A Jim’s Mowing franchise can stay busy in winter when the owner forecasts work, follows up on leads, and offers seasonal services like gutter cleaning, weed spraying, hedging, pruning, gardening, and basic landscaping. Mitch Blake shared how one franchisee found $30,000-odd worth of June work after putting his jobs into a simple spreadsheet.
A Jim’s Mowing franchise can reduce winter anxiety when the owner uses clear forecasting, strong customer follow-up, and seasonal service planning. In a Jim’s Podcast episode, Mitch Blake, a former Jim’s Mowing franchisee and now franchisor across Nowra, Orange, Bathurst and Dubbo, explained how his earlier 12-hour to 14-hour mining shifts and business experience shaped the practical spreadsheet method he now uses with franchisees.
A Jim’s Mowing franchise can stay busy in winter by forecasting recurring work, booking once-off services, and following up every lead properly. Mitch Blake shared one example where a franchisee found $30,000-odd worth of June work after listing regular work, once-off work, and expenses in a spreadsheet. This article covers the winter planning system, the local support model, and the Jim’s Mowing standards that help franchisees build a stronger service business.
Watch the full episode below, or keep reading for the key takeaways.
Why Did Mitch Blake Move From Long Shifts Into Jim’s Mowing?
Mitch Blake’s story is not just about mowing lawns. It is about moving from long, draining workdays into a business model with more structure, more control, and more local support.
Before Jim’s, Mitch worked 12- to 14-hour shifts in the mines. He also spoke about burning out young while working in project management, HR, and regional roles between the ages of 21 and 23.
One week, he described doing a 25-hour workday. After one hard call with a district manager, he walked out to the car park, looked at his car, and felt he could not even drive home.
That experience shaped how he now supports Jim’s Mowing franchisees. He understands the pressure that can come with work, family, cash flow, and business decisions.
Mitch now works as a Jim’s Mowing franchisor across a large area that includes Nowra, Orange, Bathurst, Dubbo and the Central West. His role is not only to bring in new franchisees, but to help them understand the business before they buy it.
He calls the process “self-qualification”. Prospects listen to interviews, watch franchisee content, speak to real operators, and complete a day on the road before making a decision.
For anyone looking at owning a Jim’s franchise, that matters. A Jim’s Mowing franchise is still a business. The system helps, but the person still needs customer service, follow-up, communication, and the discipline to use the tools properly.
How Do Jim’s Mowing Franchisees Forecast Winter Work?
The technical edge Mitch explained is simple: a winter forecasting spreadsheet.
It is not complicated software. It separates regular work, once-off work, likely winter services, and business costs. That gives a franchisee a clearer view of what is already booked and what still needs to be filled.
Mitch used this with Fred Gibbon, who wanted help planning cash flow. Mitch made sure Fred also spoke with Charlie from Jim’s Bookkeeping because GST, income tax, fuel, equipment upgrades, and landscaping costs all matter.
After Fred put his work into the spreadsheet, he realised he had $30,000-odd worth of work booked in for June. Before that, he thought winter might be weaker than it really was.
The science behind this is seasonal work planning. In many Australian areas, grass growth slows in cooler months because shorter days and lower temperatures reduce active lawn growth. That can reduce mowing frequency, but it does not remove property maintenance.
Winter can shift the work mix. Gutter cleaning, hedging, pruning, weed spraying, gardening, pressure washing, basic landscaping, and softscaping can fill the colder months when mowing drops back.
That is why the spreadsheet works better than guessing. It turns winter from a fear into a plan.
Mitch also shared Greg’s approach in Nowra. Greg forecasted from February through to September, which helped him see the months ahead and plan holidays.
Pro Tips:
- Forecast winter before you panic. Put regular mowing, once-off jobs, expenses, and seasonal services into one simple sheet.
- Use the months properly. Mitch mentioned weed spraying in May, gutter cleaning in June, and winter pruning in July.
- Price the whole customer, not just the mow. A customer may need mowing, hedging, gutters, pruning, rubbish removal, or basic landscaping across the year.
