What Is the Conserva Irrigation Franchise Opportunity?
Company Overview and Industry
Conserva Irrigation is a franchise in the lawn irrigation and outdoor services industry, offering water-efficient sprinkler system installation and maintenance. Founded in 2010 by Russ Jundt with support from Outdoor Living Brands, Conserva began franchising in 2017. The brand is built on a mission of water conservation – it’s the only irrigation franchise founded on reducing water waste. Over the past several years, Conserva Irrigation has expanded rapidly to become one of the largest irrigation contractors in the U.S., with around 200 franchise locations operating across the country as of 2025. This first-mover advantage in a niche sector gives Conserva franchisees the clout of a national brand in what was previously a mom-and-pop dominated field. The landscape irrigation market itself is significant – about a $7.1 billion sector – and Conserva’s eco-friendly focus helps differentiate it within that growing industry according to sharpsheets.io. In short, Conserva Irrigation represents an opportunity to join a home services franchise that is purpose-driven (sustainability) and backed by a robust parent company in Outdoor Living Brands.
What Franchisees Get
Franchise Services: Conserva Irrigation franchise owners provide a full range of irrigation services to clients. This includes sprinkler system design and installation, repairs, seasonal maintenance (system blowouts and startups), upgrades of existing systems for efficiency, and even drainage solutions. Franchisees serve both residential homeowners and commercial properties – essentially anyone with a lawn or landscape that needs efficient watering. By addressing everything from minor repairs to new installations, a Conserva franchise captures multiple revenue streams within its territory.
Support and Tools: As a franchisee, you’re not expected to be an irrigation expert from day one. Conserva provides extensive training and ongoing support to get new owners up to speed. New franchisees go through a comprehensive training program (including online prep, a 5-day classroom orientation, and 5 days of hands-on field training in Richmond, VA). During training, owners learn irrigation system design, troubleshooting, the proprietary “System Efficiency Score” audit process, sales, and business management. After launch, ongoing support includes a dedicated business coach (with weekly coaching calls and annual site visits), marketing assistance, and a peer franchisee network.
Conserva equips its franchisees with modern technology as well. The company has a proprietary CRM and field service software that streamlines scheduling, billing, and customer management – minimizing paperwork and human error in daily operations. Franchise owners also benefit from Conserva’s partnerships: notably a strategic alliance with Toro® and SiteOne Landscape Supply. This preferred supplier relationship gives franchisees pricing discounts on irrigation equipment and parts, which helps lower cost of goods and improve margins. Additionally, Conserva’s affiliation with Outdoor Living Brands opens up lead generation opportunities. Sister brands (like Archadeck or Outdoor Lighting Perspectives under the OLB umbrella) and Toro’s customer base can funnel referrals to Conserva franchisees, providing a built-in list of potential clients in need of irrigation services. The franchisor has even secured national accounts – large corporate or chain clients – that franchisees can service locally for immediate revenue. Overall, a Conserva Irrigation owner gets a turnkey system: marketing materials, technology tools, training, supplier deals, and a support network designed to help ramp up a new franchise quickly.
Startup Costs and Ongoing Fees
Investing in a Conserva Irrigation franchise requires a moderate initial investment, typically between $125,000 and $160,000 total. This range includes all the necessary startup costs: a $49,500 franchise fee, equipment and tools (estimating $3K–$5K for basic tools and up to $10K for an outfitted service vehicle), initial inventory of sprinkler parts (~$7.5K–$10K), a small storage solution for parts, as well as $40,000 earmarked for initial marketing to jumpstart customer acquisition. Notably, because this is a home-based/mobile business, you won’t need to invest in a retail storefront or office space at launch – the business can be run from a home office and a work vehicle, keeping real estate costs low. Beyond the upfront investment, Conserva requires franchisees to have at least $50,000 in liquid capital and a $250,000 net worth for financial qualification.
