Rick Sammons moved from corrections into a Jim’s Mowing Bathurst franchise and built roughly 70–75 regular clients in his first 12 months. His fourth month reached $20,000; he later recorded back-to-back $8,000 weeks, and he paid off a $30,000 start-up loan within the year.
In a Jim’s Podcast episode, Rick Sammons explains how he moved from working as a correctional officer to running Jim’s Mowing in Bathurst, NSW, using tight route-density planning, Jimbo customer communication, and a Ferris Z2 52-inch stand-on mower with an adjustable suspension plate. His first year shows how Jim’s Group training, leads, franchisor support and equipment choices can turn a new mowing run into a structured local business.
A Jim’s Mowing Bathurst franchise can grow quickly when the operator combines customer communication, local visibility, route density and the right equipment. Rick started at the end of May 2025, had 17 regular clients coming out of his first winter, and reached a $20,000 month in September, his fourth month. This article covers how he built the run and adapted it to Bathurst conditions.
Watch the full episode below, or keep reading for the key takeaways.
Why Did Rick Sammons Choose Jim’s Mowing After Leaving Corrections?
Rick came into Jim’s Mowing after working as a correctional officer. He wanted more control over his day and described outdoor work as “only as stressful as you want to make it”.
The first winter still tested him. Bathurst had not had a Jim’s operator for a number of years, so Rick used the region’s $2,500-a-week Pay for Work Guarantee, contacted customers from an unserviced-client list going back six months to 1 January, and promoted himself through local Facebook pages.
By the end of winter, he had 17 regular clients. Six or seven regulars came from his original paid-for-work jobs, while other customers returned for one-off work or referred him.
By September, his fourth month, the business reached $20,000. His longer-term goal was to build towards $1,000 to $1,500 a day.
People considering owning a Jim’s franchise can take one useful lesson from Rick’s start: the system can provide structure, but the operator still has to build local relationships.
What Equipment Helped Rick Work Faster Without Wrecking His Back?
During the busy season, Rick was completing around 10 to 15 lawns a day. He also spent long periods on acreage and commercial properties with equipment that was not designed for that workload.
On one day, he spent seven to seven and a half hours on a ride-on mower across two jobs. The repeated bouncing aggravated his back and, in Rick’s words, “slipped my L5 disc”.
He bought a Ferris Z2 52-inch stand-on mower with an adjustable suspension plate. A suspension platform allows controlled movement between the machine and operator, reducing some of the shock transferred from rough ground through a rigid platform.
That suited Bathurst acreage and uneven rural blocks. Rick later completed a seven-hour acreage mow on the machine without the same pain, although he was still physically tired.
He also changed to a lighter Honda HRN216 push mower and said dropping about 10 kilograms of mower weight helped. At about 68 kilograms himself, handling a 58-to-60-kilogram mower through wet grass had been hard on his back.
Pro Tips
- Match equipment to terrain, access and job length.
- Rick sharpens mower blades about every two weeks and carries a second set.
- Maintain the operator too. Rick still attends physiotherapy once a month.
How Did Jim’s Help Rick Build His First 17 Regular Customers?
Rick combined Jim’s Group systems with his own local activity.
Training gave him a starting point. The Pay for Work Guarantee helped during launch. Jim’s leads, an unserviced-client list, and franchisor support added work and guidance. A few months in, Rick was already taking prospective franchisees out for days on the road.
He also used Jimbo almost from the beginning. He messages customers before visits, invoices when jobs are finished, and follows up when a lawn does not need mowing.
That communication built trust through winter. Rick would move some customers to four-weekly visits or replace a mow with fertilising or weed spraying rather than charge for unnecessary mowing.
Prospective owners can review Jim’s franchisee training, how Jim’s franchising fees work, and how much you can earn with a Jim’s franchise before comparing the model with going independent.
How Does Bathurst’s Climate Change the Work Throughout the Year?
Bathurst gave Rick frost, wet winter grass, dry stretches, falling leaves, acreage properties, and rapid spring growth in the same year.
During one six-to-eight-week dry period, he pushed some clients back to three- or four-week mowing and used slower visits for fertilising or weed spraying. When rain returned, some fertilised lawns produced close to a foot of growth.
Winter changed the service mix again. Rick emailed about 300 to 350 past customers and enquiries about gutter cleaning. The campaign produced a hit rate above 10%, with the first half close to 17%.
