Discover the inspiring journey of Dave Baker, an automotive employee turned entrepreneur, as he shares his day-to-day experiences of running Jim’s franchise.
Are you looking to make a career change and become an entrepreneur? Look no further than Dave Baker’s experience as a Jim’s Mowing franchisee. Dave spent 10 years in the automotive industry before making the switch to Jim’s and hasn’t looked back since.
In this blog, we will discuss Dave’s experience with Jim’s Group, building a successful franchise business, marketing and quoting strategies, overcoming challenges as a franchisee, and growing and scaling a Jim’s franchise.
Dave’s Experience with Jim’s Group
Dave Baker is a former automotive employee who took a leap of faith and became a successful franchisee of Jim’s Mowing in Perth, Western Australia. We will take a closer look at Dave’s experience with Jim’s Group and how it has transformed his life.
After spending ten years in the automotive industry as a sales and service manager, Dave was ready for a change. Initially, he wanted to buy an auto Master’s franchise system, but the high cost of entry made it unfeasible. Luckily, Dave’s brother-in-law was already a Jim’s franchisee and highly recommended the system. Dave did some research online and was hooked.
The first step in Dave’s journey was to attend the training in Melbourne, which he found to be an incredibly exciting and cool experience. The training covered various aspects of business and mowing, including quoting, and left him feeling fired up and ready to tackle the challenge.
However, the transition from being an employee to a business owner was not without its challenges. Dave went from having a consistent income to waiting for leads to come through.
But he quickly discovered that lead generation was not an issue with Jim’s, and within the first day of generating leads, he had made $580. Within the first week, he had generated $1,800, and within five weeks, he had made $5,000. In fact, Dave emphasized that the big red flag with Jim’s franchise is that there is too much work, which can make franchisees lazy. He encourages franchisees to let their customers know about the other services they offer to add value to their lives and make things easier for them.
Dave advises anyone starting their franchise journey with Jim’s not to stress about income as it will come naturally with the system. He also encourages new franchisees to live in the moment and enjoy the excitement and rush of the first week.
Dave’s experience with Jim’s Group has been life-changing, and he highly recommends the franchise system to anyone looking to become a business owner. The system provides an exciting and supportive environment where success is within reach for anyone willing to take the leap of faith.
Building a Successful Franchise Business with Jim’s Group
Dave Baker found success and fulfillment as a Jim’s franchisee. His journey started with a training week in Melbourne, which he describes as a great experience. From the initial inquiry to training to becoming a Lawnmower Man, the process was exciting and cool.
Although Dave came from an unrelated field, he was pumped up and ready to roll when he started in the field. However, he quickly realized that there was much to learn about the business. Dave’s advice to anyone who is new to the franchise is to take a step back and live in the moment. Enjoy the euphoria of that first week, but don’t get too caught up in it. Take time to learn, research, and upskill yourself.
Jim’s Group offers support through fellow franchisees, franchisors, and an online network that franchisees can use. Lean on this support system and double down on the information if you don’t know something. It’s essential to research and learn about your business continually.
Dave’s transition from being an employee to becoming a business owner was challenging. He invested every last cent he had and borrowed a couple of grand from his parents to start his franchise. However, Jim’s Group provides lead generation and income guarantees, making it easier to focus on running your business.
Dave’s first day in the field, without any leads or clients, generated $580 in revenue. He then made $2,500 in his first week, followed by $5,000 in five weeks. Although the income changes every week, Dave found the transition to be worth it. He advises franchisees not to stress about income, as it will be there.
Learning and upskilling were critical to Dave’s success. He recommends carrying a notepad and pen to jot down customer questions and then doing research later. Listening to podcasts, audiobooks, and business-related content while working is also an excellent way to learn and upskill yourself.
He says that the biggest mistake franchisees can make is to hustle with information in the first six to twelve months and then stop learning and updating themselves. Keeping up to date on the latest processes, chemicals, machinery, and small business practices is essential.
