with them directly, and by doing that, they are then forced to have to change and adopt the sort of business practices that we use,” says Founder and Chief Executive Officer Mike Andes. Some of Augusta Lawn Care’s stellar practices include 24/7 phone support, secure credit card filing and storage, automation, Pay for Performance (P4P), profit sharing, and more accessible career progression opportunities. Today, it’s easy to see the results of that insight, as Augusta Lawn Care Services proudly stands at 150 franchise locations and counting! Central to Augusta Lawn Care’s success is its strategic investment in technology. Unlike many competitors who rely heavily on traditional methods,Augusta has embraced a forward-thinking approach. “We do use AI, that’s the difference with us… we have our own AI agent, his name is Max… we train him and teach him all industry-specific words, so that when a client comes for lawn care or landscaping, he understands,” Andes explains. This franchise has also invested in an advanced CRM system called CRM Co-Pilot, which all of its franchisees use.The CRM platform was founded and developed by Andes as well. This technology not only streamlines operations but also ensures that franchisees can offer competitive pricing to customers without compromising service quality. CHANGING THE INDUSTRY THROUGH FRANCHISEE SUPPORT The emphasis on integrating software and artificial intelligence (AI) into its operations reflects a broader trend in technology: as these tools evolve, their costs decrease and their effectiveness improves. On the contrary, high-quality labor has only become harder to secure. However, this presents a rare opportunity for the franchise to provide a solution to a problem that has only just begun to show itself. “I know that labor in general, regarding home 130 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE VOLUME 11, ISSUE 10
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