Auckland project manager Kasun Ranga wanted more flexibility, more time with his family, and a business he could grow. After comparing franchise opportunities, he chose to pursue Jim’s Mowing and travelled from New Zealand to Australia for three days of general franchise training.
What surprised him was how much he learned.
In an interview with Jim’s Group’s Joel Kleber, Kasun explained why he considered the franchise agreement, established systems, and training experience important to his decision.
His story offers a practical look at what prospective franchisees can learn before starting a business.
0:00 — Meet Kasun Ranga from Auckland
0:14 — Why He Researched Jim’s Mowing
0:54 — His Project Management Background
1:27 — Why He Chose Jim’s Mowing
2:12 — His Three-Day Training Experience
2:37 — Travelling From New Zealand for Training
3:10 — Why He Wanted a Career Change
4:04 — His Advice for Prospective Franchisees
Why Did Kasun Ranga Choose Jim’s Mowing Over Other Franchise Opportunities?
Kasun chose to pursue Jim’s Mowing because he wanted a business that offered flexibility, room to grow, and an established operating structure.
Before making his decision, he spent time researching franchise opportunities online.
His goal was not simply to change industries. He wanted a different way of working.
Kasun explained that he was looking for something that would allow him to spend more time with his family while building a sustainable business.
He researched Jim’s Group through online videos and social media, compared different businesses and looked closely at how their systems operated.
“One of the things I found is, like, Jim’s structure is pretty good,” Kasun said.
The established brand also influenced his decision. He believed that joining a recognised franchise could provide a stronger starting point than developing every business process independently.
However, he did not make his decision based on brand recognition alone.
He wanted to understand how the franchise worked and whether its structure matched his long-term goals.
How Did His Project Management Background Influence His Franchise Decision?
Kasun’s background in contract management and project management shaped the way he assessed Jim’s Mowing.
Rather than making a quick career decision, he approached franchising as something that required careful research.
“I’m a project manager, and my background is contract management and project management,” he explained.
That experience meant he was comfortable reviewing information, comparing options and considering the consequences of a major commitment.
He also understood the importance of having a clear plan.
Kasun told Joel that he preferred to analyse his options before making decisions because he wanted to be confident about the direction he was taking.
Moving from project management into lawn mowing was a significant change in the type of work he expected to perform.
Yet his professional experience gave him a useful perspective on the business side of franchising.
The decision involved more than learning how to mow lawns. It meant assessing an operating system, understanding contractual responsibilities, and deciding whether the business could support his personal goals.
For anyone considering a similar career change, his approach highlights the value of researching the franchise buying process before committing.
What Did Kasun Like About the Jim’s Mowing Franchise Agreement?
One of the biggest factors in Kasun’s decision was his impression of the freedom available to Jim’s Mowing franchisees.
He compared the arrangement with other opportunities he had researched and felt that the agreement was favourable to franchise owners.
“Pretty much the contract is actually written for the benefit of the franchisee,” he said.
This was Kasun’s personal assessment of the agreement, rather than an independent legal conclusion.
He also valued the established systems behind the Jim’s brand.
For someone coming from a structured project management environment, having procedures and guidance already in place was particularly appealing.
Kasun described the system as “almost like a fail-proof system“, although he immediately acknowledged that franchisees still needed to follow instructions and work hard.
His description reflected his confidence in the business model, not a guarantee of success.
Actual franchise performance depends on factors such as customer demand, operating costs, service quality, and the franchisee’s ability to manage the business.
Prospective owners should independently review the relevant agreement and obtain professional advice before signing.
For a broader comparison of franchise ownership benefits and risks, Jim’s Group also explains whether buying a franchise is worth it.
What Did Kasun Learn During the Three-Day Jim’s Group Franchise Training?
Kasun found the three-day general franchise training more valuable than he initially expected, particularly because he could learn directly from trainers and other participants.
He admitted that his expectations were relatively low before attending.
“To be honest with you, I thought I wasn’t gonna learn much, but I was surprised,” Kasun said.
The most useful part was not simply receiving information from instructors.
It was the opportunity to hear from people with practical experience.
During the training, Kasun spoke with trainers and other trainees, listened to their stories, and learned about mistakes others had made.
He appreciated the conversations going back and forth between participants because they provided perspectives that were difficult to gain through online research alone.
“I learned a lot. I’m glad I did the training in Australia,” he said.
His experience highlights an important part of franchise preparation.
Training can help prospective business owners understand the people and processes behind a franchise, while also giving them opportunities to ask questions before they begin operating.
For Kasun, those conversations added practical value to the research he had already completed.
Can New Zealand Jim’s Mowing Franchisees Attend Training in Australia?
According to Joel Kleber in the interview, New Zealand participants had the option of attending Jim’s Group training in Australia, even though training was also available in New Zealand.
Kasun travelled from Auckland to take part in the Australian program.
At the time of the interview, he had completed three days of general training and was preparing to begin mowing-specific training the following day.
This distinction matters because the interview covers his experience with the general franchise program, not the results of his subsequent mowing training.
The general training gave him opportunities to meet trainers, discuss business experiences, and learn from other participants.
His next stage was intended to focus on the Jim’s Mowing division.
The interview does not provide a detailed breakdown of the mowing-specific course, its full duration or the practical assessments involved.
It also does not confirm whether the same cross-border training arrangements remain available today.
Prospective New Zealand franchisees should check current training locations, schedules and requirements with Jim’s Group.
Why Did Kasun Want to Leave Nine-to-Five Work for a Mowing Business?
Kasun wanted to move away from conventional nine-to-five work because he had struggled with flexibility throughout his career.
He was looking for a business that could give him more control over how he organised his working life.
The COVID period also influenced his thinking.
“COVID put everything in perspective,” he explained.
It encouraged him to reconsider his priorities and question whether his existing working arrangements suited the life he wanted.
Spending more time with his family became an important goal.
Instead of making an immediate decision, he researched alternatives and considered whether franchise ownership could offer a workable path.
The appeal of Jim’s Mowing was the possibility of managing his own business within an established structure.
However, Kasun did not suggest that becoming a franchisee meant avoiding difficult work.
He recognised that business ownership required effort and commitment.
His motivation was not to stop working hard. It was to work towards greater control over his time.
At the time of the interview, he was still completing training, so his comments describe his expectations rather than proven improvements in his work-life balance.
What Advice Does Kasun Give People Considering a Jim’s Franchise?
Kasun’s main advice is to conduct independent research before committing to a franchise.
His message is particularly relevant because he had already spent time comparing businesses and reviewing their structures.
“Do your research, do your research and commit to it,” he said.
He also warned prospective franchisees against assuming that another person’s experience would necessarily match their own.
“Just because you saw something online, it’s not necessarily gonna be the same thing,” Kasun explained.
His recommendation was to understand personal goals, examine the available information, and make an informed decision.
That advice applies whether someone is considering Jim’s Mowing or another franchise business.
Online interviews can provide valuable first-hand insights, but they should be one part of a wider assessment.
Speaking with existing franchisees, understanding costs, reviewing contractual obligations and considering the practical demands of the work can help prospective owners make better decisions.
Kasun’s experience shows how research, professional judgement and direct exposure to training can work together.
He did not enter the process expecting everything to be easy.
Instead, he wanted to understand the opportunity before moving forward.
Explore Jim’s Mowing Franchise Opportunities
Kasun Ranga’s experience shows the value of researching franchise agreements, understanding personal goals, and learning directly from experienced trainers.
Watch his full interview to hear why he chose Jim’s Mowing and what surprised him during training.
To learn more about franchise opportunities, visit Jim’s Group or call 131 546.