After nearly nine years in business, Glenn Simester has built a Jim’s Mowing franchise with regulars in the 60s, about 85% of them fortnightly, plus commercial jobs that fill his week with larger, higher-value work. He says his books are now completely full, his income has met expectations, and on a good day, he can make his monthly franchise fees on the first Monday of the month.
In short: Glenn Simester built a Jim’s Mowing franchise over nearly nine years into a full-book, one-man business with regulars in the 60s, a 4.9-star rating, and a strong mix of domestic and commercial work. He says the brand, lead system, and support made the model worthwhile, and that the business now gives him both solid income and the freedom to choose the work he wants.
BLUF: Glenn’s story matters because it shows a Jim’s Mowing franchise does not need massive customer numbers or a big team to become a strong, profitable business. By staying cautious, working smart, relying on the Jim’s system, and focusing on the right mix of work, he has built a business that now gives him control over his schedule, customer base, and income.
A Jim’s Mowing franchise can become a very solid owner-operated business when the operator fills the diary with recurring work, prices properly, and uses the system well. Glenn now has full books, recurring clients, commercial work, and enough demand to cherry-pick the jobs he wants. This article breaks down how he got there, what the numbers say, and why he still says it was the best thing he has ever done.
How Glenn’s Life and Business Evolved Before Becoming Fully Booked
When Glenn first appeared in an earlier Jim’s video, he had been in the business for less than six months and was still in the early stages of building everything. At that point, he also had two young kids in primary school and was juggling drop-offs, pick-ups, family life, and the demands of running a business.
Now the family situation is different, and the business has matured with it. His kids are in Year 8 and Year 10, he is no longer doing school pick-ups and drop-offs, and his books are completely full. That shift matters because it shows the business was built through a busy season of life, not in perfect conditions.
Why Glenn Chose a Jim’s Mowing Franchise
Glenn is very clear about one of the biggest reasons people choose Jim’s Mowing. It is the logo and the brand.
For him, that brand recognition does more than make the shirt look official. It creates trust, gives customers confidence, and gives franchisees a safety net. If he loses a customer, he can put himself down for work and keep moving instead of trying to generate leads from scratch through ads or social media. That is a major reason many people explore owning a franchise rather than building a business alone.
He also makes a strong comparison between joining Jim’s and trying to build something independent from day one. His view is simple: he is glad he did it this way instead of trying to start his own. His only regret is not getting into it earlier.
What Glenn’s Early Days in Business Looked Like
Even in the early days, Glenn felt the value of the system. He says his first franchisor, Jeff, was highly interactive and made him feel comfortable rather than lost. That early support gave him confidence and helped him settle into the business faster.
That matters because a lot of new franchisees are not just learning the trade side. They are also learning how to quote, schedule, manage time, and stay organised. Glenn’s experience shows why structured support and franchisee training are so important in the first months.
He also says that much of what he said in that earlier video still feels relevant years later. That is a good sign. It suggests the positives were not just first-year enthusiasm. They held up over time.
How Glenn’s Jim’s Mowing Franchise Generates Income
Glenn says one of the biggest misconceptions people have is that franchisees are paying Jim huge amounts of money. His answer is that on a good day, he can make Jim’s monthly franchise fees on the Monday, the first of each month. That is one of the clearest real-world answers to the question of how franchising fees work.
He also says the income has met his expectations 100%. On top of that, he runs a profit-first accounting system, which means he makes sure both he and the business are making money before bills start draining everything away. That has helped him build a business where he feels comfortable, in control, and financially clear.
For readers searching for how much Jim’s Mowing franchisees earn, Glenn’s story gives an honest answer. It shows a full diary, recurring work, commercial contracts, and enough margin to comfortably cover franchise fees early in the month.
How Glenn Built 60 Regular Clients and a Full Diary
Glenn says he has regulars in the 60s. About 85% of those are fortnightly, with a couple of weekly jobs as well.
That customer count on its own does not tell the full story. He points out that other operators may have 140 regulars, but his business is built around bigger jobs. He has supermarkets, shopping centres, chains, property management work, factories, and other commercial sites. Many of those jobs run for three to four hours, which means they fill the day well.
One of the best examples came from a missed lead that turned into a shopping centre in his own street in Somerville. He says he has been servicing that site two out of every three weeks for around two and a half to three years. That one job alone shows how the Jim’s lead system can create bigger opportunities when the timing and location line up.
The result is a business that is not built on chasing endless small lawns. It is built on a stronger mix of recurring residential work and larger commercial jobs. That is a smarter growth model for a sole trader.
The Systems Glenn Uses to Run a Fully Booked Franchise
Glenn’s business is full, but it is not random. He has clear ways of working.
He works geographically. He likes to start as far away from home as possible and work his way back. That reduces wasted travel time and keeps the day more streamlined. Weather can still disrupt the plan, especially if rain means he cannot get back to an area for two weeks, but the system still helps him stay efficient.
He is also disciplined with his time. He will talk to customers, but he does not go chasing long conversations if he does not need to. His reasoning is blunt and accurate: if he is not pushing a mower, he is not earning a dollar.
