Hi, I’m Joel Kleber. I’m the CMO of Jim’s Group and the host of the More Than Just Mowing podcast.

Over the years, I’ve interviewed hundreds of Jim’s Mowing franchise owners with our videos and on our podcast.

Different ages. Different backgrounds. Different goals.

But after doing this for long enough, patterns become very obvious.

This article isn’t theory. It’s not a marketing pitch. It’s simply what I’ve observed again and again when it comes to who builds a successful Jim’s Mowing business. Some stay solo. Some scale teams. Some chase lifestyle. Some chase growth.

The common ground sits below all of that.

Here’s what the best franchisees consistently have in common.

1. They start with the right attitude and keep it

The franchisees who do well are personal, polite, and genuinely care about what they do.

They show up on time. They communicate clearly. They treat customers with respect. That attitude is there in training and it’s still there years later.

You can teach systems. You can’t teach caring.
And customers feel the difference straight away.

2. They follow the Jim’s system properly

The strongest operators don’t freelance the system.

They follow what’s taught in training. They use the manuals. They listen to their franchisor. They don’t half-do it.

The system exists because it works. It’s been refined across thousands of territories over decades. The franchisees who struggle often think they’ve found a shortcut. The successful ones trust the playbook and execute it consistently.

It’s not glamorous. It’s effective.

3. They’re ambitious, but in their own way

Not every successful franchisee wants a big team.

Some are very happy as sole traders earning great money with flexibility. Others want to scale. Add trailers. Build teams of eight or ten.

The key point is the system supports both. There are no extra fees for growth. No penalties for staying small. A franchisee with ten staff pays the same fees as someone working solo.

Ambition looks different for everyone. The system doesn’t force you into one version of success.

4. They’re clear on why they joined

After hundreds of interviews, most motivations fall into a few buckets.

They feel they’re worth more than what they’re earning in a job.
 They want lifestyle and fresh air after corporate burnout.
 They love gardening and want to turn it into a proper business.

The franchisees who do best are very clear on their “why”. That clarity matters when it’s raining, when equipment breaks, or when the diary is full.

They didn’t drift into the business. They chose it.

5. They understand the power of the brand

Jim’s Mowing is a household name. That matters more than people realise until they’re out in the field.

The brand does a lot of heavy lifting. Trust is already there. Customers are comfortable before you arrive. Commercial clients take calls they might ignore from an unknown operator.

Building that level of trust independently takes years and a lot of money. Jim’s franchisees get access to it from day one and the best operators know how to protect and use it properly.

6. They don’t have to sell trust. It’s built in

One of the biggest advantages franchisees talk about is this. They don’t need to convince customers they’re reliable.

Jim’s has a clear brand promise. We turn up. We do the job properly. If something goes wrong, it gets fixed.

That takes pressure off the franchisee. Rates are easier to hold. Conversations are easier. Long-term customers are easier to keep.

Trust isn’t something they manufacture. It’s something they inherit and protect.

7. They play the long game

The most successful franchisees don’t chase shortcuts.

They don’t cut corners. They don’t burn customers. They build reputation job by job, suburb by suburb, review by review.

Over time, it stacks up. Better runs. Better clients. More predictable income. More control over how they work.

Nothing flashy. Very effective.

8. They use the network and the community

The best franchisees don’t operate in isolation.

They attend meetings. They get to know other franchisees in their region. They build relationships with their franchisor. They use the fact that they’re part of a large, active network.

If they’re unsure about pricing, a job, or a situation, they don’t guess. They ask. Other franchisees have usually been there before and are happy to help.

It’s a genuine community. Practical, not fluffy. And it makes a big difference.

9. They speak to their franchisor early and often

The strongest operators don’t sit there worrying in silence.

They contact their franchisor as soon as something comes up.

Most franchisors are former franchisees themselves. They’ve been in the ute. They’ve dealt with the same problems. And they have visibility across many other franchisee businesses.

If they don’t have the answer immediately, they know someone who does and they’ll put you in touch.

The best franchisees see asking for help as a shortcut, not a weakness.

10. Their customers genuinely like them

The top franchisees rarely talk about customer service. You can see it in the outcomes.

They have minimal to no complaints. Customers request them by name. Jobs turn into ongoing work. Neighbours ask who did the mowing.

They also ask for referrals and they get them. Not awkwardly. Just by doing a good job and communicating well.

That’s why many of the best operators are flat out without constantly chasing new leads. Quality work and good communication compound quickly.

11. They’re never complacent

This is the final pattern that shows up every time.

The best franchisees are always looking at how to improve. They review what they’re doing. They ask for feedback. They speak to other franchisees and franchisors about what’s working and what could be better.

They don’t assume they’ve “made it”. They stay curious. They stay open to advice. And they keep refining the business over time.

That mindset alone separates long-term success from short-term comfort.

Final thought

None of these things are magic on their own.

But when you combine attitude, systems, brand, community, customer outcomes, technology, and a willingness to keep improving, it explains why the model works when people lean into it.

Different goals. Same fundamentals.

They also understand that the system works, if you follow it and put in effort.

And after hundreds of conversations with Jim’s Mowing franchisees, those fundamentals show up every single time. To hear more, check out the Jim’s Mowing YouTube channel or Jim’s Mowing Podcast.