After 36 years in the Shepparton area, Andrew Painter decided to turn a local opportunity into his own Jim’s Mowing business. He explains what gave him confidence to join, what franchise training has been like, and how support from franchisor Matt Watson has helped him get started.
Watch the video above, or keep reading for the full Q&A.
Who Is Andrew And Where Does He Operate?
Andrew Painter owns Jim’s Mowing Shepparton South and Numurkah and lives locally in Kialla.
He has spent his whole life in the area and says that is 36 years “to be precise”. That local connection matters because his business is built around servicing people and properties in the same broader community he already knows.
Andrew’s story starts from a simple position. He is not moving into an unfamiliar market or trying to build a business somewhere he has no connection. He is taking on a Jim’s Mowing territory while remaining local to the area where he has lived for decades.
For customers, that means dealing with a local franchisee who already knows the area.
What Lawn Care Services Does Andrew Offer?
Andrew offers general lawn maintenance, including lawn mowing, whipper snipping, edging, hedging and gutter cleaning.
He describes the work as “just most things to go with looking after your lawn”. The focus goes beyond simply cutting grass. Customers may need edges cleaned up, hedges maintained, gutters cleared, or regular lawn care handled as part of the same overall property-maintenance relationship.
People looking for these services can learn more about the wider Jim’s Mowing service range.
Andrew also points to two service standards that matter to customers. He says Jim’s franchisees are police checked as a rule, and he refers to a guarantee on the work provided.
For someone inviting a service provider onto their property, those details can form part of the decision about who to call.
Why Did Andrew Choose Jim’s Mowing?
Andrew joined Jim’s Mowing because the opportunity came up, his research gave him confidence, and he already recognised the strength of the Jim’s brand. He says the opportunity was the most obvious starting point, and after researching the business in a brief amount of time, he “couldn’t find a bad word said.”
That research was important because Andrew was deciding whether the opportunity made sense before committing himself to the business.
His existing familiarity with Jim’s then added another reason to proceed. He had already seen the brand regularly and understood how easily customers could recognise it.
Andrew looked at the decision from a customer’s point of view. Before becoming a franchisee, he could imagine asking himself, “Who am I going to get to mow my lawns?”
For him, Jim’s was an obvious name that came to mind. He believed other customers could make the same connection when they saw him operating under the brand.
The combination of an available opportunity, his own research, and existing brand confidence ultimately drove his decision to join.
What Gave Andrew Confidence In The Jim’s Mowing Brand?
The Jim’s brand gave Andrew confidence because it was already familiar to him before he became a franchisee.
He did not need to be convinced that people had heard of Jim’s. His personal experience was that the brand was already visible and easy to recall when thinking about who to contact for lawn care.
That matters when starting a new local business. Andrew’s view is that if he naturally thought of Jim’s when considering lawn mowing, other people may make the same connection when they see him operating under the brand.
He describes that brand confidence as “a massive thing”.
For Andrew, the choice was not simply about buying mowing equipment and starting independently. He valued entering the market with a name he already recognised himself.
Anyone comparing their own options can learn more about the Jim’s Mowing franchise opportunity.
What Is Jim’s Mowing Franchise Training Really Like?
Andrew describes the training as “brilliant” and says he has found it really, really good overall.
He admits that taking in a large amount of information can sometimes be difficult. Andrew says he has had to focus because he does not consider himself “the best student”.
His takeaway is straightforward: “You get out what you put into it.”
At the time of the interview, Andrew had just started formal mowing training that morning. He had also completed a short course covering the do’s and don’ts of working with trailers.
Even though Andrew already felt relatively confident with a trailer, he still found the refresher useful.
That gives a practical example of how training can cover areas where someone may already have experience as well as subjects that are completely new to them.
More information about the broader onboarding process is available through the Jim’s Group franchisee training program.
What Can New Franchisees Learn From Successful Jim’s Operators?
Andrew says hearing from successful franchisees opened his eyes to what could be possible in the future.
A couple of experienced franchisees came in and spoke to the trainees. Andrew says some had started from nothing and gone on to produce “huge figures” while building businesses with multiple staff.
The value for Andrew was seeing real examples of people who had built their businesses beyond working alone.
That exposure changed the scale of what he could picture for himself. He says hearing those stories made it exciting to think about what he could do or might do in the future.
For a new franchisee still completing training, speaking to people further along in the process can provide practical context around what business growth can look like.
Andrew is not claiming that every franchisee will follow the same path. His point is that the examples showed him possibilities he had not necessarily considered before.
What Support Does A Jim’s Mowing Franchisee Receive?
Andrew says the support from his franchisor, Matt Watson, has been smooth, simple and well paced.
He says Matt has been great and has not overwhelmed him with constant contact. Instead, Andrew appreciates that Matt has largely allowed him to come forward when he needs something.
That approach appears to suit Andrew.
Rather than feeling pushed through the process, he describes the experience as “very, very simple”, which has helped make the early stages easier for him to manage.
Support does not always have to mean someone contacting a new franchisee constantly. In Andrew’s case, knowing Matt is available while still being given room to work through the process himself has been a positive balance.
Prospective franchisees who want to understand the broader support structure can also read the Jim’s Group franchise FAQ.
How Can Customers Book Andrew For Lawn Care?
Customers can contact Andrew by email, text, or phone so he can arrange to look at the work required.
His closing message is straightforward: “Happy to get back to you as soon as I possibly can. Send me a text, give me a call, and I’ll come to you and have a look at what you need.”
That approach fits the local service model Andrew describes throughout the interview.
Rather than trying to determine what somebody needs without seeing the property, Andrew is prepared to come out and look at the work.
Customers needing lawn mowing, whipper snipping, edging, hedging, gutter cleaning or general lawn maintenance can get in touch and discuss the job.
For people who are considering following a similar path into business ownership, the next step is to explore Jim’s Group franchise opportunities and find out what is available in their area.