TL;DR
In short: Harry Parker built a Jim’s Mowing franchise to 78 accounts and $221,000 in his first 12 months. He used Jim’s leads, a walk-around quote method, and repeat maintenance to build steady work.
BLUF: In a Jim’s Podcast episode, Harry Parker from Jim’s Group, a Jim’s Mowing franchisee working in Mooroolbark, explains how he moved from a desk-based business serving the school market to an outdoor business using Jim’s leads plus a walk-around quote method to spot extra work on-site.
Harry’s results answer a common question: can a Jim’s Mowing franchise work later in life? He reports $221,000 in his first 12 months (starting in May last year), while averaging about 32 hours a week. This article covers his shift, the walk-around method he uses to grow job value, and the jobs that range from a $1,000 makeover to a $100,000 full-site build.
Watch the full episode below, or keep reading for the key takeaways.
Why Start A Jim’s Mowing Franchise At 70?
Harry joined this interview because his 70th birthday was coming up.
His previous business folded, and when that work stopped, the pipeline dried up fast.
He kept a smaller version going from home for about 18 months, but it was not fulfilling. He wanted to be “doing things and building things”.
So he looked at Jim’s Mowing as a business to build, not a job to push through. If you are weighing up what you actually pay for in a franchise model, read this.
The lifestyle change is clear in his own comparison:
- Then: 70 to 80 hours a week, “I didn’t really see my kids grow up”
- Now: about 32 hours a week, time with kids and grandkids
How Does The Walk-Around Quote Grow A Jim’s Mowing Franchise?
Harry’s edge is a process.
A lead might start as “front mowed” or “back”. Then he walks the property with the customer. While you walk, “you see a whole lot of other things that need to be done”, including work that “should have been done years ago”.
He calls it dialogue and communication. The job scope grows because the customer sees options on-site.
Two outcomes follow:
- Do a really good job, and customers recommend you.
- The Jim’s mower and trailer act as “a walking billboard”.
Example:
- He was in Mooroolbark doing a clean-up for a real estate agent.
- A neighbour asked for the same.
- Two days later: “a thousand dollars complete makeover” on the neighbour’s front and back.
- The customer was putting a Google review up that day.
The same method scales up.
Harry’s biggest job so far was “about a hundred thousand dollar job”. It was a new house, “just been plonked on a block of land,” and the whole site needed work: driveway, paving, steps, fencing, gates, instant turf, and plants supplied and installed.
He now maintains that property monthly. He expects it will shift to a fortnightly job “in another six weeks or so”.
Pro tips Harry’s story supports:
- Walk the site with the customer before you quote.
- Ask one question to open the scope: “What else needs doing while I’m here?”
- Turn big jobs into repeat maintenance. Monthly can become fortnightly.
If you want to check what a Jim’s Mowing franchise can earn when it is built properly, check this.
What Makes A Jim’s Mowing Franchise Less Risky?
Harry’s results tie back to systems and networks.
He references “Jim’s lead” repeatedly, including leads for “landscaping”, which can range from small to very large.
He also points to brand strength. The trailer is visible and keeps selling for you while you work.
Network matters when you want to scale.
A landscaping lead was too big for another franchisee. The job went to Matt Watts, who rang Harry because “I know you do this sort of stuff”. Harry says it is “probably about a twenty-thousand-dollar job”.
He also organises trades. He says, “obviously I don’t do the concrete,” but he uses a contractor with “seven different teams”.
That contractor usually does pool installations worth “Three, four, five hundred-thousand-dollar-a-pop jobs,” and can slot smaller work in. Harry also mentions “the three-dimensional walkthroughs” so customers can see the plan before signing.
Harry shares his starting base:
- “I bought a split, I bought 43 accounts.”
- Those accounts gave him “around about $1,500 of working cash flow.”
- He had the “pay-for- work guarantee thing as well,” but says he “didn’t do much of that.”
- Today, he reports 78 accounts and $221,000 in 12 months
If you want to understand how franchisees are prepared for quoting, customer communication, and job standards, read this.
What Does A Jim’s Mowing Franchisee See On Your Property Walk-Through?
Harry’s work shows what “local expertise” looks like in real life.
One day, it is pre-sale maintenance and clean-ups for a real estate agent in Mooroolbark.
Another day, it is a full-site build in McKinlay, turning a bare block around a new home into a finished property.
Customers often want one organiser. Joel Kleber, host of the Jim’s Group Podcast, describes this as being an “organiser” or “site organiser”, bringing in services and managing the whole job.
Harry’s turf example shows labour and pricing clearly:
- Area: “about 220 square metres”
- Volume: “four pallet loads”
- Harry said: “six thousand.”
- Contractor allowed: “12,000”
- Contractor expected: “five people” to finish “in the day.”
- Harry used his son-in-law and “knocked it over in one day anyway.”
| Feature | Standard Independent Contractor | Jim’s Professional Standard |
| Lead flow | Self-generated only | Jobs can start as a “Jim’s lead.” |
| Brand visibility | Limited | Trailer acts as “a walking billboard.” |
| Job expansion | Quote the brief only | Walk-around quote spots extra work |
| Scale | Solo capacity | Network hand-offs plus trusted contractors |
| Ongoing work | Patchy one-offs | Accounts and repeat maintenance (monthly to fortnightly) |
“Harry Parker, Jim’s Mowing franchisee in Mooroolbark: ‘It’s like living a new life every day really, and I’m totally enjoying it’“
FAQ: Jim’s Mowing Franchise Questions People Ask
Harry reports $221,000 after completing his first 12 months. He says he averaged about 32 hours a week.
Harry says he bought 43 accounts. He says he has 78 accounts today.
Harry describes work including real estate clean-ups, landscaping leads, turf installation, and organising fencing, gates, paving, and planting. His biggest job was “about a hundred thousand dollar job”.
Harry says it started as a Jim’s lead for landscaping, then expanded into a full-site build in McKinlay.
No. Harry says he does not do the concrete, but uses his connections. He mentions a contractor with seven different teams.
Harry’s answer is direct: “Give it a go.” He adds that if you have “reasonable health”, you can choose your hours and how far you want to take it.
Key Takeaways
- In 12 months, Harry reports going from 43 accounts to 78.
- He reports $221,000 while averaging about 32 hours a week.
- A walk-around quote method turns small leads into bigger scopes.
- Network and branding create referrals, hand-offs, and drive-by enquiries.
- One-off jobs can become monthly, then fortnightly maintenance.
Take The Next Step
Request A Local Jim’s Mowing Quote
If you want lawn mowing, garden clean-ups, landscaping coordination, or a property makeover, use a local Jim’s Mowing franchisee backed by professional standards and Jim’s National Guarantee.
Request your free quote from Jim’s Mowing today.
See If Owning A Jim’s Franchise Fits You
Harry’s story shows what a Jim’s Mowing franchise can look like when you build accounts, use Jim’s leads, and keep adding “the next level”.
If you want to explore the path properly, check this out.
Learn more about joining Jim’s Group at jims.net or call 131 546 today.