In short: Peter Rogers left 21 years in mining and 12 years of FIFO work to build a Jim’s Mowing business in Western Australia. He now supports 120 Jim’s Mowing franchisees across WA and says customer service, retic knowledge, quoting discipline, and regular clients are what keep a mowing business strong.
In a Jim’s Podcast episode, Peter Rogers explains how he moved from a FIFO mining career into Jim’s Mowing in Western Australia, where he now supports Jim’s Mowing franchisees across Perth and wider WA. As a former FIFO worker, Peter now uses practical WA lawn care methods such as retic checks, sprinkler repairs, 15 to 20 millimetre mowing heights, and seasonal gardening planning to help franchisees build customer-first mowing businesses.
A Jim’s Mowing franchise in WA can suit people who want to move from shift work, FIFO, or employment into a structured local service business. Peter Rogers spent 21 years in mining, including 12 years in FIFO, before joining Jim’s Mowing 11 years ago. This article covers his career change, WA mowing conditions, customer service advice, and why the Jim’s system matters.
Watch the full episode below, or keep reading for the key takeaways.
Why Did Peter Leave FIFO For Jim’s Mowing In WA?
Peter Rogers did not start as a mowing expert. He started as a Jim’s customer.
Before joining Jim’s Mowing, Peter worked in the mining industry for 21 years and spent around 12 years in FIFO. He had also been a Jim’s Mowing customer in Western Australia for about four years.
His own Jim’s Mowing franchisee, Raphael, looked after his lawn. When Peter had had enough of FIFO, he decided to have a crack at mowing.
The biggest shift was not just financial. Peter said FIFO can make you feel like a visitor in your own home. When he came home full-time, he and Catherine had to adjust during the first six months.
The income change also mattered. Peter said his first year brought about a 50% reduction in income. It took around four years to build back towards his former FIFO income.
That is the straight answer many people need before looking at how much you can earn with a Jim’s franchise. The opportunity can be strong, but it still takes work, planning, and family readiness.
Peter’s view is simple: you will not make a FIFO income in the first month. But if you are focused, ready, and willing to work, the move can be made.
What Does Jim’s Mowing Training Teach Beyond Cutting Grass?
Peter went to Melbourne for training after leaving mining. At first, he was not thrilled.
After years of mining inductions, he thought it would be another box-ticking exercise. Halfway through, he understood the point.
The training was not only about mowing. Peter said the real focus was customer service, business operation, communication, and understanding the support behind the badge.
That matters because many people assume mowing is the hard part. Peter says mowing and trimming are the easy parts. The harder work is calling customers, understanding what they need, quoting properly, invoicing on time, and managing your week.
That is why Jim’s franchisee training is built around running a business, not just using tools.
Peter has now done the training three times. He completed it as a franchisee, returned when he became a franchisor, and later shadowed a trainer because he also helps with training in Western Australia.
His advice to new franchisees is direct: relax, be yourself, and do not try to sound like someone else. Customers can tell when you are forcing it.
Why Is Lawn Mowing Different In Western Australia?
WA mowing has different technical demands because of the climate, lawn types, irrigation needs, and local regulations.
Peter says if lawns in WA do not have retic or irrigation, they die. At the time of the interview, Perth had gone almost eight weeks without significant rain.
That makes retic work a key part of local service. Jim’s Mowing franchisees in WA may deal with sprinkler repairs, controller reprogramming, broken pipes, and blocked sprinklers.
Blocked sprinklers often show up as dead patches on the lawn. That gives experienced operators a practical way to diagnose problems and help customers before damage spreads.
WA also cuts lawns shorter than many eastern states. Peter says WA lawns may be cut down to 15 to 20 millimetres, while 20 millimetres would be considered very short in Victoria.
Mulch depth is another difference. Peter says WA garden beds are often mulched to about 50 to 60 millimetres because retic water still needs to reach the soil. In Victoria, mulch may be closer to 100 millimetres.