Like most franchises, Conserva Irrigation charges ongoing fees. The royalty fee is a tiered percentage of gross revenue: 8% on the first $500K in sales per year, 7% on revenue from $500K–$1M, 6% for $1M–$1.5M, and 5% on any revenue above $1.5M. This incentivizes franchisees as their business grows (royalty percentage drops at higher sales volumes). In addition, franchisees contribute 1.5% of revenue to a national marketing fund, which supports brand advertising and materials. There’s also a modest $300 per month technology/marketing fee that covers the cost of the CRM system, website, and digital marketing support. Other ongoing costs will include typical business expenses such as insurance, fuel and maintenance for your vehicle, and wages for any technicians you employ. Conserva is usually operated with a small team of 2–3 employees (technicians/crew) to handle the field work, which helps keep payroll manageable.
Earnings Potential: A critical part of evaluating any franchise is understanding what franchisees can earn. Conserva Irrigation does include a Financial Performance Representation (Item 19) in its Franchise Disclosure Document. According to recent franchise disclosures, the average annual revenue per Conserva Irrigation franchise unit is around $700,000 (based on data from 2022–2023). This suggests that a mature Conserva franchise, after a few years of growth, can generate over half a million dollars in sales annually. Profit margins in the irrigation business typically range from about 15% up to 20%, depending on how efficiently the owner manages expenses. Using those assumptions, a franchise doing $700K a year might net roughly $100,000–$140,000 in annual operating profit. Early-stage franchises will be lower; one analysis noted that newer Conserva locations averaged about $267,000 in revenue, which at a 15% margin would be roughly $40,000 profit in the first year or two. The encouraging takeaway is that the business scales – as you build your customer base (through recurring maintenance plans and new installs), the revenue can grow significantly. In summary, Conserva’s financial model involves moderate upfront cost, standard franchise fees, and an earnings trajectory that builds over time as contracts accumulate.
How the Industry Itself Compares
When comparing the irrigation services industry to the commercial cleaning industry, there are some stark differences in business dynamics. Below, we’ll look at advantages of Conserva’s irrigation sector and then contrast them with the fundamentals of the commercial cleaning business franchise sector. It’s important to honestly weigh these factors – while Conserva Irrigation offers unique benefits in its space, the commercial cleaning industry has its own strengths that make it a compelling alternative for long-term stability and growth.
Conserva Irrigation Industry Advantages
Operating in the lawn irrigation industry means tapping into a large and growing market tied to property maintenance and environmental awareness. Some advantages of Conserva’s irrigation franchise industry include:
- Growing Demand for Water Conservation: With droughts and rising utility costs, both homeowners and commercial property managers are seeking water-saving solutions for landscape irrigation. Conserva’s entire brand identity is built around saving water (using smarter sprinkler technology and proper maintenance). This gives franchisees a purpose-driven selling point that can attract environmentally conscious customers. It also aligns with public initiatives to reduce water waste – a trend likely to strengthen over time.
- High-Value Services: Installing or repairing irrigation systems is a specialized trade that customers typically cannot DIY easily. Franchisees provide expert consultations, technical installations, and ongoing service plans. These jobs can carry a relatively high ticket price – for example, installing a new multi-zone sprinkler system can run in the thousands of dollars. In that sense, a single project in irrigation can generate more revenue than many single cleaning jobs, which might make it attractive for those looking to maximize each customer transaction.
- Seasonal Surge, Off-Season Prep: The irrigation business tends to have a strong seasonal cycle. Spring and summer bring peak demand for installations and repairs when watering needs are highest. While this means revenue is concentrated in certain months, it also allows savvy owners to plan ahead (hiring extra temp workers in summer, then scaling down in winter). Off-season (fall/winter) isn’t completely idle either – franchisees can generate income from system winterization (blowing out lines before freeze) and marketing in preparation for spring. Some entrepreneurs appreciate this seasonal rhythm, as it can allow for some downtime or focus on business planning in the off-season.
