to maintain the strong teams he had worked hard to build. In 2023, he decided that this holiday season would be different. Satcher was dedicated to making a change, and when he approached&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericmartinfranchisedevelopment/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=top-performing-lawn-doctor-franchisee-diversifies-with-holiday-lighting-heroes-2725722" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Eric Martin</a>, senior vice president of franchise development at&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/happinestbrands/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=top-performing-lawn-doctor-franchisee-diversifies-with-holiday-lighting-heroes-2725722" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Happinest Brands</a>, about an external holiday lighting business, he learned of the brand’s upcoming&nbsp;<a href="https://holidaylightingheroes.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=top-performing-lawn-doctor-franchisee-diversifies-with-holiday-lighting-heroes-2725722" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Holiday Lighting Heroes</a> launch.1851 Franchise spoke with Satcher to learn more about his background, his journey with&nbsp;<a href="http://lawndoctorfranchise.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=top-performing-lawn-doctor-franchisee-diversifies-with-holiday-lighting-heroes-2725722" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Lawn Doctor</a> and Holiday Lighting Heroes, and his plans for expansion.FEATURE QUESTIONS1851 Franchise: Frame your personal story for us.&nbsp;What did you do before franchising, and how did you decide franchising made sense for you?Satcher:&nbsp;I grew up under the wings of my dad who owned businesses, so I always had this interest in wanting to have a business. He was an electrical contractor, so I went to college to be an electrical engineer, and that didn't work out too well for me because math is not my specialty. So I spent a number of years in the Army; when I got out I didn’t know what to do for a living, so I went into manufacturing. I found that my real passion was process and process improvement.&nbsp;I ended up doing business consulting, but I got burnt out. I ended up in conversations with a franchise coordinator, and they introduced me to Lawn Doctor. I really thought about it, and after living in my home for 11 years, I knew that there were maybe three similar companies in my area, and none of them were really great. There was a need, so I went and met the Lawn Doctor team and got started in the business.1851: What was your perception of franchising prior to becoming a franchisee, and what do you want people to know about franchising now that you are in it?Satcher:&nbsp;I didn’t really have any perceptions of franchising.&nbsp;I really thought, going from working so hard as a consultant, that this would be an easy transition. I had no idea what it was like doing a business. So it was a lot tougher than I thought it was going to be, but it worked out.1851:&nbsp;What made you pick this brand? What excites you most about this company?Satcher: I'm such a process-oriented guy. What I loved about the franchise model was the fact that it was all baked in. I had all the systems and processes and equipment and all those things that went along with an established brand. Lawn Doctor had been around since the mid-60s, and I was pretty intrigued by that.1851:&nbsp;What do you hope to achieve with your business? What are your plans for growth?&nbsp;Satcher:&nbsp;I’ve done a lot of growth through acquisition, and at this point, I have a pretty large territory with a lot of potential in the market. Recently, I was thinking about how to get my business to this next level, and that’s where holiday lighting came in.I had gotten a card in the mail from another holiday lighting franchise. I never really thought about it, but because we have this gap where we basically go on seasonal layoff between Thanksgiving and early spring, I needed a way to get my employees to stay on.When I saw that, I thought that it would be a great way to bring in revenue and keep employees around. I reached out to Eric [Martin] to get his opinion, and he let me know that they were working to launch their own holiday lighting franchise, Holiday Lighting Heroes.I asked him what it would take to get into that space, and I ended up being one of the “guinea pigs” to launch the business with the corporate team. The more I learn about the business, the more excited I get, and the potential I see for that business is pretty unbelievable.1851:&nbsp;What is the one thing about your story you want us to know?Satcher: I’m different than most in this business because I’ve done so many acquisitions. Not only have I bought other Lawn Doctor franchises, but I’ve also bought competitors. My approach has been different.1851:&nbsp;What advice do you have for other people thinking about becoming a franchise owner?Satcher:&nbsp;This is not an easy thing to do. There’s a lot of freedom in being a business owner because you can hire who you want and grow the way you want. But if I had tried to start a business independently, I would’ve spent too many years trying to grow it from the ground up.Elevate yourself quickly. Hire some folks to do those daily roles and make time for yourself to focus on sales, strategy and growing top-line revenue. The quicker you can do that, the quicker you can start enjoying the fruits of your labor.ABOUT LAWN DOCTORSince 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 Diversifies: Holiday Lighting Heroes

1851 Franchise

As he approaches his 10th anniversary with the brand, Dave Satcher has added holiday lighting services to his portfolio to better serve his teams and customers.

