Nathan ditched his 20+ year career in telecommunications to chase freedom, family time, and fresh air by joining Jim's Mowing. In this inspiring episode, he shares the real challenges and wins of starting his own franchise, how he scaled to 70+ regular clients, and the systems he uses to stay sane and profitable. From family routines to rock gigs, this is what the Jim’s life can really look like.
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0:00 – How it feels to be your own boss
0:13 – Family time and flexibility with Jim’s Mowing
0:40 – Nathan’s music background and band history
1:53 – Touring Australia with Ice on Mercury
2:52 – Why the band broke up and plans for a reunion show
4:00 – Where to find their music online
4:12 – How Nathan discovered Jim’s Mowing
5:00 – Leaving corporate life behind for family
6:05 – The lightbulb moment to start mowing professionally
6:45 – First steps into the Jim’s Mowing franchise
7:30 – Training during COVID and finding support
8:18 – Three years in: what the business looks like now
8:58 – The emotional reward of helping clients
9:50 – What drives five-star customer service
10:45 – Why communication matters more than anything
11:48 – Nathan’s evening prep system for client messaging
13:00 – How going the extra mile earns loyalty
14:10 – Managing 70–80 clients with a four-day workweek
15:50 – Software used: Jim’s Jobs + Xero
16:40 – SMS shortcut tips every franchisee should use
17:50 – Giving clients a heads-up for better results
18:34 – More on the benefits of being his own boss
19:00 – Income comparison and smarter working
20:00 – Self-reviews and refining the business
20:48 – Using vehicle trackers to optimise time
22:00 – A tracking system that saved him during a client complaint
23:30 – Tech tools to reduce stress and improve routes
24:20 – Equipment setup: STIHL, Honda, Ego
25:30 – Building strong relationships with your local shop
26:22 – Final advice for those considering a Jim’s franchise
27:50 – Getting leads, drowning in work, and how to manage it
28:41 – Where to see Ice on Mercury’s reunion show
Jim's Mowing is Australia's largest mowing and gardening franchise with more than 2,000 franchise owners located near you! It was established in 1989 by Jim Penman, and since then, it has become one of Australia's most well-known and loved brands.
All franchisees are fully-insured, police checked and backed by the Jim's workmanship guarantee.
This means that our franchisees are always accountable to the head office in the event something goes wrong, unlike independent contractors.
Jim's Mowing is more than just mowing as well! We offer total garden solutions, including landscaping, pruning, hedging, rubbish removal, plus a lot more!
When you use Jim's Mowing you're supporting a local family business that is Australian-owned.
Website - https://www.jimsmowing.com.au
Phone Number - 131 546
Become a franchisee owner - https://www.jimsmowing.com.au/franchises-for-sale-2/