Owning His Future: Jeremy’s Road to a Scalable Lawn Pride Business

For Lawn Pride® franchise owner Jeremy Hunley, building his business in Lebanon, Tennessee, has never felt like a job.

“I don’t wake up every day and dread going in,” he says. “I truly love what I do.” That feeling, rare for many careers, was the spark that led Jeremy to transform his passion for turf care into a full-time, fulfilling business of his own.

Before franchising, Jeremy spent 12 years as a real estate appraiser, a career that never clicked as he'd hoped. He describes it as an eight-to-five grind, a routine he eventually realized he no longer loved. But throughout all those years, one thing consistently brought him joy: caring for his own lawn. Mowing, treating, nurturing, he loved the process and the results. “I eventually just said, why not make money doing it too?”

One day, a random ad on LinkedIn caught his attention and led him down the road of franchising—specifically toward Neighborly® and Lawn Pride. The more he learned, the more he saw an opportunity that aligned perfectly with his skills, his passion, and the lifestyle he wanted for his family. After connecting with a franchise developer, meeting VP of Franchise Development, and flying to Indianapolis for Meet the Team Day, he knew he had found the right fit. “And here we are,” he says with a smile.

What Jeremy values most today is the freedom that comes with ownership. As a franchise owner, he’s the one making decisions—big or small. That autonomy, paired with the ability to work outdoors doing something he genuinely enjoys, has transformed his day-to-day life. But the impact extends beyond his work. “Being a business owner allows me to be at home with my family more,” he shares. “It’s been a true blessing for us.”

The transition into ownership was made smoother by Lawn Pride’s support from day one. Whether it was operational guidance, onboard coaching, or answering the countless questions that come with launching a business, the Lawn Pride team was always there. “They were awesome to work with—great partners,” Jeremy says. “I’m very thankful for their support.”

Equally important has been the collaboration with fellow franchise owners. For Jeremy, being in constant communication with others in the system, sharing what they’re seeing in the field, discussing product decisions, talking through challenges—has been invaluable. “There’s always more than one way to do things,” he explains. “Being able to bounce ideas around helps me see things outside the box. It’s truly beneficial.”

Looking ahead, Jeremy’s vision is big. He hopes to grow beyond a single location and eventually own multiple Lawn Pride franchises across the Southeast. “That’s my goal,” he says. “To continue growing this franchise and parlay that into more and more locations.”

For Jeremy, Lawn Pride has given him more than a business. It has given him purpose. Freedom. A lifestyle he loves. And a future he’s excited to build...—one lawn, one customer, and one opportunity at a time.