In 2015, David took the decision to go into business for himself. After having worked behind a desk for over 10 years, he wanted to operate a business in the fresh air, where he preferred to be. He decided on a franchise business as he liked the idea of having a support network and access to advise when he needed it.

“After doing my research on TruGreen and after speaking to Steve Welch about the business model, I knew it was the right choice for me. It joined up my desire of working outdoors in the fresh air, my gardening hobby and getting the safety of having a full team of support behind me to help run the business should I need it.

“The training was everything that was promised and more. It was a thorough, detailed course outlining all the possible things that I would encounter on a day-to-day basis. We covered everything from different types of lawn disease to different types of pests and how to deal with them all individually. The course gave me more than enough information on how to deal with everything. The training doesn’t just consist of a two week classroom course though; I am nearly a year into my business and the training is still ongoing. When you have someone like Steve on the end of the phone, it’s hard not to call him and ask for help, which he is always more than happy to give.”

After the first three months of starting his business, David acquired 21 regular customers. Now having been in operation for just under a year, David has 55 regular customers and a further eight who have called him for ad-hoc treatments during the past year. Over the next five years, David plans to operate a multi-van business, employing two members of staff and achieving a minimum turnover of £150,000, helping him to purchase of a second territory.

David struggled initially with time management when starting his business. His enthusiasm for the outdoors made him want to be out in the field every working hour, however with experience and guidance he soon understood that time needs to also be spent on administration such as stock control, invoicing and accounts.

He advises: “If it’s right for you, do it. Of course, do all your due diligence to be sure it is right for you. Be prepared to put in a lot of hours and a lot of hard work at the beginning but the rewards don’t take long to come through. You’re your own boss; the sense of pride and ownership you get when you go back to a lawn you’ve treated and you see how well it has progressed is second to none. Best job I’ve ever had!”