In short: Shaun Thomas left a 10-year Aldi store manager role and built a Jim’s Hazmat franchise that did $250,000 in its first 12 months. Starting year three, he projects about $700,000 in revenue, backed by technical training, builder referrals, Jim’s systems, and specialist hazardous material removal work.
In a Jim’s Podcast episode, Shaun Thomas explains how a Jim’s Hazmat Removal franchisee in Beenleigh transitioned from a 10-year management career at Aldi into specialist work involving asbestos containment, meth testing, mould treatment, PPE, registered waste disposal, and regulated site processes. Shaun had no trade background, started with about $80,000, and built a business around safety, technical training, and local referral relationships.
A Jim’s Hazmat franchise can suit someone who wants a specialised service business with strong training, serious safety standards, and high-value job potential. Shaun Thomas did $250,000 in his first year and now projects about $700,000 starting year three with one employee. This article covers his career change, the technical work, the Jim’s system, and what customers and future franchisees can learn from his story.
Watch the full episode below, or keep reading for the key takeaways.
How Did Shaun Go From Aldi Manager To Jim’s Hazmat Franchisee?
Shaun Thomas spent 10 years as a store manager at Aldi before joining Jim’s Hazmat. He had no trade background and no specialist hazardous material experience.
The trigger came from a Facebook ad, but the need felt familiar. Shaun had mould in his own bathroom, and a friend had bought a house with asbestos.
That made him realise hazardous materials were not rare. They were sitting inside normal homes, rentals, and renovation jobs.
Shaun then spoke with Gary, a Jim’s Hazmat franchisor in Queensland. Gary first offered one hour, but Shaun ended up spending half a day with him talking through the business, services, and future demand.
That conversation changed the direction of Shaun’s career. Within two weeks, he went to training. Within six weeks of the first phone call, he was in the Jim’s system.
The biggest shift was not just the work. It was moving from employee thinking to business owner thinking.
Shaun said he struggled with that switch for the first three to six months. He had to stop waiting for work and start building relationships, real estate contacts, and local trust.
That is why his story suits anyone researching owning a Jim’s franchise, but wondering if they need trade experience before starting.
What Makes Jim’s Hazmat Asbestos Removal Different From A Standard Cleanup?
The technical edge in Shaun’s business is safe asbestos removal. This is not a job where someone turns up, pulls material out, and dumps it.
Shaun explains that every asbestos job starts with a site visit. He does not quote over the phone because the cost can change based on containment walls, access distance, testing, clearance, waste handling, and how far the material must travel from the removal point to the trailer.
If the material has not been tested, Shaun recommends testing first. If a contractor assumes a material is asbestos, Shaun says they must treat it as asbestos.
The science matters because asbestos becomes dangerous when fibres are disturbed and released into the air. That is why the process relies on containment, plastic sheeting, PPE, controlled handling, clearance planning, and registered waste disposal.
In Queensland, Shaun says jobs over 10 square metres require five days’ notice to the government. The team must submit forms showing the removal date, quantity, supervisor, workers, and other details. Immediate neighbours also need notification.
Shaun uses tipper trailers instead of hiring skips where suitable. That can remove the skip hire cost while still taking the material to a registered dump.
Pro Tips From Shaun’s Process:
- Always test suspected asbestos before removal where possible.
- Do not quote complex asbestos jobs over the phone.
- Plan containment, clearance, and registered waste before the job starts.
This is why technical training matters. Shaun completed asbestos training, mould training, water damage training, and meth training, with specialist courses ranging from two to five days, depending on the service.
Future franchisees can also review Jim’s franchisee training to understand how training supports people who come from different careers.
How Does The Jim’s Hazmat Franchise System Help New Operators Grow?
The Jim’s system gave Shaun structure when he had no trade background. He started with Melbourne training, waited through the cooling-off period, then spent his first three months working with strong support.
Gary came on-site, helped with quotes, helped set up jobs, and used FaceTime calls when needed. Shaun also leaned on other experienced franchisees, including Tony, for biohazard advice.
That support matters because Jim’s Hazmat covers serious work. Shaun discussed asbestos, mould, water damage, meth testing, biohazard cleans, hoarder cleans, syringe pickups, sewage cleanups, crime scenes, and unattended deaths.
A standard independent operator must build training, quoting systems, trust, marketing, and safety processes alone. Shaun had the Jim’s brand, peer network, franchisor support, leads, and business systems behind him.
His numbers show how that structure can work when the operator takes ownership. Shaun said his startup cost was about $55,000 for the Hazmat division, plus about $25,000 for trailer, insurance, and setup. That put his total around $80,000.
He did $250,000 in his first 12 months, including three months of training and one month overseas. Starting year three, he projects about $700,000.
Shaun also likes the flat fee structure because his fees stayed similar from year one to year two while revenue increased. Anyone comparing models can read more about how Jim’s franchising fees work.
Shaun’s view on leads is practical. He likes paying for leads because it makes him act quickly. If he pays for a lead, he calls the customer because he does not want to waste the money.
