SOLD - South West Franchise Business Changes Hands

Countrywide Grounds Maintenance is a national franchise of 46 territories, offering services including soft landscaping, tree works, hedge trimming, lawn maintenance, invasive weed treatment etc. The franchise territory covering Cornwall and West and South Devon was established in 1988 and is operated from a depot just on the Cornish side of the border near Plymouth.

The franchise model is preferred by many business owners due to the support given by the franchisor who will usually look after much of the administrative side of a business’s operations such as credit control, personnel matters, legal matters, advertising and website support which leaves the franchisee free to concentrate on the running of their territory.

The South West territory was acquired by Jon Kay in 2017 and he was supported by an Operations Manager and a core of 11 employees with additional staff taken on during the busier months. The clients are nearly all commercial, rather than residential, with over 300 sites being serviced for local authorities, railways, Ministry of Defence, blue-chip companies and others. 

Looking to have a change of direction and pursue other business interests Jon chose to instruct the Exeter based business transfer specialist Beardsley Theobalds to handle the sale. The business was advertised on the main websites in the business transfer industry and a mailshot to suitable people on Beardsley Theobalds’ register of buyers was undertaken. The business attracted interest regionally and nationally and immediately appealed to Tristan Phillips. A deal was agreed and, as is the case with franchise business, the purchaser then had to be approved by the franchisor for them to be comfortable that the performance of the business would be enhanced and grown whilst operating consistent with the brand standards. Approval was granted and, with the Operations Manager remaining in place, the business will continue to offer its services across Devon and Cornwall.

This acquisition through Beardsley Theobalds shows that business purchasers can be open-minded as to the particular industry that the business operates in but they seek to make investments where a business has a good foundation but still offers opportunities for development and, of course, will generate a profit.

This is an example of the business sales handled by Beardsley Theobalds which specialises in the industrial, commercial and business service sectors. 


  • Long and well established second generation franchise business
  • Enviable name and reputation
  • Excellent help and support services provided by franchisor
  • Almost entirely commercial sector clients (private/domestic clients not sought)
  • Services include soft landscaping, tree works, hedge trimming, lawn maintenance, invasive weed management, winter maintenance, gritting, etc.
  • First rate, skilled and reliable workforce supported by seasonal only employees (and complemented by sub-contractors as and when required) well managed by very capable Operations Manager (F/T) and his Administration Assistant (P/T)
  • Very extensively (and expensively) equipped for its trade
  • Turnover £735,000 (51% GP) producing a good level of profit – details of which will be provided upon a confidentiality agreement being signed
  • Genuine scope for significant further growth
  • Available with existing rented business premises or, if preferred, on a relocation basis
  • Offered for sale to enable Managing Director/Company Owner to embark on a (totally non-competing) business project

MARKETING PRICE : Offers around £435,000