We get asked these questions every week. Here are honest answers from Frieda Tabiaat, a Jim’s Cleaning franchise owner within Jim’s Group. This article covers 18 of the most common questions about the Jim’s Cleaning franchise.
Watch the video above, or keep reading for the full Q&A.
What were you doing prior to Jim’s Cleaning?
Before Jim’s Cleaning, Frieda Tabiaat worked in an accounting firm and as a finance broker. She says she was in the corporate world for 17 years, including six years at a very busy accounting firm, before making the move into business ownership.
What prompted the change?
She wanted a change, a challenge, and the chance to be her own boss. Frieda says the idea came from her daughter, who suggested opening a Jim’s Cleaning franchise, and once they made the move, she says they never looked back.
What is it about Jim’s that got you interested?
The name, the brand, and what she had heard about Jim’s got her interested. Frieda says she kept seeing Jim’s businesses on the road, did her homework, met other companies, then met Bill and felt the Jim’s Group system, built by founder Jim Penman, ticked all the boxes without setting off alarm bells.
She also says the outlay to buy into Jim’s Cleaning felt low compared with some other companies. For readers wanting the official starting point, the guide on how to start a Jim’s Cleaning franchise is the most relevant next step.
How was the training knowing that you have an unrelated field to this?
She says the training was fantastic and gave her a real understanding of how the system worked. The training ran for four days, and six years later, she still looks back at the notes because they were that useful.
She says they learned how to run a business, met other franchisees, and spoke with people who had been doing it for years. That lines up with the broader Jim’s Group training and support approach.
Is it just you working on your business or who’s in your team?
No. Frieda says her daughter handles the admin; they have 16 employees in total, four full-time cars on the road, and they are looking at adding another two cars by the end of the year.
She describes the business as thriving and says word of mouth, friends, family, friends, Indeed, and the internet have all helped them keep growing.
How do you find your employees and how do you train them?
They find people through their network, interviews, and local referrals, then train them in a structured way. Frieda says new starters get two weeks of initial training, then work with a team leader for the next three months until they have mastered the role.
She says they now have three team leaders and a strong focus on looking after staff properly. That includes super, tax, WorkCover, monthly rewards, bonuses, and Employee of the Month. Her view is simple: if you do not build a good team, you do not grow.
Do you think having 16 employees is possible when you first started?
Yes, but only if you are prepared to work hard and stay patient. Frieda says nothing happens overnight, and that the first five years took heart and soul.
COVID knocked the business back, and they did not work for 18 months. When they came back in March last year, it was Frieda, her daughter, and one employee. From October last year until now, they have grown to 16 employees, which she sees as proof that strong service and strong communication create growth.
How was the support been over the years?
She says the support has been unbelievable. Frieda says Bill and Sharon were always there, and if they missed a call, they called back within minutes.
She is especially clear about COVID. She says Jim’s Group stood by its franchisees during hard times and that support helped them survive and come back with confidence.
Do you think the fees are fair?
Yes, she thinks the fees are fair and minimal compared with the upside. Frieda says you pay the lead fee, but if a client stays with you for the next 10 years, Jim’s does not take a percentage of that ongoing income.
Her point is that the monthly franchise fees stay small compared with what a franchisee can make in return. Anyone comparing divisions can also browse the wider Jim’s franchise opportunities page.
How would you compare the lifestyle from what you’re doing previously?
She says the lifestyle is at least 50% less stressful than what she was doing before. Frieda credits that to having a good system where she handles quoting, clients, and staff while her daughter manages the admin side from home.
She says they are off the tools 95% of the time, have better work-life balance, and spend more time with family.
Are you happy with the level of income that you’re making?
Yes, and she says there is no comparison to what came before. Frieda describes the income as unbelievable and says the business has given her family financial freedom.
She also says she feels grateful for the opportunity and the Jim’s name behind the business. For readers wanting to understand the customer-facing side of the brand, the Jim’s Cleaning services page gives a clear overview.
What are some advice can you give regarding scaling your business?
Her advice is to stop being scared of hiring. Frieda says many owners worry they will not have enough work for a permanent part-time employee, but her view is that you cannot take on more work unless you already have the people in place.
She recommends baby steps. Start with one employee, then a second, then a third. She also says not to be afraid of adding more cars, team leaders, and systems, because growth needs structure, not guesswork.
What type of clients are you working with and what services do you provide?
She says 95% of their client base is NDIS, alongside commercial clients, vacates, and builders’ cleans. Frieda describes the business as a one-stop shop that also says yes to gardening, steam cleaning, rubbish removal, windows, and more.
One of her strongest examples is a family she helped for free after a serious car accident. That goodwill later led to a radiology room contract. Her point is that doing the right thing and going above and beyond can turn into long-term business.
Why do you think people choose Jim’s services?
She says people choose Jim’s because of the brand, the name, and the guarantee. If a client is not happy, Frieda says they go back and rectify the problem free of charge.
She also says her business has held a five-star rating for six consecutive years, and that clients like knowing there is a head office and a system behind the service. That peace of mind matters.
What sort of advice would you give to someone looking to have a franchise?
Her advice is to do your homework and look for the system that ticks all the boxes. Frieda says Jim’s felt open, clear, and honest, with nothing hidden.
She also points out that people can do the training first if they are unsure about buying a business. For someone still weighing things up, that lowers the pressure and helps them make a more informed decision.
What’s your long-term plan?
Her long-term plan is to keep growing, get 100% off the tools, and eventually retire by 55. Frieda says she is 51 now and wants to hand the business over to her son and daughter when the time is right.
That answer matters because it shows the business is not just about today’s jobs. For her, it is something worth building to pass on.
Have you outsourced some of the work load for you to scale your business?
Yes, and she says that support has been critical. Frieda says opening the company in October last year came from advice from her accountant, and she now speaks with him at least once a week.
She says a great accountant, a good bookkeeper, the franchisor, and a solid system all matter if you want to grow. Her advice is to stay organised, believe in yourself, and keep excellent people around you.
Has the business exceeded your expectations?
Yes, it has exceeded her expectations. Frieda says she expected maybe three, four, or five employees, but reaching 16 in less than a year from October until now has gone well beyond that.
She says she had faith in the system and faith in herself, and now wants to keep growing from here.
Want to explore it properly? Start with the Jim’s Cleaning franchise page, review the training information, and then make a franchise enquiry through Jim’s Group.