But he also warns against relying on leads forever. His advice is to build real referral relationships with builders, real estate agents, and other local contacts.
That is the difference between buying a job and building a business.
Why Does Local Hazmat Knowledge Matter In Beenleigh And Queensland Homes?
Local knowledge matters in Hazmat because the work changes by property, climate, housing age, and state rules.
Shaun operates from Jim’s Hazmat Removal in Beenleigh and works across Queensland markets where asbestos, mould, coastal moisture, older homes, and rental property issues can all appear.
On the Gold Coast, Shaun said he once drove past around 12 houses in a row with asbestos roofs. He also said most of his business is asbestos, with biohazard work becoming a growing focus.
In humid or coastal areas, mould becomes a common issue when homes lack ventilation. Shaun recommends strong bathroom ventilation with a timer so steam clears for 10 minutes after a shower.
For water leaks, he recommends getting someone out within the first 24 hours to extract water and dry the place. Poor conditions can allow mould to grow quickly.
For hoarder cleans, local expertise also means emotional judgement. Shaun worked on one job with nearly $5,000 in waste alone and four days of general waste removal. He says the story behind the mess can involve illness, grief, or people giving up during hard periods.
The same applies to biohazard and unattended death work. Shaun says dealing with families can be harder than the actual cleaning.
That professional care is part of the local service standard customers expect from Jim’s Hazardous Material Removal.
How Does A Jim’s Hazmat Franchise Compare With A Standard Independent Contractor?
| Feature | Standard Independent Contractor | Jim’s Professional Standard |
| Training | Must find and fund training alone | Division-specific training, field support, and peer advice |
| Safety Systems | May rely on personal experience | PPE, containment, testing, registered waste, and structured process |
| Brand Trust | Must build trust from zero | Backed by the Jim’s name and national customer expectations |
| Leads And Referrals | Must generate all work independently | Jim’s leads plus builder, real estate, and division referrals |
| Business Support | Often isolated when complex jobs appear | Franchisor, franchisee network, and cross-division support |
‘I think we’re a very recession-proof division because we’re not wanted, we’re needed, which is a big difference.’
– Shaun Thomas, Jim’s Hazmat Removal franchisee in Beenleigh
FAQ: What Do People Ask About A Jim’s Hazmat Franchise?
Yes, Shaun started with no trade background after 10 years as an Aldi store manager. He relied on Jim’s training, Gary’s support, supervised jobs, and regular calls during the first three months.
Shaun did $250,000 in his first 12 months. That included three months of training and one month overseas, so he was very happy with the result.
Shaun said the Hazmat division cost $55,000 to start. He then spent about another $25,000 on trailer, insurance, and other setup items, bringing the total to roughly $80,000.
Shaun said his average job value sits between $4,500 and $5,500. He also said his lead conversion rate is about 70%, with strong referral work from builders.
The services discussed include asbestos removal, mould treatment, water damage, meth testing, meth decontamination, biohazard cleaning, hoarder cleaning, sewage cleanup, syringe pickup, crime scene cleaning, and unattended death cleanup.
Hazmat work is often one-off. Shaun says one builder can turn into five more relationships when the work is done professionally, and the contractor turns up.
Shaun explains that he pays a flat monthly fee, then leads fees when he chooses to accept leads. As revenue grows, the flat fee becomes a smaller percentage of the business, which is why he values the model.
Shaun’s story gives one real example: $250,000 in year one and a projected $700,000 starting year three. Earnings vary by division, operator, area, and effort, so future franchisees should also review how much they can earn with a Jim’s franchise.
Key Takeaways
- Shaun Thomas moved from a 10-year Aldi career into Jim’s Hazmat with no trade background.
- His first 12 months produced $250,000, including three months of training and one month overseas.
- His rough startup cost was $80,000, including the division cost, trailer, insurance, and setup.
- The technical edge comes from asbestos, mould, water, meth, and biohazard training.
- The business grew through Jim’s systems, builder referrals, real estate contacts, and local trust.
Take The Next Step
Get Hazardous Materials Removed Safely With Jim’s Hazmat
If you need asbestos removal, mould treatment, meth testing, biohazard cleaning, hoarder cleanups, or syringe pickup, Jim’s Hazmat Removal gives you a local service backed by professional standards and the Jim’s National Guarantee.
The key is not just removing the hazard. It is knowing how to assess the site, protect the property, manage risk, and complete the job with care.
Request your free quote from Jim’s Hazmat Removal today.
Build A Specialist Service Business With The Jim’s Hazmat System
Shaun’s story shows what can happen when someone treats a Jim’s Hazmat franchise as a real business, not just a job. He started with no trade background, followed the training, asked questions, built referrals, and created a business that gave his family more options.
If you are comparing specialist service businesses, this is worth a closer look because the work is needed, technical, and supported by the Jim’s system.
Learn more about joining Jim’s Group at jims.net or call 131 546 today.