What does the first year in Jim’s Mowing actually look like?

In this episode of the more than just mowing podcast, we head out on the road with Mitch for a real, off-the-cuff chat in the middle of his workday. No studio polish. No script. Just a genuine conversation about what his first 10 to 11 months in business have been like.

Mitch shares how he got started, why Jim’s content on YouTube helped him make the decision, what he turned over in his first year, the challenges of weather and physical work, and how a $16 lead turned into a landscaping job worth more than $12,000.

We also talk about:

What it’s really like running your own mowing business.

The truth about franchise fees and lead value.

Scaling with casual staff.

Equipment choices.

Mental health in blue-collar work.

The support network inside Jim’s.

Why are younger buyers doing more research through content before making big decisions?

If you’re thinking about starting a mowing business, buying a franchise, or just want a real look at life on the road, this one’s worth a watch.

Call 131 546 or head to jims.net to enquire about becoming a Jim’s franchisee.

0:00 Intro
0:17 Meet Mitch and how long he’s been with Jim’s
0:40 Why he made the change into business ownership
0:58 The YouTube content that helped sell him on Jim’s
1:15 Why genuine content builds trust with younger buyers
2:21 First-year turnover and how he went financially
2:54 Starting with bought clients and growing the run
3:17 Biggest challenges in year one
4:03 The physical side of the job and keeping fit
4:44 What he thought about franchising before joining
5:31 Busting myths about franchise fees
6:01 A $16 lead that turned into a $13,000 landscaping job
6:34 First spring in business and hitting $20K months
6:57 The reality of winter and slower periods
7:22 What it’s like running your own business day to day
8:06 Using Xero, invoicing, quoting, and staying on top of admin
8:17 How strong the Jim’s brand is in the market
8:44 Local business vs independent perception
9:03 Winning jobs on value, speed, and price
9:59 Why local family business positioning matters
10:41 The story behind the colourful shirt
11:05 Mental health, TIACS, and blue-collar workers
13:21 What a franchisor actually does
14:13 Support with equipment, suppliers, and business decisions
14:53 How the wider Jim’s network helps solve problems
15:29 John Wild’s incredible story of support
17:27 What Mitch likes about the gardening industry
18:33 Why he wants to scale the business
19:38 Equipment choices, petrol vs battery, and upgrading gear
21:26 Training, first week on the tools, and starting slow
22:46 Where his landscaping skills came from
23:32 How he plans to grow from here
23:43 Turning leads off over Christmas and regretting it
24:22 Having a neighbour who is also a Jim’s franchisee
25:42 Hill work, niche jobs, and tough terrain
26:02 Business advice he’d give himself starting out
26:31 Upselling properly without being pushy
29:00 Advice for younger people considering Jim’s or small business
29:31 Why people should ignore the noise and do their own research
30:26 Observation days and seeing the business firsthand
31:01 Wrapping up and getting Mitch back in the studio later this year
31:28 Outro

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Jim’s Mowing is Australia’s #1 lawn and garden franchise with 2,000+ local owners. Founded in 1989 by Jim Penman, we’ve become one of the country’s most trusted names in home services.

Here’s why people choose Jim’s:
✅ Fully insured and police-checked franchisees
✅ Backed by the Jim’s Workmanship Guarantee
✅ Local family businesses supported by a national brand

And we do more than mowing. Our team can help with hedging, pruning, landscaping, rubbish removal, and complete garden care.

📌 Start here:
🌐 Book a service: https://jimsmowing.com.au/

📞 Call: 131 546
🚀 Own a franchise: https://jimsmowing.com.au/become-a-franchisee/

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