After years in senior corporate roles, Theron Vassiliou found a different way to earn at the same sort of level while gaining more control over his time. Now a Jim’s Pool Care franchisor in Melbourne, he explains what changed, who can succeed in the business, and what new franchisees can expect from training.
Watch the video above, or keep reading for the full Q&A.
What Did Theron Do Before Joining Jim’s Pool Care?
Theron came from senior executive roles in corporate organisations before joining Jim’s Group.
He had worked across a range of senior corporate positions and had spent most of his career in corporate organisations. By the time of this interview, he had been with Jim’s for almost five years, which he also described as five seasons.
That background matters because Theron did not come into the business after a long career in pool servicing. He came from an office and executive environment, then moved into a practical outdoor business where he could control how he worked.
Is Running a Jim’s Pool Care Franchise Less Stressful Than Corporate Work?
For Theron, life with Jim’s offers much more freedom and a whole lot less stress than his former corporate career.
He describes the difference as having control over the business he wants to build, the people he wants to work with, and the hours he wants to work. He also values working outdoors rather than staying inside a corporate environment.
The biggest change is control. Theron can decide when he works, where he works, and how he structures the business. He says that freedom has come without giving up the income level he had reached as a senior executive.
Can a Jim’s Pool Care Franchise Match a Corporate Income?
Theron says he has been earning at the same sort of levels that he earned as a senior executive, but without the same stress.
He makes the comparison directly. His income has remained around the same level while he has gained more freedom over his hours and more ability to decide when and where he works.
That does not mean every franchisee will earn the same amount. Theron is describing his own experience. For someone considering a move out of corporate work, however, his example shows why the decision does not always have to be framed as choosing lifestyle over income.
Is There Enough Work for New Jim’s Pool Care Franchisees?
Theron says his region has too much work and plenty of work for new franchisees.
At the time of the interview, he had five franchisees in the region and said they were looking for more. His reason was simple: the region had more work than the existing team could handle.
For a prospective franchisee, that gives useful context around demand in Theron’s Melbourne region at the time he spoke. Anyone considering the opportunity should still ask about current lead flow, territory availability and workload in the specific area they are looking at before making a decision.
Do You Need Pool Industry Experience to Join Jim’s Pool Care?
Franchisees can come from many different backgrounds, including professional, office, and corporate environments.
Theron says previous pool industry experience is not the deciding factor. The system is designed to train new franchisees, get them up to speed quickly, and then continue supporting them after the initial training period.
That makes the opportunity relevant to people who are used to professional or corporate work but want a more hands-on business. Prospective owners can also review Jim’s Group franchisee training to understand the wider training process.
Can You Specialise Within a Jim’s Pool Care Franchise?
Theron says the Jim’s system allows franchisees to build the type of business they want to build.
He gives examples of franchisees who specialise in high-tech equipment and others who focus on areas such as automated controls. The point is that pool care does not have to look the same for every owner.
A franchisee can shape the business around the work they are good at, the services their local market needs, and the direction they want the business to take. That flexibility is one of the reasons Theron speaks so strongly about freedom and control.
What Does Jim’s Pool Care Franchise Training Include?
The pool care training runs for a fairly intense three weeks and covers chemicals, equipment, plumbing, chemistry, and practical work on real pools.
Theron says the training is designed to skill people up across everything they need to understand about the pool. Importantly, the program does not stay theoretical. New franchisees are taken out on real jobs during those three weeks.
He specifically mentions training on real green pools. In his view, that practical experience matters because new franchisees learn how to deal with real conditions rather than only practising in a controlled or theoretical setting.
People comparing franchise options can also read the Jim’s Group guide to starting a Jim’s Pool Care franchise before deciding whether this type of business and training model suits them.
How Is Jim’s Pool Care Different From Other Pool Care Businesses?
Theron says the difference starts with showing up, being reliable, having skilled people, and getting the job done.
His answer is straightforward because those basics matter to customers. Pool owners want someone who turns up when expected, understands the work, and can solve the problem properly.
Theron also contrasts the practical training approach with competitors that, in his words, train people in “theoretical pools”. His team takes new franchisees onto real jobs and real green pools so they can build practical skills.
Prospective owners who want a clearer picture of the work can also explore the Jim’s Group day-on-the-road experience before making a decision.
How Can You Find Out if a Jim’s Pool Care Franchise Is Right for You?
Theron recommends getting online, visiting the Jim’s website or Jim’s Pool Care website, contacting franchisors, and speaking directly with other franchisees.
He specifically encourages prospective owners to talk to people already doing the work because they can tell you “the real story”. That is a useful step for anyone comparing a franchise with staying in corporate employment or starting an independent business.
Before making a decision, ask current franchisees about workload, training, support, the type of customers they service, and how they have built their own businesses. Jim’s Group also explains how it supports franchisees and provides a broader Jim’s franchise FAQ for people researching the model.
If you are considering a move from corporate work into a Jim’s Pool Care business, use Theron’s advice as the starting point: research the opportunity, speak with a franchisor, and talk to current franchisees before deciding whether the model fits the way you want to work.