More Than Just Mowing Podcast by Jim's Mowing

Kevin has been with Jim's Mowing for 10 years and shares what his journey has been like and how he has run a successful small business with an outstanding customer service record.

Ben spent 15 years as a BIM manager in architecture. One year into his Jim's Mowing franchise, he uses AI to do in 3 minutes what used to take him 2 hours.

Ben left a high-paying office job to get flexibility with two young kids. He considered Jim's Diggers, then chose mowing as the easier entry point for someone new to the tools. He now runs around 25 regular clients plus seasonal gardening and commercial work.

In this episode, Ben explains how he uses Claude skills for bookkeeping, paperwork and compliance, including cross-checking chemical safety data sheets against state legislation. He and Joel talk through AI agents, scheduling automation and where robot mowers are heading. Ben also shares why he keeps half his week open for bigger jobs, why he only turns leads on when he quotes within 48 hours, and why he asks for Google reviews between 6pm and 8pm.

His biggest lesson from year one: buy the essentials first and wait for the job before buying anything else.

If you want to see how AI fits into a trade business, start with Ben.

TIMESTAMPS

0:00 Highlights1:03 From architecture to Jim's Mowing2:33 Choosing mowing over other divisions4:14 Robot mowers and LiDAR7:53 How Ben uses AI in his business9:29 What a Claude skill is12:01 AI agents that run on your computer15:37 A bookkeeping assistant16:45 Automating his schedule20:28 AI for compliance and safety sheets23:23 His first 12 months24:54 Why he chose AEG gear27:20 Getting Google reviews29:31 Landscape design work33:02 The biggest challenge35:33 Advice for new starters37:21 Training and the WhatsApp group40:23 Plans to hire41:20 Managing leads

Fred Gibbon struggled to get two leads a month as an independent. Nine weeks into Jim's Mowing in Bathurst, he booked 16 quotes in a single day.

Fred joins regional franchisor Mitch Blake to share the road to Jim's. He went independent at 19 and failed, started a carpentry apprenticeship, then spent a year working for BJ Wallace in Queensland. After a third attempt on his own left him short on cash, he joined Jim's Mowing.

In this episode, Fred explains how he landed an $18,000 landscaping job and a $10,000 cleanup inside his first four weeks, including how he used ChatGPT to show a client their finished garden. He shares why he now charges close to double his old independent rates, and how following up three times turns quiet leads into work. Mitch walks through how he wins back lost quotes, texts past clients to fill winter, and helps new franchisees forecast cash flow.

You'll also hear about Fred's gear setup, a Hungry Jack's contract that came through the local network, and his plan to build a team.

If you've tried going it alone, hear Fred's story before your next attempt.

INCOME DISCLAIMER: Income shown reflects one franchisee's individual experience and is not a guarantee of results. Earnings vary by location, effort and market conditions. Seek independent advice before making any decision.

TIMESTAMPS

0:00 Highlights0:52 Meet Fred1:14 Failing as an independent at 192:36 A trade, then a year with BJ Wallace7:10 Struggling to get leads alone10:21 How local franchisees helped him decide15:14 Training in Melbourne19:36 The power of following up22:29 Texting your past clients24:47 16 quotes in a day27:39 Winning an $18K landscaping job33:06 Revising a quote on a big cleanup35:39 Getting through winter37:57 Forecasting cash flow40:35 His equipment setup46:11 Pricing and conversion rates50:01 Support from local franchisees51:50 Demo day and Walker mowers58:54 Plans for the next five years1:00:48 A Hungry Jack's contract

Harry Parker bought a Jim's Mowing franchise at 69, and his heart surgeon now says the work added 10 years to his life.

Harry spent 40 years building clothing businesses, including a senior role at a major rugby jersey company. Retirement didn't suit him. He bought a 43-client split in Lilydale, doubled his client base in 12 months and grew revenue another 30% in his second year, all on about 32 hours a week.

In this episode, Harry explains how doing more for existing clients drives his growth, like the $385 aeration lead that turned into $1,300 of lawn treatments. He shares how he prices jobs by time on site, why two of his daughters now work alongside him, and how a forestry contractor in his network helps him win large land-clearing jobs. He also walks through how he uses Microsoft Copilot to write quotes and plan his daily route, and what he teaches the new franchisees he mentors.

If you think you've left it too late to start a business, listen to Harry first.