- Home Services Synergy: Conserva Irrigation being part of the Outdoor Living Brands group hints at cross-selling opportunities. If you own a Conserva franchise, you might receive customer leads from sister home-service franchises (like outdoor lighting or decking). The irrigation market itself is somewhat less crowded with large franchises, so Conserva franchisees often compete mainly against independent local contractors. Being a branded franchise with corporate marketing support can give a competitive edge in professionalism and credibility. In fact, Conserva is touted as the first national franchise in irrigation, meaning franchise owners benefit from that pioneer status and the backing of a well-known industry name.
In summary, the irrigation sector provides meaningful, tangible services (customers see their lawns thriving and water bills dropping), and Conserva’s model adds the benefit of a “green” mission. If you enjoy an outdoor, physical industry with big seasonal projects, and want to be part of a newer franchise category with potentially less saturation, Conserva’s industry might appeal to you.
Compared to Commercial Cleaning Industry
Now, let’s compare those points to the commercial cleaning industry, where our Assett Franchise operates. Commercial cleaning (janitorial services for offices, schools, medical facilities, etc.) is in many ways a simpler, more stable business when viewed alongside irrigation. Here are key advantages of the commercial cleaning industry:
- Massive Year-Round Market: Commercial cleaning is a huge $100+ billion market in the U.S., serving virtually every business sector. Critically, demand is spread out evenly throughout the year – buildings need cleaning in all seasons, continuously. Unlike lawn irrigation which slows in winter or is weather-dependent, cleaning contracts run 12 months a year with no off-season. This means revenue is recurring and steady, not peaking and dipping dramatically seasonally. Moreover, the market is so large and fragmented that no single company dominates, giving new franchise entrants plenty of room to win clients.
- Essential, Recession-Resistant Service: Cleaning is fundamentally an essential service for businesses and institutions. Regardless of the economy, offices must be kept clean for health and professionalism; schools, hospitals, and stores can’t skip janitorial services. This makes commercial cleaning highly recession-resistant – even during downturns, companies might trim budgets but they cannot eliminate cleaning without risking sanitation and compliance issues. By contrast, services like irrigation or luxury home improvements are more “optional” and often the first to be postponed in a recession. The COVID-19 era underscored how critical cleaning and disinfecting services are, further cementing cleaning as a “must-have” operation in any environment.
- Recurring Revenue & Contractual Clients: One of the biggest benefits of commercial cleaning franchises is the recurring revenue model. Franchisees typically secure long-term contracts with clients (monthly or yearly agreements to clean a facility regularly). This means once you land a contract, it provides a predictable income stream every week or month. Over time you can accumulate multiple contracts, stacking up revenue that repeats with high retention. In irrigation, while there are some maintenance plans, much of the revenue comes from one-time projects (installing a system or a seasonal tune-up). Cleaning franchises, on the other hand, behave more like subscription businesses – providing far more stability and predictability. This B2B contract model also tends to foster strong customer loyalty; clients are less likely to switch providers frequently, and you can maintain accounts for years if service quality is good.
- Lower Operating Costs & Simplicity: Running a cleaning business franchise is operationally simpler in many respects. The equipment needed is minimal and inexpensive (vacuum cleaners, mops, cleaning solutions, etc.), and there’s usually no need for heavy vehicles or specialized machinery. Many commercial cleaning franchises can even be run from a home office, with cleaning crews dispatched to client sites – no expensive retail location required. Because overhead is low, profit margins can be healthy and scaling up (adding more cleaning contracts) doesn’t necessarily require huge capital investments in new equipment. In contrast, an irrigation business might require purchasing additional trucks, trenching tools, or hiring skilled technicians to grow significantly. Cleaning crews also don’t require technical certifications – employees can be trained relatively quickly on standard procedures, whereas irrigation work involves technical know-how and even plumbing/electrical understanding for certain installs.
