Starting a new business is never easy, but when you take the leap to become a franchise owner, you have the support of an established brand behind you.
That’s exactly what Nathan did when he decided to launch his own Jim’s Mowing franchise just 14 days ago.
In this in-depth interview with Joel Kleber, we’ll take a closer look at Nathan’s experience so far, from the challenges of starting a business in the off-season to the strategies he’s using to build his customer base and grow his operation.
Whether you’re considering a franchise opportunity yourself or simply curious to learn more about what it takes to succeed as a small business owner, Nathan’s story is sure to inspire and inform.
From Plumbing to Mowing: Nathan’s Journey to Franchise Ownership
For Nathan, the decision to start a Jim’s Mowing franchise wasn’t a spur-of-the-moment choice.
In fact, he had been contemplating the idea for quite some time, drawing inspiration from his father’s own 27-year tenure as a Jim’s Mowing franchisee.
“As a kid, I always used to go out with my dad on school holidays, making a little bit of pocket money on the side,” Nathan explains.
“I never had the intention of opening up my own franchise, but it was just playing on my mind for quite a while, like, ‘What do I do with myself career-wise?’ And I’ve always had a slight passion for it, so I thought, ‘You know what? I might as well take a plunge and go out on my own.’“
Prior to launching his franchise, Nathan worked for a plumbing company, but he was ready to make the switch to being his own boss.
“I’ve seen what my dad can do, and I thought, ‘Why not?’ and you know, we’ll try,” he says.
Embracing the Off-Season: The Challenges and Opportunities of Jim’s Mowing
One of the biggest challenges Nathan faced was the decision to start his franchise in the middle of winter, rather than waiting for the busier spring and summer seasons.
However, he saw this as an opportunity rather than an obstacle.
“I remember sitting down, I was scrolling through the Jim’s website, and I came to the frequently asked questions, and they said, ‘When’s the best time to start a franchise?’ And I clicked on it, and they go, ‘Winter,‘” Nathan explains.
“And I said to myself, ‘I’m going to do it. I’m going to do it now. I’m going to do something, I’ve got to do it straight away.’”
While the off-season weather has presented some challenges, with rain and cold temperatures impacting his ability to work, Nathan sees this as an opportunity to get his systems and processes in place before the busy season hits.
“The season that we’re currently in, yes, bit of rain coming, cold now – that’s probably the only thing you know that’s stopped me a little bit is the rain and the work coming in. But other than that, everything’s been a whirlwind. Each day is something new. You don’t know what to expect.“
Treating Every Lead Like Gold: Nathan’s Customer Service Philosophy
One of the key factors that has contributed to Nathan’s early success is his unwavering commitment to providing exceptional customer service.
He’s made it a priority to treat every lead and customer like they’re part of his own family.
“My biggest factor was going into this, you know, every lead that I get, I’ve got to treat them like gold,” Nathan says.
“You’ve got to treat them like they’re your family. So you’re going to go do them a service, you’ve got to make sure 110% that they’re on side, like they’re happy with everything that you do, and so they’re going to call you back.“
This approach has already paid dividends for Nathan, with 7 leads and 5 regular customers in his first two weeks.
He’s found that offering discounts for regular service has been a particularly effective way to secure repeat business.
“I always give a set price of what I’m going to quote, then I’ll say to a customer, ‘Say if the lawn’s $150, then I might say, ‘If you’d like it done on a regular basis, it’ll be $90.’ And that, I find, grabs them a lot, because then I know, like, the first time might take 45 minutes, but I’ll go three weeks’ time and I go back, it might take me 20, and they know, ‘All right, you know, this guy means business.‘”
Embracing Old-School and New-School Marketing Tactics
In addition to his focus on customer service, Nathan has also been proactive in his marketing efforts, utilizing a mix of traditional and digital strategies to build his brand and attract new customers.
One of his key tactics has been good old-fashioned door-to-door outreach.
