Starting a Jim’s Mowing franchise can involve much more than buying equipment and finding customers. For Banjo Hunt, the journey included researching different franchise options, completing an observation day, attending Jim’s Group training, and making sure the decision worked for his family.
Watch the video above, or keep reading for the full Q&A.
Why Choose a Jim’s Mowing Franchise?
Banjo Hunt chose Jim’s Mowing because it matched his goal of working outdoors, starting his own business, and working for himself. He was not originally searching for a franchise. The opportunity appeared while he was scrolling Facebook, and the pay-for-work guarantee was one of the things that caught his attention.
At the time, Banjo was looking for something in the outdoor space. He wanted a change that could also give him the chance to work for himself rather than simply move into another job.
The process moved quickly from there. Banjo said his franchisor, Mitch, called him within five minutes. They spoke for an hour and a half, giving Banjo the chance to understand the opportunity in more detail. In his words, “the rest was history”.
Prospective franchisees can learn more about Jim’s Mowing franchise opportunities and the wider support available through Jim’s Group’s franchisee support system.
What Research Should You Do Before Joining Jim’s Mowing?
Banjo researched other franchise options after speaking with Mitch because buying a franchise had not been his original plan.
He had started out looking for a job. Once the Jim’s Mowing opportunity came up and he had spoken with Mitch, he went away and looked at the other franchise options available. That comparison helped him decide which model made the most sense for what he wanted to do.
One point that stood out to Banjo was Jim Penman’s focus on the franchisee. Banjo said Jim talks about this when new franchisees come to training, and the approach “made complete sense” to him.
His experience shows why researching the opportunity can be useful before making a decision. Banjo already knew the Jim’s brand, but his decision came after the initial conversation and further investigation into his options. Prospective owners can also work through the Jim’s Group franchise FAQs as part of their research.
What Happens on a Jim’s Mowing Observation Day?
Banjo completed one observation day with Mick in Bateman’s Bay before starting his Jim’s Mowing franchise.
Finding the time was not simple. Banjo is a stay-at-home dad five days a week, so arranging an observation day around his family responsibilities was difficult. He still made time for one day because it gave him the chance to see how another franchisee operated.
Mick had been in the business for two years. Banjo explained that Mick did not work too much himself anymore because he had a few subcontractors and other people doing most of the work. Mick would still get out for a few hours a day to keep busy.
For Banjo, much of the value came from the conversations in the car. Mick gave him “a really good idea of the structure and starting out”. It was a practical look at how one franchisee had organised his workload after two years in the business.
What Is Jim’s Mowing Franchise Training Like?
Banjo has found the Jim’s Group training fantastic, especially because it answered many of the questions he had saved before arriving.
He had booked a couple of months earlier, which gave him plenty of time to think about the training and, as he put it, “be nervous”. Once he arrived, he found the experience completely relaxing.
Banjo also took his own approach to retaining the information. He voice-recorded all the sessions and planned to match those recordings with the USB provided during training. His aim was to create something he could return to whenever he needed it, even if that meant revisiting the material a year later and effectively doing the training again.
He was also positive about the accommodation and presenters. He said the presenters covered all the topics, and his decision to wait until training before asking his full list of questions worked well because many of those questions were answered during the sessions.
Anyone looking into the process can read more about the Jim’s Group franchisee training program.
What Do You Learn at Jim’s Group Franchise Training?
Banjo’s biggest takeaway was seeing how many layers, people, and pieces of work sit behind Jim’s Group and understanding more clearly how the business has been built.
Before training, he knew Jim’s and knew the brand. What he had not seen was the depth behind it. Training gave him a behind-the-scenes look at the people involved and the work happening across the wider Jim’s Group.
He specifically mentioned individuals including Steph, Jim Penman and the franchisors. Seeing those different roles helped him understand that the brand was not simply the name customers see from the outside.
As Banjo explained, “you don’t really know the depth to it and how they’ve created what they’ve created”. For him, that broader view of Jim’s Group was one of the most important things he took away from the training experience.
What Should You Know Before Joining Jim’s Mowing?
Banjo’s advice is to involve your partner or family early and make sure everyone understands the work required, especially during the first part of building the business.
That was particularly important in his own situation. His partner was working, and a contract was ending, so the decision had to be something she was comfortable with and something that would work for them together. Banjo was also clear that a new franchisee needs to expect hard work and put in “the hard yards in the first little while”.
Rather than treating training and the new business as a solo venture, Banjo made it into a family trip. His family came down with him, and his wife was pregnant with another child on the way. He even planned to buy the children little T-shirts they could wear while out and about.
That family involvement mattered to him because it made the move feel shared rather than something he was trying to push through on his own. His final point was simple: include the people you love and combine the business decision with the family rather than separating the two.
If you are considering starting a Jim’s Mowing franchise, talk through the decision with the people who will be affected by it, research the opportunity, and use the observation and training process to decide whether it suits your goals. You can also explore becoming a Jim’s Group franchisee to learn more about the next steps.