- High Scalability and Income Potential: The combination of recurring contracts and low costs means commercial cleaning can scale up impressively. It’s not uncommon for a single franchise territory in commercial cleaning to grow to six or seven-figure annual revenues after building a solid client base. In fact, $1M+ in yearly revenue is achievable in commercial cleaning by securing a roster of corporate clients and expanding staffing accordingly – all without the complexity of inventory or seasonality that many other franchises face. The ability to hire more cleaners and take on more contracts is straightforward; you’re not bottlenecked by a narrow peak season. This scalability and the simplicity of adding accounts make it ideal for first-time entrepreneurs who want a clear path to growth. Every office building or facility in your territory is a potential customer, and because cleaning is a repeat need, the lifetime value of each customer is high.
To be balanced, it’s worth noting a couple of challenges in other service industries (like irrigation) that commercial cleaning avoids. First, seasonality: as mentioned, irrigation and lawncare ebb and flow with the weather, whereas cleaning has consistent demand. Second, market competition: while both industries are fragmented, an irrigation franchise might be competing against many small local landscapers who often undercut on price – it can be a race to educate customers on the value of water-saving expertise. Commercial cleaning is also competitive, but the sheer volume of potential clients (every business needs cleaning) means you can carve out a niche (for example, focusing on medical offices or banks) and grow without needing to steal customers from others. Additionally, selling to residential customers vs. B2B differs: homeowners can be fickle or budget-driven for services like lawn irrigation (some might delay a repair to save money), whereas businesses usually have set facility maintenance budgets and professional expectations, making them more reliable clients. Overall, commercial cleaning offers more stable, ongoing revenue, less operational complexity, and proven resilience, especially when viewed next to more specialized home-service industries like irrigation.
How the Assett Franchise Compares
Now that we’ve looked at Conserva Irrigation and the irrigation vs. cleaning industries, let’s discuss how Assett Franchise – our commercial cleaning business franchise – stacks up as an option. Assett Franchise is built around the advantages of the commercial cleaning model outlined above, with additional innovations to make ownership even easier for franchisees. Here’s why Assett offers simpler systems and bigger potential for someone leaving a corporate career to start a business.
Simpler Systems, Bigger Potential
Assett Franchise operates in the commercial cleaning industry, meaning it benefits from all the industry advantages we just described: a massive market, essential services, and recurring B2B revenue. Unlike a specialized irrigation business, Assett’s model is straightforward and turnkey. We’ve built the business so that owners can focus on working on the business, not in it. In practical terms, that means as an Assett franchisee you won’t be the one mopping floors or cleaning toilets – you’ll be managing client relationships and a small team, while the system handles much of the day-to-day processes. Commercial cleaning also has a much lower barrier to entry in skills – you don’t need technical trade knowledge or prior industry experience. Assett provides a full business playbook and training to teach you everything you need to run a successful cleaning franchise, from securing contracts to quality control.
The income potential with Assett is significant thanks to those recurring contracts and scalability. Assett’s business model has a proven capacity to build over $1 million+ in annual recurring revenue per franchise when fully scaled, based on our existing operations and benchmarks. Hitting a 7-figure revenue run-rate in a cleaning business is achievable by landing a portfolio of regular clients – something our franchise support team helps you target early on. Because cleaning contracts tend to stick, your revenue base can compound year over year. The long-term stability and high ceiling of the commercial cleaning business are what make Assett Franchise so appealing for first-time business owners: it’s simple to grasp, yet powerful in results. You’re investing in a model where the services are always needed and can be expanded almost without limit in your territory.
Automated Hiring = Time and Money Saved
One of the biggest operational challenges in any service business – whether cleaning or irrigation – is hiring and retaining reliable staff. Assett Franchise recognized this pain point and developed an automated hiring system that is a game-changer for our owners. This proprietary system continuously attracts, screens, and onboards cleaning staff as your business grows, using automation and smart processes to keep your roster filled with qualified cleaners. In traditional franchises, an owner might spend a huge chunk of time each week just recruiting and interviewing employees to keep up with turnover. Assett’s automated hiring platform eliminates that headache by doing the heavy lifting for you.