“I go by the saying, ‘Treat them like gold,’ so I go door-to-door,” Nathan explains.
“I’ll just start on one end of the street, I’ll park my car, and I’ll just take a handful of business cards, and I’ll knock on the door. If they answer, they answer. If not, I’ll just leave a business card in the letterbox.”
While this approach has yielded some initial success, with Nathan securing his first customer through a door-to-door visit, he acknowledges that it can be a challenging and sometimes demoralizing task.
“I’ve had people, you know, saying, ‘No, you’re pestering me.’ I’m saying, ‘Look, I’m just the new local Jim’s Mowing in the area. Here’s my business card. If you’ve got anything that you need done, reach out, and I’ll be happy to give you a free quote.‘”
To complement his door-to-door efforts, Nathan has also been leveraging social media to build his online presence and reach new customers.
He’s set up Facebook and Instagram pages for his business, and he’s been actively engaging with local community groups to introduce himself and his services.
“The first day, the first two days that I set it up, they just went bananas,” Nathan says of his social media pages.
“My first full week was based on Facebook jobs, like people reaching out on Facebook.”
Nathan has also been reaching out to local real estate agents, introducing himself and his services, and has already secured two new clients through this outreach.
Embracing the Franchisee Mindset: From Employee to Jim’s Mowing Franchise Owner
One of the biggest adjustments for Nathan in starting his own franchise has been the shift from being an employee to being a business owner.
He’s found that the freedom and flexibility of being his own boss has been incredibly rewarding, but it’s also come with its own set of challenges.
“If I leave home at 8:30, no one’s ringing me saying, ‘You’re late to work,‘” Nathan explains.
“If I get home at 2:30, no one’s turning around and saying, ‘Why are you home? Why’d you leave work early?’ It’s just the flexibility, the life flexibility, and I love it.“
However, Nathan has also found that the responsibilities of running his own business can be overwhelming at times.
“You’re constantly going, you’re thinking of ways to improve and make things better,” he says.
“Being your own boss, you know, you start work at 8:00, 8 till 8 the next morning, you’re constantly going.”
Despite the challenges, Nathan is embracing the franchisee mindset and is excited about the future of his business.
He’s already considering ways to expand, whether that’s by taking on additional staff or even purchasing another franchise down the line.
“Ideally, I want to be, you know, I want to eventually expand, even keep putting on staff, take on more work, even by moving to a franchise or role,” he says.
Key Takeaways for Aspiring Franchisees
As Nathan’s story demonstrates, starting a franchise can be a rewarding and challenging experience.
Here are some key takeaways for anyone considering a franchise opportunity:
- Embrace the off-season: Don’t be afraid to start your business in the slower months. This can be an opportunity to get your systems and processes in place before the busy season hits.
- Focus on customer service: Treat every lead and customer like they’re part of your own family. This level of personalized attention can go a long way in building a loyal customer base.
- Utilize a mix of marketing tactics: Combine traditional outreach like door-to-door with digital strategies like social media to reach new customers and build your brand.
- Prepare for the mindset shift: Going from employee to business owner can be a significant adjustment. Be ready to embrace the freedom and flexibility, as well as the increased responsibilities that come with being your own boss.
- Consider expansion opportunities: As your business grows, think about ways you can scale, whether that’s by taking on additional staff or even purchasing another franchise.
For Nathan, the decision to start his own Jim’s Mowing franchise has been a life-changing experience.
Despite the challenges of launching a business in the off-season, he’s already seen impressive results and is excited about the future.
If you’re considering a franchise opportunity of your own, Nathan’s story is a testament to the power of hard work, dedication, and a commitment to exceptional customer service.
With the right mindset and the support of an established brand like Jim’s Mowing, the possibilities for success are endless.
To learn more about Jim’s Mowing and the franchise opportunities available, be sure to check out the Jim’s Group website or call 131 546 (Australia) or 0800 454 654 (New Zealand).