How much does a Spring-Green franchise cost?
The 2026 SpringGreen Franchise Disclosure Document estimates $118,898 to $135,176 to begin operating a new SpringGreen Franchised Business. The range applies to the standard new-territory model using a $45,000 Initial Franchise Fee for a Territory containing up to 60,000 single-family dwelling units, or SFDUs.
Estimated Initial Investment for the standard new SpringGreen Territory in the March 30, 2026 FDD. The total includes $6,060 to $8,468 of Additional Funds for three months, but it does not resolve every premises, financing, tax, or owner-living cost.
Data basis: Spring-Green Lawn Care Corp., a Delaware corporation and wholly owned subsidiary of Spring-Green Enterprises, Inc.; 2026 Franchise Disclosure Document issued March 30, 2026; Items 5, 6, 7, 8, 10, 11, and 17; standard new Territory, Industry Associate Program, Flex Start Program, equipment lease, and existing-franchise acquisition terms where relevant. Information checked July 21, 2026.
No matching 2026 FDD file was verified on a franchise-controlled public domain, so FDD citations in this article are shown as unlinked Item and page references. The brand's official U.S. franchise website and its official 2026 FDD explainer provide supplemental context but do not replace the Item 7 figures.
Capital snapshot
Sources: 2026 FDD cover; Item 1, pp. 1–3; Item 5, pp. 5–7; Item 7, pp. 14–16.
What is included in the Item 7 investment range?
The 2026 FDD combines franchise payments, operating assets, pre-opening expenses, and three months of Additional Funds in one standard estimate. The low and high totals reconcile to the stated Item 7 categories without adding a separate rent allowance.
Where does the Item 7 range expand?
Miscellaneous Opening Costs create the widest disclosed swing; Technology Equipment and Software has the narrowest range among these variable categories.
Interpretation: the full Item 7 spread is not caused by one universal contingency; it comes from specific variable categories, especially opening licenses, insurance, professional services, and prepaid expenses. Source: 2026 FDD, Item 7, pp. 14–16. Values shown are official ranges, not averages.
Which fixed launch amounts dominate the disclosed budget?
The Initial Franchise Fee and Initial Marketing Campaign Fee are the two largest fixed Item 7 amounts. The chart does not imply that the five bars are the complete investment.
Interpretation: signing and training-stage payments can be more important to near-term cash planning than smaller equipment or supply entries, even though all categories contribute to the official total. Source: 2026 FDD, Item 7, p. 14; equipment treatment explained on p. 15.
How do SFDUs and the Industry Associate Program change the upfront fees?
The standard $45,000 Initial Franchise Fee covers a Territory containing up to 60,000 SFDUs. An approved Industry Associate pays a reduced $27,000 fee for that same maximum Territory size, while any approved area above 60,000 SFDUs adds $0.50 per extra SFDU under either path.
The Territory is also a measurable cost driver
The FDD does not publish a separate Item 7 total for the Industry Associate Program. Its $27,000 Initial Franchise Fee is verified, but subtracting $18,000 from the standard total would create an unofficial estimate because existing licenses, supplies, premises, and other circumstances can also differ. Use the standard $118,898–$135,176 only for the standard new-franchise Item 7 scenario.
The Industry Associate Program is intended for qualifying operators already in a related green-industry business. The FDD says the lower Miscellaneous Opening Costs estimate assumes an Industry Associate may already hold licenses and lawn or pest-control supplies. The program also has a reduced first-season Royalty schedule, discussed below. Sources: 2026 FDD, Item 1, pp. 2–3; Item 5, pp. 5–6; Item 7, pp. 14–16.
When is the money paid before and just after opening?
Spring-Green's largest required payments cluster around Franchise Agreement signing and initial training, while vehicle, technology, travel, licensing, insurance, and working-capital costs are paid as incurred. The FTC franchise-buying guide explains the federal disclosure period; the 2026 FDD states that the disclosure document must be delivered at least 14 calendar days before a binding agreement or franchise-related payment.
For the standard fee, pay $30,000 plus any charge for approved SFDUs above 60,000. The FDD states the standard split using the $45,000 fee; an Industry Associate should verify the timing of its reduced $27,000 fee in the executed documents.
Pay the remaining $15,000 standard franchise-fee balance unless approved for SpringGreen Franchise Fee Financing. A Spring-Green Lease requires at least a 20% equipment down payment; Item 7 estimates $5,601 for all equipment that can be leased.