INCOME DISCLAIMER: Income shown reflects one franchisee's individual experience and is not a guarantee of results. Earnings vary by location, effort and market conditions. Seek independent advice before making any decision.

TIMESTAMPS

0:00 Highlights0:55 Meet Harry, 71 years young1:29 Growing revenue 30% in a year2:39 Working with his daughters5:37 Doing more for existing clients9:55 Buying a 43-client split10:45 Pricing around $120 an hour13:24 Doing more than he quotes17:08 Building a contractor network21:34 Mentoring new franchisees26:08 Using AI for quotes31:33 Planning his run with AI34:48 His plans for the business35:42 Health at 7138:48 Winter vs summer workload40:06 Franchise life vs corporate life43:50 Observation days with prospects46:13 Who succeeds in Jim's Mowing50:04 Advice for older buyers

Nathan was a plumbing labourer until his boss knocked back a pay rise. One year into his Jim's Mowing franchise, he says he earns 10 times what he did before.

Nathan grew up helping his dad, who has run a Jim's Mowing franchise for 28 years. He had no interest as a kid. At 27, married with a mortgage, he changed his mind and joined the family trade in Melbourne's north.

In this episode, Nathan shares how he uses ChatGPT to send quotes before he leaves a property and to prepare tender documents. He explains how he calls leads back within minutes, and how texting more than 500 past leads keeps his winter run full. He is open about the hard parts too, from suppliers running out of stock to finding reliable casual help.

You'll also hear how a same-day commercial job landed after eight independent gardeners said no, why he became a Bushranger brand ambassador, and his plan for a second trailer.

If you're weighing up a lawn mowing franchise, start with Nathan's first year.

INCOME DISCLAIMER: Income shown reflects one franchisee's individual experience and is not a guarantee of results. Earnings vary by location, effort and market conditions. Seek independent advice before making any decision.

TIMESTAMPS

0:00 Highlights0:33 Meet Nathan, one year in1:50 Knocked back for a pay rise4:30 Training and ChatGPT for quotes6:37 The first 12 months8:20 Supplier stock and quote risk12:18 Staying busy in winter14:38 Setting prices and not bargaining16:57 Turf installs and local attention19:46 A same-day commercial job21:40 The 50% fee myth24:15 Becoming a Bushranger ambassador29:03 His biggest job so far32:36 Earnings and fees36:33 Plans for a second trailer38:37 Support from his franchisor44:05 Advice for younger buyers

Julian has been with Jim's Mowing for four years and has his business at a stage where he can travel overseas each month, allowing him to build his travel YouTube channel.

It's a great testament to Julian's organisation and also how the Jim's system allows you to make the business any way you like.

Rick chats with his Franchisor, Mitch Blake, about his Jim's Mowing journey and how much of a positive change it has been for him.

He has also been in business for 12 months now and shares a full review of his business, including what it takes to be successful.

To learn more, enquire on www.jimsmowing.com.au

YouTube sensation Jordan's Mowing joins the Jim's Mowing Podcast to share his journey.

Jordan is sharing his journey online from the start of his Jim's Mowing journey and has already reached a million-plus people!

Big thanks for Jordan sharing his story.

Jim's Mowing founder, Jim Penman, hosts a Q & A each training week with our new franchise owners. He answers any questions thrown at him, and it's open to anyone in person and online.

Jim's Mowing franchisee Dushant set a goal of $180,000 in his first year. He beat it by around $100,000.

This is a 12 month update and Dushant's second appearance on the Jim's Mowing Podcast.

He went from 30 regular clients to 104, brought his brother Joe out of shearing and into the business, bought a 40 client list from his franchisor, and hired a 16 year old who rode his bike over asking for work.

He explains why his winter got busier instead of quieter, how upselling gutter cleaning, mulching and hedging to existing regulars carried him through a dry April, and how he won a large farm client from a Facebook comment rather than a Jim's lead.

He covers the callback habit behind his conversion rate, why he changes the service instead of discounting when someone pushes back on price, and a cleanup job he badly under quoted at 17 trailer loads.

Listen for a full first year from someone still in it, including the parts he got wrong.

INCOME DISCLAIMER
The income, revenue and profit figures shared in this episode reflect one franchisee's individual experience. They are not a promise, projection or guarantee of earnings. Results vary based on location, hours worked, effort, skill, market conditions and other factors. Some franchisees earn more and some earn less. Figures may refer to revenue rather than profit unless stated otherwise. Before making any decision, review the official franchise documentation and seek independent legal, financial and accounting advice.