We are excited to announce the newest owner of The Grounds Guys: Stephen Hatley. Like so many other individuals who come to us at FranCoach, Stephen was ready to leave the corporate world behind and start building a lasting legacy for himself and his family. Stephen is excited to be a recognizable name in his community and build lasting relationships with his new franchise.

Who Is Stephen Hatley?

Stephen has worked in the corporate world for years and with a Master’s degree in finance and a minor in economics, he is well-prepared for the task of running a business. He is proud of his accomplishments leading teams both large and small and mentoring fellow team members.

Stephen and his wife Ashley are parents to two young daughters, and they’re thrilled by the opportunity to create something they might one day be able to pass down to their girls. Knowing he wouldn’t get that opportunity in his previous role at a large company, he started looking into franchise ownership. And that’s when he found the Franchising 101 Podcast. 

Why Did Stephen Make a Career Change?

In his role as a Director of Strategic Accounts, Stephen enjoyed working at the executive level and working with talented and smart people. But he found himself feeling stifled by corporate bureaucracy and the lack of a work-life balance.

If you’re looking at franchise ownership, this narrative might be ringing a bell. It’s a very common one. Stephen didn’t feel fulfilled working for somebody else. He wanted to gain back control over his life (personally and professionally), gain financial freedom, and build something to support himself and his family.

He was excited to find a career in which he would have control over his own success or failure. After listening to a few episodes of the Franchising 101 podcast, Stephen reached out to our team at FranCoach for help finding the franchisor that would be his perfect match. 

Why Will Stephen Make a Great Franchise Owner?

As any successful franchise owner knows, following the franchisor’s tried-and-true plan is key – and Stephen will do just that. He values the proven models behind top-tier franchises like The Grounds Guys, and he is excited to get the most out of that supportive brand.

Stephen is also excited to get out and connect in the community. He likes the idea of being the face of his business and building long-term relationships forged by high-quality service. While there’s certainly competition in the lawn care industry, Stephen knows that he will be able to perform at a high level and make his franchise the go-to name in the area.

Why Did Stephen Choose The Grounds Guys?

The Grounds Guys is a lawn care and landscaping brand with strong name recognition in communities across the continent. A Neighborly brand, the company offers strong franchisor support and the opportunity to own a business in a familiar, recession-resistant industry.

Stephen sees The Grounds Guys as an excellent opportunity to grow a quality recurring revenue stream for himself and his family. The brand also offers a wide range of add-on services, making it a one-stop shop for lawn care and landscaping.

Owning a brand that falls under the Neighborly umbrella will also give Stephen a chance to scale his operations over time and potentially even own multiple brands within Neighborly. He is excited to bring The Grounds Guys to his hometown of Mesa and surrounding East Valley cities, where he hopes to become a respected, go-to person in his community when it comes to home services.

Please join our team at FranCoach in congratulating Stephen Hatley and wishing him luck as a new owner of The Grounds Guys.

The Benefits of Working With FranCoach

FranCoach is a national search firm dedicated to working with individuals who are interested in owning a franchise. We have partnered with over 600 of the top franchisors in the country, spanning nearly 70 industries.

Our goal with clients is to help them find the absolute best franchise for them to own. Our goal with our Franchising 101 podcast series is to help educate people on all aspects of franchise ownership.

Reach out to us to learn more about potentially becoming a franchise owner. There’s never any fee for our service, so why not take the first step today toward your better tomorrow?