After 20 years of driving trucks, Lance Azzopardi was told a back injury meant he could no longer continue his career. Eighteen months after joining Jim’s Mowing, he reported monthly business turnover of $26,000 and personal savings of $150,000.
His journey began with a conversation with an existing franchisee and a trial day that convinced him to change careers.
In an interview with Jim’s Group founder Jim Penman, Lance explained how he got started, what helped him build his business, and why he later proposed a new franchise division.
0:00 — Why Lance Left Truck Driving
1:10 — Learning From an Existing Franchisee
1:49 — Reaching $26,000 in Monthly Turnover
2:05 — The Trial Day Before Joining
3:09 — Saving $150,000 in 18 Months
3:58 — Proposing Jim’s Driving School
4:56 — Discussing Franchisor Training
Why Did Lance Azzopardi Leave Truck Driving for Jim’s Mowing?
Lance Azzopardi spent two decades driving trucks before a back injury forced him to reconsider his future. His physiotherapist advised him that he could no longer continue working as a truck driver.
Although Lance had considered joining Jim’s Mowing before, he had never felt confident enough to make the change.
That changed when he pulled over one day and started talking to an existing Jim’s Mowing franchisee named Nick.
Rather than simply recommending the business, Nick shared details of his own financial performance.
Lance was surprised by what he saw. At the time, he was earning approximately $1,400 driving trucks, while Nick described making considerably more through his mowing business.
Lance recalled his disbelief, saying, “You’re making two and a half pushing a mower. How is that possible?“
Nick showed him information on his phone and explained how his business operated.
Their conversation lasted approximately an hour and a half.
For Lance, it was an opportunity to hear directly from someone already running the type of business he was considering.
The two eventually became close friends, and Lance said they continued speaking several times a day.
That relationship would become an important part of his early business journey.
How Much Was Lance Making After 18 Months With Jim’s Mowing?
At the time of the interview, Lance reported generating approximately $26,000 in monthly business turnover.
That was higher than the $20,000 monthly figure he said Nick was generating during the same period.
Lance explained, “He makes $20,000 a month, and I’m hitting $ 26,000 a month now.“
The comparison was meaningful because Nick had originally been the person Lance looked up to.
When he first joined Jim’s Mowing, Lance viewed Nick’s business as something to work towards.
He studied what Nick was doing, asked questions, and used his progress as motivation.
After approximately 18 months, Lance said his business had overtaken Nick’s monthly turnover.
However, he was quick to explain that there was no resentment between them.
Nick continued to encourage him, and Lance credited his friend’s early guidance as one of the reasons he had progressed.
The relationship had shifted from a new franchisee learning from an experienced operator to two business owners supporting each other’s growth.
Importantly, Lance’s reported $26,000 was a business turnover figure, not a verified personal income or profit figure.
Operating expenses, franchise fees, wages, equipment, fuel, insurance, and other costs can affect the amount a franchisee ultimately takes home.
His results reflect his individual experience at the time of recording and should not be treated as typical or guaranteed earnings.
For prospective franchisees, understanding the difference between revenue, profit and personal income is an essential part of assessing any business opportunity.
Jim’s Group also provides information about whether buying a franchise is worth it for Australians comparing business ownership with traditional employment.
Can You Try Jim’s Mowing Before Buying a Franchise?
Lance was encouraged to spend a day working alongside an existing Jim’s Mowing franchisee before committing to the business.
His franchisor suggested the experience so Lance could see what the work involved and compare what he had been told with a real working day.
Lance even selected someone who was not on the suggested list of franchisees.
That decision gave him an opportunity to observe the business independently.
During the day, they completed mowing work and finished at approximately 2 pm.
Lance recalled that they had generated nearly $900 in work by that time.
Initially, he thought the figure represented several days of earnings.
He explained that when the franchisee told him the amount had been generated that day, he struggled to believe it.
The experience changed his thinking.
After finishing, Lance returned to his car and called his wife. He recalled telling her, “No, I’m doing this.“
The trial day gave Lance something more useful than a sales presentation: direct exposure to the daily work, the customers, and the revenue generated during that particular shift.
It also allowed him to see whether the physical demands and working conditions suited him.
For anyone considering a franchise, spending time with existing operators can help answer practical questions about scheduling, customer expectations, equipment and the day-to-day workload.
A single successful day, however, does not establish what a franchise will earn consistently.
Prospective buyers should also examine operating expenses, quieter periods, customer demand and the financial performance of the business over a longer timeframe.
The step-by-step guide to buying a franchise in Australia provides additional information for people researching their options.
How Did Lance Save $150,000 in 18 Months?
Lance reported that his personal savings increased from approximately 3,000–5,000 during his truck-driving career to $150,000 after 18 months with Jim’s Mowing.
Before changing careers, he described relying on his annual tax return to help cover larger household expenses.
Unexpected bills could quickly reduce whatever savings he had managed to build.
Although Lance considered truck driving reasonably well paid, he said his previous income did not allow him to save at the same rate.
He explained that his savings had usually been limited to a few thousand dollars before an unexpected expense depleted them.