He estimated roughly 25 to 30 gutter cleans in the previous three months and more than 50 overall. His working-at-heights ticket lets him clean from roofs when conditions are safe, using a harness, safety lines, brackets, a gutter-cleaning lance and lightweight rope hose.
Bathurst access matters too. Some homes have narrow side gates, gas meters or stairs, so Rick still sees a place for 19-inch and 21-inch mowers alongside his 52-inch stand-on machine.
Customers can also explore the Jim’s Mowing services page for regular mowing, garden care and seasonal property work.
How Did Rick Grow to 70–75 Regular Customers in Bathurst?
Rick posted his face, work and short updates in local Facebook groups from day one. People later recognised him at the tip and asked for quotes because they had already seen him online.
By September, Mitch noted around 300 social media followers. Rick said a well-timed post could generate three or four enquiries.
He usually posted only one or two times a week and timed posts around capacity, often on Wednesday, Friday, Saturday or Sunday. When an enquiry arrived, he aimed to inspect and quote within 24 hours.
By his second winter, Rick said he had about 70 to 75 regular customers plus roughly 15 ad hoc clients. He could still receive three or four referrals in a week even when fewer Jim’s leads came directly to him.
The financial path was uneven. He turned leads off in December because he was too busy, later recorded back-to-back $8,000 weeks, and called a $5,000 week “slow” after stronger months.
For four or five weeks, he worked seven days straight. He also paid an extra $2,000 a month towards start-up finance and cleared the full $30,000 loan within 12 months.
By the following winter, he said he was still producing about $800 to $1,000 a day while deliberately starting later and reducing the rush between jobs.
What Support Does Jim’s Mowing Offer Compared With Going Independent?
| Feature | Standard Independent Contractor | Jim’s Professional Standard |
| Early work pipeline | Must build lead sources independently | Leads plus Pay for Work support |
| Training | Depends on prior experience | Structured franchise training |
| Customer communication | Depends on individual systems | Jimbo scheduling, reminders and invoicing |
| Local support | Informal industry network | Franchisor and franchisee support |
| Service accountability | Individual business policy | Jim’s National Work Guarantee |
Rick Sammons, Jim’s Mowing franchisee in Bathurst: “Being outside and mowing lawns and in the fresh air, it really clears your mind.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Rick had 17 regular clients coming out of his first winter after starting at the end of May 2025. By his second winter, he had roughly 70 to 75 regular clients plus about 15 ad hoc customers.
Rick said September, his fourth month, was a $20,000 month. He later recorded back-to-back $8,000 weeks.
Yes. Rick’s region had a $2,500-a-week Pay for Work Guarantee. He said six or seven regular customers from those early jobs were still with him later.
The Ferris Z2 52-inch stand-on mower was a major change after back pain from long periods on unsuitable equipment. Rick also changed push mowers and sharpens blades about every two weeks.
He adjusts mowing frequency and adds gutter cleaning, pruning, hedging, fertilising and weed spraying. His gutter-cleaning email to about 300 to 350 contacts produced more than a 10% response.
Yes. Rick said one well-timed Facebook post could produce three or four enquiries, while local recognition also led to quotes and referrals.
Key Takeaways
- Rick grew from 17 regular clients after his first winter to roughly 70–75 regulars plus about 15 ad hoc customers.
- His fourth month reached $20,000, and he later recorded back-to-back $8,000 weeks.
- He paid off a $30,000 start-up loan within 12 months.
- Route density, communication, referrals, local social media, and seasonal services all contributed.
- Better equipment reduced strain and improved job efficiency.
Ready to Book Jim’s Mowing?
Need Lawn and Garden Help From a Local Jim’s Professional?
Bathurst properties need different work across the year, from regular mowing and edging to gutter cleaning, hedging, pruning and seasonal lawn care. A local Jim’s Mowing operator works within Jim’s professional standards, with customer service backed by Jim’s National Guarantee through the Jim’s Work Guarantee.
Request your free quote from Jim’s Mowing today.
Could a Jim’s Mowing Franchise Be Your Next Move?
Rick’s first year shows how training, leads, local marketing, customer communication, and equipment choices can shape a new franchise. His results were his own, not an automatic outcome, but they show what a structured first year can involve.
Learn more about joining Jim’s Group at jims.net or call 131 546 today.