His involvement in motor retailing for more then 30 years was a significant factor in his decision to become self employed, as he could not envisage another ten years or more doing a job that was no longer delivering any personal satisfaction.

He said: “The prospect of ‘doing it for myself’ was highly motivating and I always felt that with a management  background heavily biased towards sales, all the ingredients were there, and that given the right franchise opportunity, my future success was more likely.”

His decision to invest in a TruGreen professional lawn care franchise was based in part on a lifelong interest in all things horticultural. Having carried out in depth research into the basis of this particular programme, he felt it was a route that offered him an opportunity to grow his own business from scratch in a region that he believed had huge potential.

Among the benefits of owning a TruGreen franchise, he explains, is the opportunity to work outdoors in some stunning gardens and in all weathers, and feel that bit closer to nature throughout the seasons.

Professional back up and support were another fundamental requirement, with telephone and email support and personal visits from a member of the network management team forming an integral part of the franchise package.

Mr Davy is now into his second year of franchise ownership and says that his only regret is that he didn’t do it ten years earlier.

He added: “The old adage ‘you get out of something what you put into it’ is especially true when you work for yourself, but there is a greater feeling of satisfaction knowing that what has been achieved is really down to your own efforts entirely. I work hard, but always make time to enjoy my golf, because I believe that  flexibility in your working hours is a key element of self employment.”

Even at such as early stage of the business, Mr Davy says that results are encouraging, and he is now looking ahead and deciding how to implement the extra resources that will be required to meet the increasing demand for his TruGreen services.

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