Normally pay the $37,000 Initial Marketing Campaign Fee, the Initial Property Data Fee up to $16,500 unless financed, the initial supply package generally no more than $2,537, and the computer payment. Flex Start may change only the agreed marketing-fee schedule.
Pay outside suppliers for the production vehicle, Technology Equipment and Software, training travel if in person, licenses, insurance, professional services, prepaid expenses, taxes, shipping, and delivery charges.
Use the included $6,060–$8,468 Additional Funds allowance for specified operating expenses such as payroll excluding owner compensation, supplies, insurance, vehicle fuel and maintenance, software, data plans, Royalty, Advertising Fund contributions, and lease payments when not covered by business receipts.
Sources: 2026 FDD cover; Item 5, pp. 5–7; Item 7, pp. 14–16; Item 10, pp. 21–25.
Which costs are not fully resolved by the official total?
The Item 7 total is an official starting range, not a complete cash forecast for every buyer. Several premises, financing, technology, and personal obligations are excluded or depend on choices made after the FDD estimate.
A home-based setup can avoid the undisclosed office-rent line, but the FDD also permits an approved office or commercial space. A buyer choosing leased premises must obtain site-specific rent, deposit, insurance, and utility figures rather than treating “N/A” as zero.
Sources: 2026 FDD, Item 7, pp. 14–16; Item 11, pp. 29–31.
What fees continue after the Spring-Green business opens?
The continuing cost structure combines percentage fees based on Gross Sales with fixed monthly, annual, per-user, per-truck, and event-triggered charges. The Royalty percentage declines by calendar-year tier, but the Advertising Fund contribution remains 2% of Gross Sales.
| Continuing obligation | Amount or basis | Timing |
|---|---|---|
| Royalty | 10% through $250,000 of annual Gross Sales; 9% above $250,000 through $500,000; 8% above $500,000 | Weekly, 28 days after reporting-week end |
| Advertising Fund contribution | 2% of Gross Sales | Weekly, 28 days after reporting-week end |
| Local Advertising Expenditure | 5% of prior-calendar-year Gross Sales or $18,500, whichever is greater, per Territory | Each calendar year; any shortfall is paid to Spring-Green for the Fund |
| Technology Fee | $260 per month plus individual licenses | When billed |
| Call Center Services | $200–$2,000 per month | Mandatory for the first two years; possible continuation case by case |
| Spring-Green equipment lease, if used | $496–$688 per month for all leaseable equipment in a single Territory under the disclosed example structure | Monthly |
How does Flex Start or Industry Associate change percentage fees?
An approved Flex Start participant is exempt from Royalty and Advertising Fund contributions until the earlier of 180 days after opening or January 1 following opening. An approved Industry Associate then receives first-lawn-care-season Royalty rates of 5%, 4%, and 3% across the same three Gross Sales tiers. These programs change specific fee timing or percentages; they do not erase other operating obligations.
Which fees arise only when a trigger occurs?
Sources: 2026 FDD, Item 1, pp. 2–3; Item 6, pp. 8–13; Item 11, pp. 28–31.
What continuing technology and required-supplier costs need separate attention?
The $260 monthly Technology Fee is only one layer. The 2026 FDD separately discloses Operating Software subscriptions, Microsoft Office licenses, QuickBooks Online, device data plans, bookkeeping, and mandatory call-center services, while Item 8 restricts several purchases to Spring-Green, its affiliate SGE, or approved suppliers.
- Operating Software
- $125 per month for the first user, $55 for each additional user, $6 per truck, $23 for Routing Assistant, and $31 per Mobile Live device.
- Microsoft Office license
- $17 per user per month for Office Online or $32 per user per month for Full Office; at least one Full Office license is required.
- QuickBooks Online
- Currently $115–$275 per month, acquired from a supplier selected by the franchisee.
- Bookkeeping service
- Designated service estimated at approximately $400–$900 per month unless an alternative is approved.
- Device data plan
- Estimated at approximately $60 per month for the smartphone and tablet, depending on provider.
- Education Fee
- $210 per year for the On-Line Learning Center, subject to the Fee Adjustment.
Spring-Green is the only approved supplier of the initial supply package and certain equipment. SGE is the only supplier of marketing materials, forms, reports, and property-data services. A designated accounting service is required unless an alternative is approved. Item 11 also states that there is no contractual cap on the frequency or cost of future required Technology System upgrades. Sources: 2026 FDD, Item 6, pp. 9–13; Item 8, pp. 16–20; Item 11, pp. 29–31.
