In the fast-paced world of entrepreneurship, few stories are as inspiring as that of Jack, a former warehouse worker who made the bold leap into the world of franchising with Jim’s Mowing.
Just two months into his new venture, Jack has already tripled his income from week one, built a 5-star reputation, and is reaping the rewards of being his own boss.
Overcoming the Early Challenges of Underquoting as a Jim’s Mowing Franchisee
As with any new business venture, Jack and his business partner faced their fair share of challenges in the early days.
One of the biggest hurdles they encountered was the issue of underquoting.
“We sort of had a bit of a lull the second week in, and most of that was due to underquoting,” Jack explains.
“If we had quoted the way we quote now in the beginning, it would have been perfect back then. It’s all just a learning process.”
The problem of underquoting is a common one for new starters in the industry, as they often struggle to accurately estimate the time and resources required for a job.
“We would look at a sort of bigger garden cleanup with hedging, and we would try to estimate 5 hours, but then it ends up taking us twice as long,” Jack says.
“What we did in that case is we just started charging more to cover us in case it did take longer, and we’ve also just been improving in terms of getting the jobs done faster anyway, just with our skills.”
This early lesson in the importance of accurate quoting has been a valuable one for Jack and his partner.
As they’ve gained more experience, they’ve developed a better understanding of the time and resources required for different types of jobs, allowing them to provide more accurate quotes and ensure their profitability.
Choosing the Jim’s Mowing Franchise: A Wise Decision
For Jack, the decision to join the Jim’s Mowing franchise was a strategic one, driven by the desire for a reliable and well-established brand.
“It was probably about a year ago, and we were driving to work together, talking about making more money,” he explains in an interview with Joel Kleber.
“I was like, ‘A franchise is probably a good idea,’ and then we just started researching.”
The appeal of the Jim’s Mowing brand was multifaceted.
“The leads and the national brand were just a big selling point for sure,” Jack says.
“We started running numbers on being independent, and then we’re like, ‘Oh yeah, we could be independent.’ But the more research we did into Jim’s, it was like, ‘It’s a no-brainer.’”
One of the key advantages of the Jim’s Mowing franchise that Jack and his partner recognized was the quality of the leads they would receive.
“Yesterday, we had a lead come through, which was Department of Main Roads, and they’re doing a highway upgrade, and they want seven lots mowed,” Jack shares.
“People underestimate that, because a lot of independents, we see all the time, ‘Don’t pay Jim’s, you know, start yourself and away you go.’ But then you’ve got to advertise, ‘Bill’s Mowing’ or whatever it’s called, and no one knows who the heck you are. You’ve got no reviews, whereas if you have the Jim’s name, as you said, you’ve got a government organization as an example just calling up, wanting Jim’s Mowing.”
The reliability and reputation of the Jim’s Mowing brand have also been a significant factor in Jack’s success.
“A lot of people know that Jim’s are reliable, and it’s a quality thing too, because we tell them that we’re police-checked and everything, and then there’s just more comfort in the customer going through Jim’s Mowing,” he explains.
Embracing the Physical Demands of the Job at Jim’s Mowing
Transitioning from a warehouse job to the physically demanding work of a Jim’s Mowing franchisee was a significant adjustment for Jack and his partner.
“Our first week, our first week was a bit of a struggle,” Jack admits.
“Our second lead was like a giant pile of mulch, and in hindsight, we should have turned the job down and not done it, because it’s about three tons of mulch that we just shoveled by hand. We underquoted it for sure, and we were sore the rest of the week.”
However, with time and dedication, Jack’s body has adapted to the demands of the job.
“Every now and then, if we’re in a garden bed pulling out plants or something, we’ll get sore, but other than that, the body’s adjusted well,” he says.
The physical transformation of the properties they work on has also been a source of immense satisfaction for Jack.
“The satisfaction in just completely changing someone’s property is amazing,” he enthuses.
“I love taking those before and after pictures and getting that self-gratification, you know?“
The Power of Partnering Up
One of the key decisions Jack and his business partner made was to start the franchise together, rather than going it alone.
“We’ve been talking about it all of yesterday, and in terms of efficiencies, it’s insane, because we can just get so much more done,” Jack explains.
“If we’re out on the road, he can be driving, and I can be sending the invoices straight away and calling the customers. It’s definitely a big benefit.”
The 50/50 partnership arrangement has also allowed Jack and his partner to leverage their respective strengths and responsibilities.
Embracing the Jim’s Mowing Training and Support
Another key factor in Jack’s success has been the comprehensive training and ongoing support provided by the Jim’s Mowing franchise.
“The training was great, eye-opening, I would say, especially a lot of the general training those first three days,” he shares.
“The big things that hit home were all the accounting sort of passes, everyone out, and then just seeing the system and how to use the system, that was great.”
The support from the local area manager has also been invaluable.
“He’s been a gold mine for us,” Jack says.