Top-Performing Lawn Doctor Franchisee Diversifies With Holiday Lighting Heroes

top-performing-lawn-doctor-franchisee-diversifies-with-holiday-lighting-heroes

Biscuit Belly Franchising

Biscuit Belly - Franchise Freedom - Neesh Patel - Work-Life Balance - 1851 Franchise

Franchise Freedom: Why Biscuit Belly Offers a Better Work-Life Balance

franchise-freedom-why-biscuit-belly-offers-a-better-work-life-balance

Filta Environmental Kitchen Solutions

Filta - Tren Carlos - Franchisee Profile - Mardi Gras - Super Bowl 2025 - New Orleans/Baton Rouge

Filta New Orleans-Baton Rouge Gears Up for Mardi Gras and the Super Bowl

filta-new-orleans-baton-rouge-gears-up-for-mardi-gras-and-the-super-bowl

TWO MEN AND A TRUCK

TWO MEN AND A TRUCK® Celebrates a Record-Breaking 2024 with new Milestones, System Growth and Continued Innovation

two-men-and-a-truck-celebrates-a-record-breaking-2024-with-new-milestones-system-growth-and-continued-innovation

Footprints Floors

Footprints Floors EOY Wrap 2024 - Goals for 2025 - 1851 Franchise

Footprints Floors Reflects on a Landmark Year, Sees 10% Increase in Revenue

footprints-floors-reflects-on-a-landmark-year-sees-10-increase-in-revenue

HomeTeam Inspection Service

HomeTeam Inspection Service - Podcast Launch - December 2024 - 1851 Franchise

HomeTeam Inspection Podcast Takes Franchise Owner Training Into a New Place

hometeam-inspection-podcast-takes-franchise-owner-training-into-a-new-place

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 Resources

What ALEC-Laffer's Report Means for Franchising

Website Awards

Power Rankings

About 1851

Advertise on 1851

Contact 1851 Editorial

Terms of Use

Login

facebook

instagram

twitter

linkedin

youtube

Yum Brands - KFC - Pizza Hut - Terminates Franchise Agreements in Turkey - 1851 Franchise

Yum! Brands Terminates Franchise Agreements in Turkey Due to Non-Compliance

yum-brands-terminates-franchise-agreements-in-turkey-due-to-non-compliance

Recent Franchise News - Why Franchisors Churn Through Marketing Suppliers - 1851 Franchise

Forbes: Four Reasons Why Franchisors Churn Through Marketing Suppliers

forbes-four-reasons-why-franchisors-churn-through-marketing-suppliers

QSR Magazine: Big Chicken Targets Global Expansion

qsr-magazine-big-chicken-aims-for-global-growth

Starbucks Strike Brews Opportunity for the Next Coffee Franchisee

starbucks-strike-brews-opportunity-for-coffee-franchise-hopefuls

I Heart Mac and Cheese - Franchisees Sue I Heart Mac and Cheese - Franchise News - 1851 Franchise

Restaurant Business Online: Franchisees Sue I Heart Mac and Cheese

restaurant-business-online-franchisees-sue-i-heart-mac-and-cheese

Two Attorneys, Restaurant Professionals To Serve Germantown Community With New Paris Baguette Café

two-attorneys-restaurant-professionals-to-serve-germantown-community-with-new-paris-baguette-cafe

Hospitality Veteran Brings Compassionate Senior Care to Napa and Sonoma, California, with Seniors Helping Seniors®

hospitality-veteran-brings-compassionate-senior-care-to-napa-and-sonoma-california-with-seniors-helping-seniors

Local Mother To Open USA Ninja Challenge Franchise in Woodstock, Georgia

local-mother-to-open-usa-ninja-challenge-franchise-in-woodstock-georgia

Local Pet Health Advocates Have Big Plans for Pet Wants Franchise in Roanoke, Texas

local-pet-health-advocates-have-big-plans-for-pet-wants-franchise-in-roanoke-texas

Top-Performing Lawn Doctor Franchisee Diversifies With Holiday Lighting Heroes

MORE STORIES LIKE THIS