Does Spring-Green offer financing for the initial costs?
Yes, the 2026 FDD describes limited franchisor financing, an equipment lease, and a third-party program, but none is guaranteed. Approval depends on then-current criteria or credit review, and financing charges are excluded from the Item 7 total.
| Arrangement | Disclosed structure | Important qualification |
|---|---|---|
| SpringGreen Franchise Fee Financing | At least $30,000 down; remaining balance typically financed over five years at 5% above Bank of America Prime | No obligation to approve; business assets secure the note |
| Initial Property Data Fee Financing | Promissory note with five-year maturity beginning on a mutually agreed date; 5% above Bank of America Prime | No obligation to approve; business assets secure the note |
| Spring-Green Lease | At least 20% down, $50 UCC filing fee, usually five years, $496–$688 monthly for all leaseable equipment, and $1 purchase at term end | Payment depends on selected equipment and rate at signing; default can accelerate all payments |
| ALC Financing | $25,000–$100,000 for 36–60 months for specified startup uses | Independent lender; terms and approval depend on credit criteria |
The FDD uses a rate of 5% above Bank of America Prime for its franchise-fee note, property-data note, and equipment lease. Its example used a 6.75% Prime Rate on March 21, 2026, producing an 11.75% annual rate. The rate at signing controls; the Bank of America Prime Rate page is the appropriate place to verify the current benchmark.
The FDD names Advantage Leasing Corp. as the independent provider for ALC Financing. The signed lender documents control any offered amount, rate, collateral, or repayment term; Spring-Green states that it cannot control whether a third-party lender approves financing.
Does Spring-Green disclose a liquid-capital or net-worth minimum?
No fixed Liquid Capital, Net Worth, or Non-Borrowed Funds threshold was identified in the 2026 FDD or the official SpringGreen franchise pages reviewed on July 21, 2026. That absence is not evidence that the franchisor or a lender will accept any funding profile; Item 10 repeatedly states that financing depends on then-current criteria and creditworthiness.
Ask for the current written financial-qualification criteria and separate three numbers before relying on a funding plan: total Item 7 investment, cash required before opening after any approved financing, and any lender or franchisor liquidity/net-worth test. Do not treat Net Worth as cash or assume an equipment or fee-financing approval reduces every upfront category.
How do resale, transfer, renewal, and veteran terms affect cost?
An existing SpringGreen acquisition does not use the new-franchise $37,000 marketing payment automatically. Instead, the buyer owes a Transfer Marketing Campaign Fee equal to the greater of 5% of the acquired business's Gross Sales during the previous 12 full calendar months or the then-current $37,000 fee, per Territory, under a schedule set for the season and closing date.
The official IFA VetFran program information explains the broader program framework; Spring-Green's current FDD and signed documents govern the brand-specific $5,000 treatment. Sources: 2026 FDD, Item 5, pp. 6–7; Item 6, pp. 8–10; Item 17, pp. 40–43.
Why should the 2026 FDD control over a website cost figure?
The verified March 30, 2026 FDD states $118,898–$135,176. By contrast, the official SpringGreen franchise FAQ displayed $117,543–$134,342 when checked July 21, 2026. The difference indicates that the FAQ's total was not synchronized with the current Item 7 table.
Use the 2026 FDD total and its line items for capital planning. An official webpage can be useful for program descriptions, but it should not silently replace a later, verified FDD disclosure when the numbers conflict.
What is the practical Spring-Green funding takeaway?
A standard new SpringGreen Territory requires planning around the official $118,898–$135,176 Estimated Initial Investment, not merely the $45,000 Initial Franchise Fee. The largest fixed launch obligations are the Initial Franchise Fee, $37,000 Initial Marketing Campaign Fee, and Initial Property Data Fee up to $16,500. The widest stated variable category is Miscellaneous Opening Costs at $2,550–$13,952.
The disclosed total already includes three months of Additional Funds, but it excludes owner living expenses, owner salary or draws, debt service, finance charges, and potentially meaningful premises and technology costs. After opening, the Royalty, Advertising Fund contribution, Local Advertising Expenditure, Technology Fee, software licenses, call-center obligation, bookkeeping, and conditional Item 6 fees remain separate continuing commitments.