He also outsources the things he is not strong at. He says he is not good with numbers, so he uses a bookkeeper. That frees up his mind and lets him focus on work, not admin.
His equipment strategy has improved over time, too. He now runs two Honda mowers, two Hustler ride-ons, and two Husqvarna units for whipper snipping and multi-tool work. That matters because he learned the hard way what downtime costs. When one ride-on died, he had to hire someone else’s for three weeks just to keep moving. After that, he built more backup into the business.
For anyone looking into a Jim’s Mowing franchise, this is one of the most useful parts of Glenn’s story. The long-term win is not just getting leads. It is building a business that runs more smoothly year after year.
The Biggest Challenges Glenn Faced Growing His Franchise
Glenn is positive about the business, but he does not pretend it is easy.
He says there are a lot of moving parts when you work for yourself with no staff. Everything sits on him. If he gets sick, no one mows for him unless he has someone else in place. That is one of the clearest downsides of staying a sole trader.
Seasonality and weather are also real issues. He says one recent winter was probably the toughest they had had, which flowed into a tough spring, and then things slowed again because there was no rain. Outdoor work always has that element of uncertainty.
He has also stayed cautious about hiring. He has considered putting someone on, but his main concern has been whether there would be enough work for that person and whether they would meet his standards. He says no one is going to do as good a job as he will in his own eyes. That mindset is one reason he has protected a 4.9-star rating and kept his quality high.
The biggest lesson from Glenn is that you are always learning. He says he is still getting quotes wrong sometimes, still learning techniques, and still adjusting the business as he goes. That honesty gives the story more weight.
Is a Jim’s Mowing Franchise Worth It According to Glenn?
For Glenn, yes.
He says it is the best thing he has ever done. He also says he constantly tells people who are even slightly keen to get into it to give it a crack.
His reasoning is not based on hype. It is based on control, flexibility, solid income, and the satisfaction of making a difference. He talks about being able to take time off without filing leave forms, simply by rearranging work. He also talks about the instant gratification of finishing a property and seeing the result straight away.
He is also realistic enough to say the model will not suit everyone. Some people get in and do not like it. That is fine. But for someone who enjoys the outdoors, likes making a difference, and wants to control their own destiny, Glenn clearly believes it is a strong option.
Long-Term Franchise Performance: Real-World Operating Insights
| Business Area | Glenn’s Experience | What This Demonstrates |
| Time in Business | Nearly 9 years | This is a durable business story, not a short-term win |
| Regular Client Bas | In the 60s, with about 85% fortnightly | Recurring work matters more than chasing random one-offs |
| Job Mix | Residential regulars plus supermarkets, shopping centres, factories, and property management work | Bigger jobs can fill the diary without needing massive client volume |
| Fee Misconception | He says a good first Monday can cover his monthly franchise fees | The fee model is far more manageable than many outsiders assume |
‘On a good day, I can make Jim’s monthly franchise fees on the Monday, the first of each month.’
– Glenn Simester, Jim’s Mowing franchisee
Frequently Asked Questions
Glenn says that on a good day, he can make his monthly franchise fees on the first Monday of the month, and that the income has met his expectations 100%.
Glenn says he has regulars in the 60s. He also says about 85% of them are fortnightly, with a couple of weekly jobs.
No. He also does supermarkets, shopping centres, commercial work, property management sites, and factories. That mix is a big reason his diary stays full even without huge customer numbers.
According to Glenn, yes. He says one of the biggest strengths of the system is that if he loses a customer, he can put himself down for work and keep going rather than trying to generate leads by himself.
He says many people think franchisees pay Jim huge amounts of money. His view is that the monthly fee is manageable and that people outside the system often misunderstand how small that fee feels once the business is working well.
Yes. He says it is the best thing he has ever done and that his only regret is not getting into it earlier. That is a strong endorsement after nearly nine years in business.
Why has Glenn stayed a sole trader?
He says he is cautious and wants to protect quality. He has considered hiring, but he has been careful about whether there would be enough work and whether someone else would do the job to his standard.
Key Takeaways
- Glenn has built his Jim’s Mowing franchise over nearly 9 years
- He now has regulars in the 60s, with about 85% on fortnightly schedules
- His books are completely full
- He has a 4.9-star rating
- He mixes residential regulars with larger commercial jobs
- He says on a good day, he can cover his monthly franchise fees on the first Monday of the month
- He uses a profit-first approach to keep both himself and the business funded
- He works geographically, protects his time, and uses a bookkeeper to stay efficient
- He says the business has met his income expectations 100%
- His only regret is not getting into it earlier
Start Your Own Jim’s Mowing Franchise Today
Glenn’s story is strong because it is practical. He did not build a flashy business built on hype. He built a full, profitable Jim’s Mowing franchise by staying consistent, learning over time, using the support around him, and filling his diary with the right work.
If you are looking for a path into self-employment that offers brand recognition, lead flow, training, and the chance to build a business around your own lifestyle, Glenn’s experience shows what is possible.
Learn more about joining Jim’s Mowing at jims.net or call 131 546 today.