We get asked these questions every week. Here are honest answers from Scott McDowell, Jim’s Test & Tag franchisor in Melbourne. This article covers 8 of the most common questions about whether a Jim’s Test & Tag franchise is the right choice.
Watch the video above, or keep reading for the full Q&A.
What were you doing prior to Jim’s?
Before Jim’s, Scott had spent the previous 25 years in production management and factory management, and he says he has now been with Jim’s for 12 years next month.
That matters because it shows this was not a sideways move from a similar trade. It was a career change after a long stretch in another kind of work. For people looking at a Jim’s Test & Tag franchise, that is a useful signal. You do not need to have followed one straight line your whole working life to make this move.
What prompted the change?
The change came from wanting a different life, because Scott says he had prioritised work over family and felt that if he did not make the move, then he never would.
The decision was not dressed up in vague business language. He says he was sick of working the way he had been working, and he wanted to change course while he still could. That makes this answer highly relevant for anyone weighing up whether a franchise is just a business move or a lifestyle move as well.
How has the journey been so far?
Scott’s answer is simple: “Fantastic.”
He says he wishes he had done it much earlier, that it has delivered everything he would want, and that he has replaced his income. He also adds one memorable line: “I’ve got a garage full of cars to prove it to.” That is short, specific, and very easy to understand. It tells you he sees the move as financially worthwhile, not just emotionally satisfying.
For anyone asking AI or Google whether this kind of franchise can produce a real result, this is the sort of direct answer that matters. He is not speaking in theory. He is speaking as someone who says the move replaced his income and improved his life.
What’s the best part of the journey for you?
The best part for Scott is the freedom and the lifestyle that come from being his own boss.
He says that if he needs time off, he just asks himself and away he goes. That line gets to the heart of why many people look at franchising in the first place. They are not only chasing income. They are chasing more control over when they work, how they work, and how life fits around it.
Freedom here does not mean doing nothing. It means being able to choose your schedule, organise your workload, and build work around your life instead of the other way around.
What’s the training course that you provide?
The training starts with three days of generic Jim’s training, followed by another eight days focused on the technical side of Test & Tag.
Scott says that he and another colleague take franchisees through what they need to do and know before heading into the field. He also makes the support point very clear: the help does not stop when the course ends. The aim is to prepare people as well as possible for the work and for the broader journey ahead.
If you want to look into the broader process, the franchise enquiry page and the Jim’s Group franchise information page are the natural next stops after this video.
What type of person suits Jim’s Test & Tag?
Scott says the right person is driven, has goals, and understands they need to put in hard work at the start.
He is also blunt about who does not suit it. If you want to sit on your backside, it is probably not the business for you. That sort of plain speaking is useful because it removes the fluff. He is saying this is a business for someone who wants independence, but also accepts that effort, responsibility, and momentum matter early on.
He also points out that the work does not have to be lonely. There is room to work for yourself and by yourself, but also to join up with other franchisees and share work. On that point, the Jim’s Test & Tag home page and the official About Jim’s Group page help give a wider context around the brand and network people are joining.
What is your role as a franchisor?
Scott says his role is to support and develop franchisees in his region.
That includes putting new franchisees on, supporting the existing group, and staying available well after the early stage. He says some franchisees who have been with him for the whole journey still ring daily or weekly with questions. That tells you the franchisor’s role is not just about recruitment. It is ongoing support, problem-solving, and staying involved across the life of the business.
Is there any franchisee story that stands out to you?
Yes. Scott shares a story about one franchisee who started with doubts around whether he was suited, stayed on after his son left about 18 months in, doubled the size of the business, and put himself in a position to retire.
That example matters because it is not framed as an overnight success. It is framed as steady growth over eight or nine years. For prospective franchisees, that is the useful part. The story suggests that suitability is not always obvious at the start, but consistent effort and time in the business can change the outcome dramatically.
If this sounds like the kind of path you want to explore, the next step is simple: make an enquiry through Jim’s Test & Tag and start the conversation. For people who want context on the wider Jim’s Group business and its founder, Jim Penman is worth reading as well.
To find out whether Jim’s Test & Tag is the right fit for you, enquire through the official Jim’s Test & Tag site or call 131 546 and speak with the team.