Dave says that Jim’s Group will be a fulfilling and lucrative career path for anyone passionate about outdoor maintenance. With a support system in place, there’s never been a better time to take control of your career and start your journey as a Jim’s franchisee.
Marketing and quoting strategies
If you’re looking to become a Jim’s franchisee, there are a few key things to keep in mind when it comes to marketing and quoting strategies.
One of the most important things to remember is that customers don’t always know everything that you can do. You need to make sure that you’re promoting yourself as a one-stop-shop to make their lives easier. However, it’s important to note that not all franchisees want to be a one-stop-shop, and that’s fine too.
The beauty of the Jim’s franchise system is that you can shape it however you want.
When it comes to quoting, it’s essential to do it in person. While some may think that quoting via photos is acceptable, Jim himself advises against it. As a Jim’s franchisee, you’ll often find that people come to you based on recommendations from friends who have used your services in the past.
It’s essential to be prompt in responding to their request for a quote, and to follow up with a text and get to the property as soon as possible. When you’re at the property, ask the customer what they’re looking for, as they may not know the exact process needed to achieve the outcome they desire.
Use this opportunity to spar with them and offer additional services that they may not have considered.
One tip for selling is to always get the customer to say yes to a small thing before moving on to a bigger sale. This helps to get them into the mindset of saying yes and can make closing the sale easier.
Another key piece of advice is to tighten up the process from quote to job completion as much as possible. The sooner you can get the job done, the better, as customers may lose interest or forget about the quote if too much time passes.
When it comes to managing your quotes, it’s best to do them on a daily basis. However, this may depend on your area and how far you’re willing to drive.
Quoting is essential in setting up the relationship with the customer, and it’s important to make sure you present yourself well and show that you’re a top-dollar operator. One method that has worked for Dave Baker is to quote on the spot and ask if the customer has time for you to complete the job right then and there. This helps to secure the job and get you paid before the customer has a chance to say no.
Overall, the key to success as a Jim’s franchisee is to use the system that’s already in place and not try to reinvent the wheel. Lean on the franchise system and use it to your advantage.
Make sure to network with other franchisees at meetings and ask them what their favorite and least favorite types of jobs are. By doing this, you may be able to get additional work that they don’t want to handle.
If you keep these tips in mind, you’ll be well on your way to success as a Jim’s franchisee.
Overcoming Challenges As A Franchisee
As a franchisee, you are bound to face challenges that can potentially make or break your business. Dave Baker shared some insights on overcoming these challenges.
One of his biggest pieces of advice is to soldier on through the bad days. There will be days where you’ll encounter setbacks, such as a complaint from a customer or equipment breaking down, but it’s important to stay disciplined and accountable for your actions.
Instead of blaming others or circumstances, take ownership of the situation and focus on finding solutions.
Another important tip he shared is to increase your hourly rate until the market says no. The market will tell you what your services are worth based on the demand for them.
If you find that your conversion rate is decreasing, it’s a sign that your hourly rate may be too high for what the market is willing to pay. Don’t get caught up in hourly rates, but focus on providing quality work that is worth the price you’re asking for.
It’s also important to note that as you become more efficient and skilled, you may naturally become quicker at completing jobs, which can lead to a lower hourly rate. However, you can counteract this by adjusting your rates accordingly.
As a franchisee, it’s also important to be open to feedback from the market. If you receive a complaint about your pricing, it’s not necessarily a negative thing. Instead, view it as an opportunity to learn from your customers and adjust your pricing accordingly.
Don’t feel the need to win every job, as it may not be worth it in the long run. It’s better to work for less than you’re worth to establish a relationship with a potential repeat customer than to lose the opportunity altogether.
In summary, as a franchisee, you will face challenges, but it’s important to stay disciplined and accountable for your actions. Increase your hourly rate until the market says no, and be open to feedback from customers to make adjustments accordingly. Don’t be afraid to work for less than you’re worth to establish relationships with potential repeat customers. By following these tips, you can overcome challenges and build a successful franchise business.
