Chris Pepper has spent 15 years building his Jim’s Pool Care business in North Brisbane, growing from around $100,000 in annual turnover to more than $1 million. Along the way, he has built a team, developed his region, and learned what it really takes to turn a small franchise operation into a larger business.
Watch the video above, or keep reading for the full Q&A.
How Much Can a Jim’s Pool Care Franchise Turn Over?
Chris Pepper says his own Jim’s Pool Care business has grown from about $100,000 a year in turnover to more than $1 million.
That does not mean every franchisee will reach the same figure. Chris makes it clear that the result depends heavily on what the owner puts into the business.
He says a smaller operation could reach around $100,000 to $200,000 a year after getting started, but growth requires effort. Chris describes the first couple of years as tough and says success is not going to simply fall into someone’s lap.
His current operation also looks very different from a one-person business. Chris has three full-time technicians on the road, someone helping in the office, and a bookkeeper supporting the business.
That team gives important context to the $1 million-plus turnover figure. Chris has built capacity around himself rather than continuing to do every part of the business alone.
People considering the industry can learn more about Jim’s Pool Care franchise opportunities and how the division operates.
How Did Chris Pepper Grow From $100,000 to Over $1 Million?
Chris grew his Jim’s Pool Care business over 15 years by continuing to build the operation, add staff, and take advantage of the systems available through the franchise.
He does not present his growth as an overnight result.
Chris says he has always been driven by a fear of failure. He did not want the business to fail, so he kept working at it and developing what he had built.
The franchise system also played a role. Chris says the franchise sits behind the owner and helps, but he is equally clear that the owner still needs to put the work in.
Today, his business has momentum behind it. Three full-time technicians handle work on the road, while office and bookkeeping support help with the administrative side.
That structure has allowed Chris to move beyond simply creating work for himself and into running a larger operation.
His experience shows that franchise growth can come from gradually building customers, systems, and people rather than expecting a large business from day one.
Do You Need Sales Experience to Run a Pool Care Franchise?
Chris does not believe someone needs to be a traditional salesperson to run a successful pool care franchise.
He says being customer-focused, having strong communication skills, and being a people person are more important.
In his words, the selling can largely take care of itself when someone communicates well and looks after customers properly.
Chris does have a substantial business background. Before Jim’s Pool Care, he worked as a sales representative and had been on the board of directors for three different companies.
Even so, he describes moving into pool care as a complete 180-degree turnaround from his previous career.
That matters for people considering a change of industry. Chris’s experience suggests that previous technical experience in pool care is not the only factor that matters. The way someone communicates with customers and approaches the business also plays a major role.
Prospective franchisees can explore the wider range of Jim’s Group franchise opportunities if they are considering moving from employment or another industry into business ownership.
What Training Do Jim’s Pool Care Franchisees Receive?
Chris says franchisees receive on-the-road training as well as training with Jim’s in Melbourne.
After a couple of weeks of training, a new franchisee can move into the business and continue developing through hands-on experience.
Chris sees that practical experience as an important part of learning.
Training can provide the foundation, but running the business day-to-day gives a new owner the chance to become more comfortable dealing with customers, completing work, and managing the operation.
This was particularly relevant in Chris’s case because pool care represented such a major career change from his previous corporate and sales roles.
The franchise structure gave him training and a system to work within while he built experience in a completely different type of business.
For another look at what operating a Jim’s franchise can involve, Jim’s Group also provides a guide to a day on the road as a franchisee.
How Hard Are the First Few Years of a Jim’s Pool Care Franchise?
Chris says the first couple of years can be tough and describes getting established as a definite challenge.
He does not suggest that buying a franchise automatically creates a successful business.
“You’ve got to work hard,” is the message he gives when discussing the early stages. At the same time, he says the systems are there to support the franchisee.
That distinction is important.
A franchise can provide training, systems and a recognised brand, but Chris still places responsibility on the person running the business.
His own growth from around $100,000 in turnover to more than $1 million happened over a 15-year period. The business Chris runs now was built over time rather than appearing immediately after he joined.
For someone assessing a franchise opportunity, that is a more useful way to look at the numbers. The potential size of the business matters, but so does the time and work involved in getting there.
How Much Does It Cost to Start a Jim’s Pool Care Franchise?
Chris uses $80,000 as the franchise cost example in the video and says a vehicle needs to be purchased on top of that.
His broader point is about what the owner receives in return for the investment.
Chris says the owner can get up and running, earn a wage from the business, and build an asset that may later be sold.
Anyone considering buying a franchise should confirm the current costs, territory details, and requirements directly with Jim’s Group before making a decision.
What Kind of Return Can You Get From a Jim’s Pool Care Franchise?
Chris describes the return on investment as “pretty good” based on his own experience.
His reasoning is that the owner is not only creating an income while running the business. They are also building something that could have value when they decide to exit.
Chris explains it simply: the owner pays for the franchise, earns a wage, and can eventually have something to sell.
Rather than seeing the initial franchise cost only as the price of getting work, Chris sees it as the starting point for building a business asset.
Are You Just Buying Yourself a Job With a Jim’s Franchise?
Chris strongly rejects the idea that buying a Jim’s franchise simply means buying yourself a job.
He says franchisees across Jim’s Group work hard because they are running their own businesses.
That applies whether someone operates in mowing, pool care, or another Jim’s division.
Chris acknowledges that franchisees operate under the Jim’s brand, but he still considers the individual operation to be the owner’s business.
His own operation illustrates that distinction well.
Chris has not remained a sole operator completing every job himself. He has built a team of three full-time technicians, added office assistance, and brought in a bookkeeper.
That is closer to running a team-based business than simply replacing one job with another.
Of course, not every franchisee has to follow that path. Chris also talks about businesses operating at the $100,000 to $200,000 level. How large the operation becomes depends partly on what the owner wants to build and how much they want to put into it.
Where Is Jim’s Pool Care Looking for Franchisees in Brisbane?
Chris specifically identifies West Brisbane, including The Gap and Chapel Hill, as areas where he would like to see another franchisee operating.
He says the team receives plenty of call-outs in that area, and some existing franchisees are too busy to service all of the work.
That gives a practical example of how local demand can influence a franchise opportunity.
Chris runs the North Brisbane region, where he says 12 franchisees were operating at the time of the video. Two of those franchisees had joined during the previous 12 months.
For people researching the business, Jim’s Group also has more information about Chris Pepper and Jim’s Pool Care in North Brisbane.
What Can Prospective Franchisees Learn From Chris Pepper’s Experience?
Chris Pepper’s results show what can be possible when a franchise owner stays in the business, builds a customer base and gradually creates a team around the operation.
He started at around $100,000 in annual turnover and says the business now turns over more than $1 million. But the most useful part of his story is not simply the final number.
Chris has spent 15 years building the business. He went through difficult early years, learned a new industry, used the franchise systems available to him, and eventually added technicians and administrative support.
He also remains clear about the work involved.
A franchise provides a structure behind the owner, but Chris does not suggest that the brand does everything for them. The owner still needs to communicate well, look after customers, and put in the effort required to grow.
For anyone considering Jim’s Pool Care, Chris’s experience offers a realistic example of how a small operation can develop into something much larger.
To find out more about becoming a franchisee, explore the Jim’s Group franchise opportunities and speak with the team about current costs, available territories, and training.