The result is that Assett franchisees save an estimated 20–30 hours per week in administrative work or avoid having to hire a full-time HR manager, because the system maintains a pipeline of workers ready to step in. This not only saves time and labor cost – it also ensures you have a consistently high-quality workforce at scale. By leveraging technology for background checks, training modules, and scheduling, we maintain a pool of vetted cleaning professionals so your contracts are always staffed with minimal intervention on your part. Essentially, Assett has turned what is often the #1 challenge in the service industry (employee churn) into a streamlined, tech-enabled process. As an owner, you can dedicate your attention to growth and customer service, confident that hiring won’t hold you back. This is a sharp contrast to many traditional franchises (and likely in an irrigation business you’d be constantly searching for skilled techs). Assett’s automated hiring system is a prime example of how our franchise is modernizing the cleaning business to be as hands-off and efficient as possible for franchisees.
Personalized and Founder-Led
Another area where Assett Franchise truly shines is in our culture and leadership approach. While many franchise chains are owned by large private equity groups or have layers of corporate bureaucracy, Assett is a family-owned franchise led by its founder, Matt Pencarinha according to bizbuysell.com. Matt and our leadership team take a very personal, hands-on approach to supporting franchisees. When you join Assett, you become part of a close-knit franchise community – you have direct access to the founder and executives for mentorship, strategy, and troubleshooting. This level of access and personal investment from leadership is rare in franchising, and it means that our owners never feel like “just a number.” We know each Assett franchisee by name and work with you one-on-one to help you succeed.
The franchise experience at Assett is tailored and high-touch. Franchisees benefit from a company culture that values transparency, innovation, and genuine partnership. Being founder-led also means we can move quickly and adapt based on franchisee feedback – there’s no red tape in implementing improvements that help our owners. Assett prides itself on being community-focused with a clear mission: to deliver outstanding cleaning services while enabling franchise owners to achieve the lifestyle and autonomy they seek. We’re not chasing quarterly earnings for investors; we’re focused on long-term franchisee success and client satisfaction. For someone comparing opportunities, this difference matters – when you invest in Assett, you’re joining a franchise where the owners of the franchise system are right there beside you, guiding you through growth, rather than a distant corporate entity. The result is a more supportive, family-like environment as you build your business.
Final Thoughts
Both Conserva Irrigation and Assett Franchise offer viable paths to business ownership, but they cater to different entrepreneur profiles and goals. Conserva Irrigation can be a strong franchise choice for the right buyer – particularly someone passionate about outdoor work, green technology, and who doesn’t mind the seasonal nature of the business. It provides a unique selling proposition (water conservation) and has shown solid growth in the irrigation field. For the right owner, especially one who enjoys a more hands-on technical service, Conserva’s model can indeed be rewarding.
That said, if you’re an aspiring entrepreneur looking for a scalable, stable business with low complexity, it’s hard to ignore the advantages of the commercial cleaning route and specifically what Assett Franchise offers. Assett checks the boxes for predictable recurring revenue, minimal risk, and faster ROI thanks to its essential B2B service and efficient systems. You’re getting into a business that isn’t subject to whims of weather or homeowner budgets – instead, you benefit from steady contracts and a recession-resistant market. Moreover, Assett’s modern approach (like the automated hiring system and founder-led support) means you have fewer operational headaches and more guidance as you grow. It’s a model built for executive-style ownership, meaning you can keep your focus on strategy and enjoy more flexibility in your schedule (many Assett owners run their franchise in a semi-absentee capacity, committing as little as 5–10 hours a week once established).
In making your decision, consider what you want your day-to-day to look like and how quickly you aim to scale income. Assett Franchise provides more advantages for someone seeking long-term income, flexibility, and control without heavy equipment or seasonal swings. We encourage you to do your due diligence on both opportunities – and we’re here to help answer any questions about the cleaning business path.
If you’re exploring franchise opportunities and want a model that can deliver long-term income, flexibility, and control — we’d love to show you how Assett Franchise can help you build a business that works for your life. Visit https://assettfranchise.com to connect with our team and learn more.