Weed spraying also differs. Peter says Western Australia has tough weed-spraying requirements, and franchisees need the correct licence before offering that service.
Pro Tips From Peter Rogers
- Know what you do not want to do as well as what you do want to do.
- Do not take on retic, weed spraying, or technical work without the right knowledge.
- Match your service mix to WA conditions, not eastern state habits.
Why Is Customer Service The Real Difference In A Jim’s Mowing Franchise?
Peter says the best Jim’s Mowing franchisees are not always the ones pushing the hardest upsells. They are the ones building trust.
That starts with communication. Not too little. Not too much.
Good operators know which customers need a text before arrival. For example, a customer may need to unlock a gate, clean up after a dog, or provide access to the backyard.
Peter also recommends before and after photos, where suitable and with permission. This helps customers see the finished result and helps property managers pass proof on to owners.
Small details matter too. Peter mentioned no cobwebs on the front doorstep and no grass clippings on the mailbox. These are simple checks, but they change how a customer feels when they come home.
That is how a customer becomes a repeat client and then a referral source.
Peter’s point is that a customer is not an account balance. A customer is a person. That mindset separates a strong service business from a rushed operator.
How Does The Jim’s Mowing System Help New Franchisees Start Smarter?
Jim’s Mowing gives new franchisees brand recognition, training, leads, support, and a network of other operators.
Peter says that when he considered going independent, Catherine asked whether people knew “Peter’s Lawn Mowing Service.” The answer was no. But when they moved to Perth, the first number she called was Jim’s Mowing because that was the name she knew.
That brand recognition matters in local service work. A Jim’s trailer, ute, van, or uniform can start conversations that an unknown operator may never get.
Peter also pushes back on the idea that franchise fees are only a cost. He says part of the value is advertising, support, business guidance, and having someone to call when things go wrong.
That is why people comparing independent mowing with Jim’s should understand how franchising fees work before judging the model only on the weekly cost.
The support structure also helps with quoting. New franchisees can go out with experienced operators to see what a $70 lawn or $200 hedge trim looks like. If they are unsure, they can send photos and talk through the quote.
Peter does not tell people what to charge. He helps them think through time, difficulty, access, equipment, and whether they would be happy if they won the job.
That is the advantage of joining a system rather than guessing alone. Future franchisees can explore the broader pathway through owning a franchise with Jim’s Group.
How Do Regular Clients Help Build A Stable Jim’s Mowing Business?
Regular clients are the backbone of a Jim’s Mowing business.
Peter says a regular client can be worth around $1,500 a year. That is why he advises new franchisees not to chase the highest possible price on the first job if it costs them the long-term relationship.
His view is simple: $70 every two weeks can be better than $90 once.
He also says a good Perth client base might sit around 100 to 120 regulars. Once that base is built, once-off jobs can top up income.
Lead conversion matters too. Peter references the training advice that franchisees should aim to convert 40% of leads into regulars. If that conversion is not happening, the first job is to fix quoting, communication, service quality, and follow-up.
For new starters, Peter also recommends controlling lead volume. Four leads a day can already mean around four hours of quoting, calling, inspecting, and planning before the actual work starts.
More leads do not help if service quality drops.
When Should A Jim’s Mowing Franchisee Think About Hiring Staff?
Peter believes scaling should be steady.
He describes good growth as a sawtooth pattern. Build up, stabilise, take a breath, then build again.
He is not against employees, but he warns franchisees to understand their business first. That means getting pricing right, knowing customer expectations, understanding schedules, and knowing how profitable each job really is.
Two people do not always mean twice the work. If an employee sits in traffic for two hours, the business owner still pays them.
Some WA franchisees run three or four trailers and do it well. But Peter says quality, equipment care, and productivity need to be managed closely.
For many operators, the better first step is to build a strong sole-trader business with good regulars, clear pricing, and reliable systems.
What Local WA Knowledge Matters For Lawn Mowing Customers?
Jim’s Mowing WA franchisees work across different suburbs, soil conditions, block sizes, and property types.