This process suits Australian conditions because winter work does not disappear. It changes. A good operator plans for that shift before the phone feels quiet.
What Support Do Jim’s Mowing Franchisees Get From The System?
The Jim’s system gives franchisees more than a name on the trailer. It gives them training, lead systems, support, standards, brand recognition, and a local network of people who have already solved many of the same problems.
Mitch said he spends around five and a half hours per day on the phone with franchisees, Monday through to Sunday. He also averages around 100 text messages per day, plus WhatsApp, Zoom meetings, and emails.
That level of support matters when a new operator hits a quiet patch, gets a difficult customer, or needs to think through cash flow.
The Jimbo app also pushes follow-up. Mitch said Fred, who came from being an independent, now calls a lead at least three times in the week it comes in, then follows up again the next Monday if needed. Fred reported converting 80% more than he did as an independent, while pricing 50% higher.
That is not magic. It is follow-up.
Jim’s also has training and a clear service standard. Mitch said customer service is “pretty much the number one thing.” People who do not follow the system or keep customer service standards can struggle, even if they know how to mow.
That is where Jim’s differs from risky independent work. An independent can be skilled but isolated. A Jim’s franchisee has systems, other operators, a franchisor, training, and a brand customers already know.
Future franchisees can learn more about how franchising fees work, what franchisees may earn, and Jim’s franchisee training before deciding whether the model suits them.
Why Does Local Knowledge Matter In A Jim’s Mowing Business?
Local knowledge matters because mowing and property maintenance do not look the same in every suburb or region.
Mitch’s region covers coastal and inland areas, including Nowra, Orange, Bathurst, Dubbo, Mudgee and the Central West. That creates different property types, weather patterns, and customer needs.
A Nowra customer may need regular garden care, hedging, gutter cleaning, and pressure washing around coastal homes. A Central West customer may have larger blocks, acreage, seasonal weed growth, pruning needs, and more outdoor clean-up work.
Mitch also explained how local franchisees support each other. Deshant in Dubbo took Pat from Mudgee out for a day on the road. Rick Simmons supports new Central West franchisees. Heath Nash helped shape the region’s culture.
That network helps new franchisees avoid starting from zero. Mitch said there were 30-odd years of Jim’s before he started, then Dan supported him, then he supported new franchisees, and then operators like Rick supported the next group.
That is the compounding effect of local knowledge.
Customers also respond to local people. Mitch discussed how Jabir’s day-in-the-life content helped build trust because people prefer seeing the person behind the business. Mitch said Jabir was even recognised in Sydney by one Jim’s Mowing franchisee and two independents at a mowing centre.
For local customers, that matters. They are not just hiring a mower. They are hiring a local service provider backed by Jim’s Mowing services and the wider Jim’s Group system.
What Customer Service Habits Help Jim’s Mowing Franchisees Win More Work?
Customer service starts before the job. It starts with the first call.
Mitch gave Fred’s story as an example. As an independent, Fred did not follow up leads properly. After joining Jim’s, he built a system where he calls each lead at least three times in the first week, then follows up again the next Monday.
That helped him improve conversion by 80% compared with his independent business. Mitch also said Fred’s prices were 50% higher.
Mitch’s own early lesson came from his first winter. He had 79 regular mowing clients from August through to March, but one client asked for weed spraying and hedging. After he helped her, six or seven of his wife’s friends complained at a barbecue because he had not offered them the same services.
That changed how he viewed the customer. He realised they did not only want a lawn mowing contractor. They expected a gardener who could look at the whole property.
After that, he messaged his client base. About 80% wanted weed spraying. In June, 10 or 15 customers took gutter cleaning. In July, he offered hedging and winter pruning.
That is practical customer service. Notice the work. Offer the help. Follow up clearly.
Why Does Jim’s Mowing Select Franchisees Carefully?
Mitch made one point very clear: Jim’s Mowing does not suit everyone.
He spoke about one prospect who had already completed training and booked a trailer. The trailer was halfway through being built, but Mitch saw red flags after training and stopped the process.