Discussing his financial position after joining Jim’s Mowing, Lance said, “Since I’ve started in the last 18 months, I’ve been able to save 150,000 now in my savings.“
Jim Penman responded by acknowledging the scale of the change.
The figure is significant because it describes Lance’s reported personal savings rather than simply the amount of work his business completed.
However, the interview does not provide a detailed breakdown of his business expenses, tax position, personal spending or other financial circumstances.
It is therefore not possible to calculate his net profit or establish exactly how the savings accumulated from the interview alone.
His experience demonstrates what he personally reported achieving during his first 18 months, rather than what every Jim’s Mowing franchisee should expect.
Anyone considering a similar investment should review their own financial position, operating costs, and business projections before making a commitment.
What Support Helped Lance Build His Jim’s Mowing Business?
Two relationships stood out in Lance’s account: the support he received from Nick and the guidance provided by his franchisor.
Nick helped him understand the financial side of operating a mowing business before he joined.
He was willing to discuss revenue and outgoings, answer questions, and spend considerable time explaining his experience.
Lance described Nick as someone he continued to look up to, even after his own business began generating more monthly turnover.
His franchisor also played an important role during the decision-making process.
Rather than asking Lance to rely solely on information presented during recruitment, the franchisor encouraged him to spend a day with an existing operator.
That practical experience helped Lance make a more informed decision.
Lance also credited his franchisor for providing support during his early period with Jim’s Mowing.
Reflecting on his progress, he said, “He did help me get to that point,” referring to Nick, before acknowledging that his franchisor had also been a great help at the start.
His experience highlights the value of asking existing franchisees about their operations before purchasing a business.
Prospective buyers can use those conversations to better understand the practical demands of running a franchise and the support available within the network.
Why Did Lance Suggest Starting Jim’s Driving School?
Lance’s idea for a Jim’s Driving School division came from a conversation with one of his employees during a rainy workday.
While the pair were waiting under shelter, Lance noticed that his employee was concerned about finishing work on time.
The employee explained that he had a driving lesson scheduled later that day.
That prompted Lance to wonder why Jim’s Group did not have a driving school division.
He recalled asking himself, “Why is there no Jim’s driving school?“
Rather than leaving the idea there, Lance emailed Jim Penman directly.
According to Lance, Jim responded that the concept had not previously been brought forward in that way.
The discussion eventually progressed to a meeting about the possibility of establishing a new division.
Jim explained that he had reviewed Lance’s business record, including his customer service performance and financial results.
He considered those factors relevant when assessing whether Lance might be suitable to take the idea further.
The conversation shows how Lance moved from being a franchisee focused on growing his own mowing business to someone interested in helping develop another business opportunity within Jim’s Group.
At the time of the interview, however, the driving school concept was still being discussed.
The conversation should not be interpreted as confirmation of the division’s current operating status.
Could Jim’s Driving School Offer a Career Change for Existing Franchisees?
Lance and Jim Penman discussed driving instruction as a possible career option for people with extensive driving experience or those seeking less physically demanding work.
During the interview, Jim said they were arranging for Lance to attend franchisor training in April.
Jim also explained that driving instruction was an area the group had been interested in exploring.
Lance believed the concept could appeal to several groups, including people who had been made redundant and workers considering a change after many years in the same industry.
He also saw potential for people with substantial driving experience who wanted to teach others.
Jim raised another possibility: existing mowing franchisees who had built successful businesses but were finding the physical work increasingly difficult.
He suggested that those operators might be able to apply their customer service and business management skills to a different type of service.
Lance agreed, describing the idea as “a great transition.“
The discussion was particularly relevant to Lance’s own story.
He had already experienced a career change after a physical injury prevented him from continuing his previous work.
His experience helped explain why he saw value in developing another potential pathway for people looking to change careers.
However, the interview did not establish the licensing requirements, training costs, franchise fees, earnings, or availability of the proposed driving school opportunity.
Those details would need to be confirmed separately before anyone could assess it as an investment.
What Can Prospective Franchisees Learn From Lance’s Experience?
Lance’s story offers a practical example of how one person approached a major career change.
He did not join Jim’s Mowing immediately after hearing about the opportunity.
He spoke with an existing franchisee, reviewed information about the business, and spent a day observing the work before making his decision.
Those steps helped him understand what he was considering.
Once he joined, he continued learning from Nick and maintaining a relationship with his franchisor.
Eighteen months later, Lance reported monthly turnover of $26,000 and personal savings of $150,000.
Those figures are part of his individual story, but the broader lesson is the importance of researching a franchise carefully and understanding what business ownership involves.
His experience also shows that franchisees can develop interests beyond their original business.
For Lance, a conversation with an employee eventually led to discussions with Jim Penman about a potential new division.
Anyone considering a similar career change should investigate the financial commitment, operating costs, training requirements, and ongoing responsibilities before making a decision.
For a starting point, Jim’s Group has a guide explaining how much a franchise costs in Australia.
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Interested in starting a mowing business? Call Jim’s Group on 131 546 to learn more about Jim’s Mowing franchise opportunities, training and costs.