SBA 7(a) loan outcomes · FY2010–FY2019 cohort · Statuses as of June 30, 2026 · Last updated August 17, 2026
Landscaping Services Franchise Failure Rates: SBA Loan Defaults for 4 Brands
Landscaping Services franchises charged off 7.0% of SBA 7(a) loans approved FY2010–FY2019, versus 10.2% for all franchises and 8.0% for all SBA borrowers. This page tracks 4 brands: default rates ranged from Lawn Doctor (4.2%) to The Grounds Guys (36.4%). Source: U.S. SBA FOIA dataset, statuses as of June 30, 2026.
How do Landscaping Services franchises perform on SBA loans?
Across the 4 Landscaping Services brands tracked here, 125 SBA 7(a) loans were approved between fiscal 2010 and 2019 and 30 were charged off — a pooled rate of 24.0% for these brands against a 7.0% benchmark for all Landscaping Services franchise loans. 3 brands with 20+ loans ran at more than twice the industry benchmark; 0 brands with 40+ loans recorded zero defaults. Statuses as of June 30, 2026.
- Brands tracked4
- SBA 7(a) loans, FY2010–2019125
- Charged off30
- Pooled rate, these brands24.0%
- Landscaping Services benchmark (all franchise loans)7.0%
- All-franchise benchmark10.2%
- All SBA borrowers8.0%
- Lowest rateLawn Doctor · 4.2%
- Highest rateThe Grounds Guys · 36.4%
Which Landscaping Services franchise brands have the highest and lowest SBA default rates?
Every Landscaping Services brand with at least five resolved SBA 7(a) loans, sorted from highest to lowest default rate. Click a column heading to re-sort; use the filter to find a brand.
| Brand | Loans | Defaults | Rate | vs industry avg | Loans since 2020 | Early charge-offs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Grounds Guys | 55 | 20 | 36.4% | 5.2x | 162 | 20 |
| U.S. Lawns | 22 | 5 | 22.7% | 3.2x | 27 | 1 |
| Monster Tree Service | 24 | 4 | 16.7% | 2.4x | 58 | 2 |
| Lawn Doctor | 24 | 1 | 4.2% | 0.6x | 42 | 1 |
* Small sample (5–19 loans): rate shown for completeness; treat as a diligence flag, not a verdict. Loans since 2020 and early charge-offs are counts only — that cohort is too young for a rate.
Frequently asked
- Which Landscaping Services franchises have the highest SBA default rates?
- Among Landscaping Services brands with 20 or more SBA 7(a) loans approved FY2010–FY2019, the highest charge-off rates were The Grounds Guys (36.4%), U.S. Lawns (22.7%), Monster Tree Service (16.7%). Source: U.S. SBA FOIA dataset, statuses as of June 30, 2026.
- What is the Landscaping Services franchise SBA default rate benchmark?
- Landscaping Services franchise borrowers charged off 7.0% of SBA 7(a) loans approved FY2010–FY2019, compared with 10.2% for all franchises and 8.0% for all SBA borrowers.
Cite this page
Franchise Default Rates (2026). Landscaping Services franchise SBA 7(a) default rates, FY2010–FY2019 cohort: 4 brands, pooled 24.0%. Derived from U.S. SBA FOIA data, loan statuses as of June 30, 2026.
https://franchisefailurerates.com/industry/landscaping-services/ · Data & methodology · Download the dataset (CSV)