The prospect had left out injuries and spoke in a concerning way about other brands and a previous employer. Mitch said the person may have been a terrific independent, but not suited to his region and the Jim’s system.
That decision mattered because the person was going to spend around $30,000 or thereabouts and was looking at retiring in five to six years. Mitch later checked in with him, and the person thanked him for not letting him buy the business.
That is a serious selection process. It protects the prospect, the brand, the customers, and the other franchisees in the region.
For people considering a Jim’s Mowing franchise, the message is clear. Do the research, listen to franchisee stories, complete a day on the road, and be honest about whether you want to follow a customer-first system.
Is Jim’s Mowing Different From Being An Independent Contractor?
| Feature | Standard Independent Contractor | Jim’s Professional Standard |
| Lead follow-up | May move on if the customer does not answer | Jimbo app pushes fast callback and continued follow-up |
| Winter planning | Often relies on hope or memory | Forecasts regular work, once-off work, expenses, and seasonal jobs |
| Customer service | Depends on the individual operator | Training, franchisor support, and clear service expectations |
| Business support | Often works alone | Franchisor, other franchisees, WhatsApp, Zoom, phone support, and local mentors |
| Growth options | May focus only on mowing | Can offer mowing, weeds, hedging, gutters, pruning, gardening, pressure washing, and basic landscaping |
‘They don’t start from zero.’
– Mitch Blake, Jim’s Mowing franchisor across Nowra, Orange, Bathurst and Dubbo
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, a Jim’s Mowing franchise can stay busy in winter when the owner plans seasonal work early. Mitch Blake gave examples including gutter cleaning, hedging, gardening, landscaping, weed spraying, pruning, pressure washing, and basic landscaping.
Winter work can include mowing where needed, gutter cleaning, hedging, pruning, weed spraying, garden clean-ups, rubbish removal, pressure washing, and softscaping. Mitch said these jobs can often sit at a higher rate than bread-and-butter mowing.
Winter forecasting means listing regular work, once-off jobs, expenses, and likely seasonal services before the colder months arrive. One franchisee found $30,000-odd worth of June work after using a simple spreadsheet.
Follow-up turns more inquiries into booked jobs. Mitch said Fred followed up leads at least three times in the first week, then again the next Monday, and reported converting 80% more than when he operated independently.
The Jimbo app helps franchisees manage leads and follow-up. Mitch explained that Jim’s pushes franchisees to call back within two hours, which keeps customer service standards high.
Mitch said the culture is the reverse of outside competition. Franchisees in his region share advice, take prospects on road days, support each other, and sometimes work together.
A strong fit is someone who wants to follow a system, communicate well, serve customers properly, and build a local service business. Mitch said customer service is “pretty much the number one thing.”
Yes, independents can join Jim’s Mowing if they suit the system and customer standards. Fred’s story showed how stronger follow-up, pricing, and support can change the way an independent operator runs the business.
Key Takeaways
- Winter does not need to be dead time for a Jim’s Mowing franchise.
- A simple spreadsheet can show regular work, once-off jobs, expenses, and seasonal opportunities.
- Customer follow-up can change conversion, pricing, and repeat work.
- Local franchisee networks help new operators avoid starting from zero.
- Jim’s Mowing works best for people who value customer service, systems, and local reputation.
Ready To Take The Next Step?
Book A Local Jim’s Mowing Professional
If you need local mowing, gardening, gutter cleaning, hedging, pruning, weed control, or basic landscaping, Jim’s Mowing gives you a local operator backed by professional standards.
You also get the support of Jim’s Group and the Jim’s National Guarantee.
Request your free quote from Jim’s Mowing today.
Start A Jim’s Mowing Franchise
Mitch Blake’s story shows what can happen when a practical operator uses systems, support, customer service, and local marketing to build a stronger business.
A Jim’s Mowing franchise is not a shortcut. It still takes work, communication, and follow-up. But you do not start from zero.
Learn more about joining Jim’s Group at jims.net or call 131 546 today.