How Mike Andes Built a 150-Location Lawn Care Franchise

What does it take to scale a lawn care business from a single mower to more than 150 franchise locations? In this in-depth interview, Mike Andes, founder of Augusta Lawn Care and one of the leading voices in the home-services industry, breaks down the systems, mindset, and strategies behind his rapid franchise expansion.Mike shares how he went from starting college at 13, to nearly pursuing a medical career, to ultimately building an eight-figure lawn care empire. In this episode, we cover:• How Augusta grew from zero to 150+ locations• Why leadership becomes more important than sales at scale• The most common mistakes small operators make when expanding• How the P4P (pay-for-performance) model increases labour efficiency• The role of content, branding, and media in franchise growth• What Mike learned from attending Jim’s Mowing training in Australia• The impact of simplifying services and tightening route density• Where AI and robotics will reshape the industry over the next decade• Practical steps any operator can implement immediately to improve profitabilityWhether you’re a franchisee, a franchisor, or an independent operator aiming to grow, this episode offers clear, actionable insights into building a scalable and sustainable service business.