Cameron Baylis, a Jim’s Mowing franchisee in Hastings, New Zealand, recently shared valuable insights about growing a business from scratch into a half-million-dollar operation in just three years.
His story highlights the power of communication, consistency, and scaling smartly, lessons that every franchise owner can use.
Starting from Zero
Cameron and his wife returned from franchise training in Melbourne with big news: they were expecting their first child.
That meant there was no time to waste.
“We bought an empty franchise with no clients,” Cameron recalled.
“So we hit the ground running, took every single lead that came our way, never said no to anything. Within a few months, we had a regular client base.”
At first, Cameron did everything himself, push mowing, gutter cleaning, water blasting, and even small building jobs.
“It was just me at the time, but we knew pretty quickly we could scale this into a business,” he said.
Scaling Up Fast
Today, Cameron runs a team of four staff plus a subcontractor.
The business now tackles large lifestyle blocks and acreage mowing with high-grade equipment like Walker and Wright commercial mowers.
“The business now is amazing. I’m really happy with where it is and where it’s moving to,” he told interviewer Joel Kleber.
Revenue has grown just as quickly.
“Last financial year, turnover was getting close to that half a million dollar mark. We did $480,000,” Cameron said.
“This year we’re on track to do a lot more than that.”
The Jim’s Advantage
Cameron credits part of his success to Jim’s Group’s unique franchise model.
With over 5,500 franchisees, it is Australia’s largest franchise network, and its flat-fee structure helps owners grow without penalty.
“We pay around $890 to $900 a month for our franchise fee, and that stays fixed for the life of your business. You can just keep scaling, and Jim’s doesn’t take a percentage,” he explained.
“There’s no other franchise I know of that does that.”
Quality and Communication
For Cameron, the key to customer satisfaction is simple.
“Communication is huge. You can normally pick up whether you’re going to convert that lead within the first five minutes of meeting somebody,” he said.
His golden rules: call clients back immediately, show up when you say you will, and always do what you promised.
“As soon as you’re there when you say you’re going to be there, you’ve pretty much already got the job.”
That focus has paid off.
Cameron’s business has a perfect five-star customer service record, with not a single complaint logged in three years.
He maintains quality by checking jobs, asking clients for feedback, and insisting on high standards from staff.
“Even if it’s a small lawn, always do the edges, always blow down, and leave the place tidier than when you got there,” he said.
Challenges and Family Support
Scaling hasn’t been without hurdles.
“The most challenging aspect would be staffing,” Cameron admitted.
“You can always rely on yourself, but relying on others to look after clients the same way you would can be tough.” Still, he’s built a strong team that includes his parents and even his best mate.
“It’s ended up being like a family business almost,” he said.
Beyond Just Mowing
Cameron is also quick to challenge misconceptions about Jim’s franchisees.
“We’re not just mowing lawns. We do landscaping, lawn treatments, and even full house renovations for clients. If you’re competent and provide a good service, you can do it,” he explained.
Takeaways for Franchise Owners
Cameron’s success offers clear lessons:
- Build trust with fast communication and reliability.
- Maintain strict quality standards, no matter the job size.
- Use Jim’s flat-fee model to scale confidently.
- Embrace opportunities beyond the basics of mowing.
As Cameron puts it, “If you set your mind to it and really want a business that’ll work, you can do anything.”
For anyone considering franchising, Cameron’s story shows what’s possible with hard work, communication, and the strength of the Jim’s brand.
To explore opportunities with Jim’s, visit jims.net.