Jim’s Group is here with you to overcome challenges with your franchise.
Growing and Scaling a Jim’s Franchise
Dave Baker’s success story will give you a good idea of what it takes to grow and scale a Jim’s franchise. When Dave first met with Danny at Cafe, he was curious about the earning potential of a Jim’s franchisee.
Danny couldn’t give him an exact figure, but he mentioned that some franchisees make up to $5,000 a week. Dave was skeptical, but he decided to take a chance on Jim’s, and he hasn’t looked back since.
What makes Jim’s so attractive is that it’s stupidly scalable. With a franchise like Auto Masters, you’d have to buy four stores for $2.5 million to expand your business. But with Jim’s, you can simply add more trailers to your fleet and increase your turnover without any additional costs.
This means that your earning potential is limitless, and the only thing holding you back is your own effort.
However, with great earning potential comes great responsibility. Jim’s prides itself on providing exceptional customer service, and franchisees are expected to maintain high standards at all times.
Jim himself is notorious for his strict policies on complaints, and franchisees who fail to meet his expectations are quickly reprimanded. But Dave sees this as a good thing. Dealing with complaints has made him a better business operator, and he’s learned to go above and beyond for his customers.
As he puts it, “it makes you a great businessman.” So if you’re considering becoming a Jim’s franchisee, be prepared to work hard and deliver top-notch service. He also said that it is only natural to swiftly act on complaints because the Jim’s Group is also protecting its more than 5,000 franchisees.
When it comes to earning potential, Dave says that the sky’s the limit. He knows franchisees who make up to $1,000 a day just from mowing lawns, and up to $1,800 a day for landscaping jobs. Of course, this depends on your level of skill and experience, but Dave says that upskilling is key to increasing your earning potential.
Knowing when to fertilize, identifying lawn problems, and offering additional services like garden tidies can help you charge top dollar for your services.
Dave’s advice to aspiring franchisees is to “quote and lose”, meaning you should be quick to quote jobs and move on if the customer says no. Don’t waste time trying to convince them to change their mind. And don’t blame the franchise system or your area for your lack of success. There are thousands of franchisees out there who are killing it, and you can too if you’re willing to put in the effort.
So, is a Jim’s franchise worth it? According to Dave, absolutely. As long as you’re willing to work hard, provide exceptional service, and constantly upskill, you can make a great living as a Jim’s franchisee. And with the scalability of the franchise system, the earning potential is limitless. So why not take a chance on Jim’s and see where it takes you?
Conclusion
Overall, Dave Baker’s experience as a Jim’s Group franchisee provides valuable insights and strategies for anyone considering becoming an entrepreneur and building their own business.
By following his example and utilizing the support system provided by Jim’s Group, you can build a successful franchise business and overcome the challenges that come with being a franchisee.
If you’re looking to become an entrepreneur, take inspiration from Dave’s journey and follow your passion to create a successful business. Jim’s Group offers a supportive community, resources, and opportunities to help you succeed as a franchisee.
With the right mindset, strategies, and support, you can achieve success as an entrepreneur and build a successful franchise business. Don’t hesitate to explore the possibilities and take the first step towards creating your own success story with Jim’s Group.
if you want to learn more about Dave’s experience as a Jim’s Group franchisee and his insights on entrepreneurship, listen to the podcast episode where he shares his journey and strategies for success. The podcast is available here.
Subscribe to the Jim’s Group Podcast Below
Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/show/502PU0ZUKtzFjGmcDoHDi4?si=4a9c353fb9154d77
iTunes – https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/jims-podcast/id1466721618
Video Episodes YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLZLlOfY2ia2u5OyFx3RfmBN-zmZ9cvwGX
To enquire about joining Jim’s – https://jims.net/own-a-franchise/
Hosted by Joel Kleber