“He’s helped us do many big jobs, and then he sort of was the eye-opener for us in terms of when we’re sending quotes, to send them as accurately as possible to avoid miscommunication in terms of what we’re going to complete for that customer.”
This attention to detail and communication has been a crucial aspect of Jack’s success, as he has learned the importance of clearly outlining every line item in the quote to avoid any misunderstandings with the customer.
Embracing the Latest Technology: Going Electric
One of the standout features of Jack’s Jim’s Mowing franchise is its commitment to using the latest electric equipment.
“We’re all electric, all Ego brands,” Jack explains.
“In terms of the maintenance, it’s just a million times easier to manage batteries than it is to manage the petrol stuff, in our opinion.”
The decision to go electric has not only been beneficial for the environment but has also been well-received by their customers.
“They love it,” Jack says.
“Sometimes, we’ll be mowing a lawn, and then we can hear the petrol engine down the street, and it’s so loud. For us, it’s definitely the way to go.”
The Ego commercial mower they use is a powerful and reliable piece of equipment, capable of handling even the most demanding jobs.
“It’s the big commercial, alloy one, and it’s perfect,” Jack says.
“We have four 12-amp batteries, and they just last the whole day easily, and then we have a backpack that we use for all the whipper-snipping and pole saws, and that’s 28 amp-hours.”
This commitment to using the latest technology not only sets Jack’s franchise apart but also demonstrates his dedication to providing his customers with a high-quality, environmentally-friendly service.
The Freedom and Satisfaction of Being Your Own Boss
One of the most significant benefits of running a Jim’s Mowing franchise for Jack has been the freedom and flexibility it provides.
“The freedom has been great in terms of choosing what jobs we want to do, how much we want to charge for those jobs,” he says.
“It’s so justifying, because if we think a job is worth x amount of money, we can do it for that, and then if we don’t have to, we don’t have to do it if the customer disagrees with the price, especially if it’s a big job that we know is going to take us a long time to do.”
This sense of control and autonomy has been a significant factor in Jack’s satisfaction with his new venture.
“I didn’t think it would feel this good, but it does,” he says.
“And then the freedom of, you know, if we want to have a sleep-in, we can have a sleep-in and then still get all the jobs done for the day.”
Mastering the Art of Customer Service
One of the keys to Jack’s success has been his focus on providing exceptional customer service.
“Communication is huge,” he says.
“A lot of our customer feedback has been the communication aspect of it. They’re not going to get annoyed if you’re messaging them, keeping them updated on stuff. They actually prefer that.”
This commitment to communication has paid off, as evidenced by Jack’s perfect 5-star rating on the Jim’s Mowing system.
“We’ll give them an hour window, and we’ll arrive as soon as rather than later in that hour, giving them updates on the job if we have to leave if it starts raining, and then when we’ll come back, and then just keeping them in the loop,” he explains.
This level of attention to detail and customer service has been a key factor in Jack’s success, as he has been able to build a loyal customer base and maintain a strong reputation within the community.
Advice for Aspiring Jim’s Mowing Franchisees
For those considering starting their own Jim’s Mowing franchise, Jack has some valuable advice to share.
“Have a plan going in, okay, what you want to get out of it, and then once you have a plan, just go for it,” he says.
“Shoot for it. I’ve had no regrets.”
He also emphasizes the importance of being willing to learn and adapt.
“It’s all just a learning process,” Jack says.
“But at the moment, we’ve probably tripled what we were making the first week already, really, and that’s just some proper quoting and spending the right amount of time at the job.”
Overall, Jack’s journey from warehouse worker to thriving Jim’s Mowing franchisee is a testament to the power of determination, adaptability, and a willingness to embrace new challenges.
By leveraging the support and resources of the Jim’s Mowing franchise, he has been able to build a successful and fulfilling business that provides him with the freedom and satisfaction he was seeking.
If you’re interested in learning more about the Jim’s Mowing franchise and how you can start your own journey, be sure to check out the Jim’s Mowing franchise opportunities or call 131 546 (AUS) or 0800 454 654 (NZ) to request an information pack.
Key Takeaways:
- Accurate quoting is crucial to avoid early struggles with underquoting.
- The Jim’s Mowing franchise offers a reliable brand, high-quality leads, and a supportive network.
- Partnering with a business partner can significantly improve efficiency and productivity.
- The Jim’s Mowing training and support system, including the local area manager, is an invaluable resource.
- Embracing the latest electric equipment can provide a competitive edge and environmental benefits.
- The freedom and satisfaction of being your own boss are significant motivators.
- Exceptional customer service, with a focus on communication, is key to building a successful franchise.
- Aspiring franchisees should have a plan, be willing to learn, and go for it with determination.
To learn more about the Jim’s Mowing franchise and how you can start your own journey, visit the Jim’s Group website or check out the Jim’s Group YouTube channel for more inspiring stories and business advice.