Peter supports about 120 franchisees across Western Australia, with around 460 kilometres between the most northern and southern operators in his group.
That spread brings different mowing and gardening needs. Inner-city suburbs such as Subiaco and Shenton Park can suit van setups because parking is tight. Newer areas such as Piara Waters and Ellenbrook can also make trailer parking harder because of narrower blocks.
Hills and foothills areas may suit trucks or larger setups, depending on the work.
Peter also explains that equipment should match the customer base. Mark Tracey, a franchisee in Seville Grove, did not need to buy every piece of gear before he had customers. Over time, his customer base grew to support a ride-on and cylinder mower.
This local approach matters for customers because service should fit the property, not a generic checklist.
For Jim’s Mowing services, customers can visit the Jim’s Mowing division page at jimsmowing.com.au.
Jim’s Mowing Vs Independent Contractor: What Is The Difference?
| Feature | Standard Independent Contractor | Jim’s Professional Standard |
| Brand Trust | Must build recognition from scratch | Uses the established Jim’s Mowing name and local visibility |
| Training | Depends on the owner’s experience | Structured training through Jim’s systems and practical support |
| Leads | Must generate all enquiries alone | Access to brand-backed lead flow and customer enquiry systems |
| Support | Often works alone | Can call franchisors and other franchisees for quoting and business advice |
| Standards | Varies by operator | Clear expectations around customer contact, uniform service quality, and follow-up |
‘Do not look at the customer as an account. Look at the customer as a person.’
– Peter Rogers, Jim’s Mowing franchisee in Western Australia
FAQ: Jim’s Mowing WA Franchise Questions
Jim’s Mowing can suit FIFO workers who want to leave site work and build a local service business, but Peter Rogers says the family and financial adjustment must be planned. He experienced about a 50% income reduction in the first year before rebuilding towards his former income over around four years.
Peter says the body often adjusts within about two months, but it can take the first 12 months to become work-hardened. He recommends walking for an hour a day and doing bodyweight exercises before starting.
Peter says day one needs a good lawnmower, whipper snipper, and blower. He recommends buying the best reliable equipment you can afford, then adding tools like hedge trimmers when the job will help pay for them.
Retic is important because Perth and WA lawns can dry out quickly without irrigation. Peter says sprinkler repairs, blocked sprinklers, broken pipes, and controller reprogramming are common WA service opportunities.
Peter suggests new franchisees limit themselves to around four leads a day. Four leads can already mean about four hours of quoting, calling, and assessing before completing the actual work.
Peter says the best franchisees focus on customer service, clear communication, quality work, and regular clients. They build trust instead of treating customers like account balances.
Peter says franchisees should understand pricing, quoting, schedules, and customer expectations before hiring. Employees can work well, but two people do not always mean twice the output.
Peter says a regular client can be worth around $1,500 a year. A strong base of 100 to 120 regulars in Perth can help create a steadier income, with once-off jobs added on top.
Key Takeaways
- Peter Rogers moved from 21 years in mining and 12 years of FIFO into Jim’s Mowing WA.
- His first year brought about a 50% income drop, but he rebuilt towards FIFO income over around four years.
- WA mowing needs local knowledge of retic, irrigation, cutting heights, mulch depth, and weed spraying rules.
- Peter says customer service, not mowing skill alone, drives repeat work and referrals.
- A strong Jim’s Mowing business depends on regular clients, controlled lead volume, and clear quoting.
Build A Customer-First Mowing Business With Jim’s
Need A Local Mowing Professional Who Treats Your Property Properly?
If you need local lawn mowing, garden care, retic support, or property maintenance, Jim’s Mowing gives you access to trained local operators backed by professional standards and the Jim’s National Guarantee.
Request your free quote from Jim’s Mowing today.
Thinking About Leaving FIFO Or Starting Your Own Mowing Business?
Peter Rogers’ story shows what can happen when someone leaves a long career, follows the system, learns the local market, and builds a business around customer service.
Learn more about joining Jim’s Group at jims.net or call 131 546 today.