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What Did Andy Do Before Joining Jim’s Mowing?

Before joining Jim’s Mowing, Andy Mercer was DJing and doing hire work.

He hired out equipment and owned generators, decks, and other gear. That equipment later helped him fund the move into Jim’s without taking on finance.

The real trigger was family.

Andy had a baby girl about 10 months. He and his partner were renting, wanted to buy their own home, and felt their current work was not going to get them there.

He wanted a business with better advice, stronger structure, and more mentorship than he could build alone.

That is what pushed him towards a Jim’s franchise opportunity.

Why Did Andy Choose A Jim’s Mowing Franchise In Deagon?

Andy chose a Jim’s Mowing franchise because he wanted support from people who knew the business better than he did.

That mattered because he was not just looking for another job. He wanted a business model that could help him build towards a home, support his family, and create a more stable future.

He also wanted mentorship.

Andy said Dan had been a strong mentor. Dan helped him understand what he should and should not be charging, and also helped him build mowing routes.

That support became important early.

Pricing, quoting, route density, and customer conversion can make or break a new mowing business. Andy was not left to figure it out alone.

For someone comparing independent mowing work against a branded model, this is the difference. A solo operator has to create the brand, pricing model, lead flow, systems, and customer trust from scratch. Andy stepped into an established structure, then worked hard inside it.

Future franchisees comparing start-up costs, fees, and structure can learn more about how Jim’s franchising fees work.

What Happened In Andy’s First 30 Days With Jim’s Mowing?

Andy’s first month was physically demanding.

He came back from training in Melbourne to 37-degree heat in Queensland. On his first day back, he did a job for a friend and ended up with full-body cramps.

His friend followed him home because she was worried he had heat stroke. Andy said he collapsed onto the floor, could not control his muscles, and needed Epsom salts and HydroLite.

That first week also included rain and the Australia Day public holiday.

It was the only week Andy did not make over $2,000.

After that, he started finding rhythm.

He worked six-day workweeks and used the seventh day to service equipment and spend some time with his kids. He also noticed his fitness improving quickly. He had given up smoking before joining Jim’s and said he could move faster for longer as the month went on.

He was already seeing the business turn.

He was fitter.

He was faster.

He was quoting better.

He was getting regular customers.

He had enough work to bring in a casual helper.

That is a strong first-month result for a new Jim’s Mowing franchise in Deagon.

How Much Can You Earn With A Jim’s Mowing Franchise?

Andy’s strongest reported number was $1,370 in eight hours.

That works out to around $171 per hour.

He also said the only week he did not make over $2,000 was his first week, when he dealt with 37-degree heat, full-body cramps, rain, and a public holiday.

These numbers are not a guarantee for every franchisee. These are Andy’s actual reported results from his first month.

His income improved as he got faster, fitter, and more confident with the work.

Andy explained that early on, he needed more water breaks and rest. As his fitness improved, he could complete jobs to a good standard more quickly. That increased his effective hourly rate.

How Andy Turned Leads Into Higher Daily Revenue

Andy’s $1,370 day was not just luck.

It came from three things working together:

1. Better pricing advice from his franchisor
2. Faster job completion as his technique and fitness improved
3. More efficient quoting was helped by having a casual worker stay on the tools while Andy met prospects in person

Andy found that meeting customers in person helped him secure more work than quoting from photos. Photos can miss important details. Face-to-face quoting also builds trust, especially for higher-value garden and hedging jobs.

Anyone researching how much Jim’s franchisees can earn should look at Andy’s story as a real example of effort, local demand, and systems working together.

How Did Andy’s Jim’s Mowing Business Grow Over Time?

Andy’s business grew quickly because he focused on regular work, local demand, and practical quoting.

In Deagon and wider Queensland conditions, grass grows fast. Andy said what Melbourne might consider an overgrown mow could be only about a week and a half of growth in some Queensland areas, especially where water sits on the property.

That creates demand.

Andy was doing regular mowing for working professionals. He was also doing hedging and garden maintenance for elderly customers.

Within the first month, he already had $2,000 worth of hedging work lined up for one week.

That pushed him to order an elephant trunk harness to make the work easier and more efficient.

Why Andy Added A Casual Worker So Early

Andy had already brought on a casual worker within his first month.

The worker was an old flatmate and a former chef. At first, the role was casual. Then the workload grew quickly.

Andy said the work was building so fast that the helper was becoming close to five or six days a week.

That helped Andy separate two important parts of the business:

• One person could stay on the job and keep the work moving.
• Andy could go to quote new jobs in person.

That improved conversion because customers could meet him, ask questions, and see the professionalism behind the Jim’s name.

It also showed that Andy was not just buying a job. He was building a business.

What Systems And Tools Made The Biggest Difference?

The biggest systems for Andy were pricing support, scheduling, in-person quoting, health and safety presentation, and efficient equipment.

He also used a strong battery-powered setup.

Andy used an Ego battery gear, an Ego zero-turn mower, two Ego blowers, a trailer inverter, a lithium battery, a solar panel, and a RedArc DC charger.

That setup gave him enough power without needing to plug into a customer’s house.

How Scheduling Builds Trust And Protects Cash Flow

One of Andy’s most important comments was about using a proper scheduling system.

When customers asked about paying cash without GST, Andy stood his ground. He explained that the job had to go into the scheduling system and be booked properly.

That mattered because it showed reliability.

A scheduling system helps a mowing operator:

• Record the job properly
• Reduce missed appointments
• Keep repeat work organised
• Track quotes and bookings
• Build customer confidence
• Support professional invoicing and GST handling

For customers, it signals that the operator is not casual or unreliable.

For the franchisee, it protects the business from forgotten work, unclear bookings, and messy admin.

That is why systems matter in a Jim’s Mowing franchise. The work is physical, but the business still runs on process.

How Signs And Cones Helped Andy Win More Work

Andy also said that putting up signs and cones helped him look more professional.

This came from training.

The signs and cones were part of health and safety, but they also became a sales tool. People saw the professionalism, asked for business cards, and requested quotes while he was working.

That is a simple but powerful point.

A professional presentation can turn a normal mowing job into a local marketing opportunity.

For future franchisees, this is why franchisee training matters. It is not just about learning how to mow. It is about learning how to quote, present, work safely, and build trust in the field.

What Challenges Did Andy Face And Overcome?

Andy’s biggest early challenge was the physical shock.

His first day back in Queensland was 37 degrees. He had full-body cramps and questioned what he had gotten himself into.

He also had to deal with rain and a public holiday in the first week.

That made the start harder.

But Andy adapted quickly.

He started using HydroLite every workday. His partner packed jerky for protein and salt. He improved his fitness, built better technique, and kept servicing his equipment.

He also learnt the value of the right vehicle.

Andy started with a Land Rover, then sold it and bought a single-cab Hilux. His advice was to get a light vehicle that can still carry weight and tow green waste.

That is practical advice from someone doing the work.

A mowing business is not only about the mower. It is about heat, hydration, vehicle setup, quoting, dumping green waste, route planning, and physical endurance.

Is A Jim’s Mowing Franchise Worth It For Someone Like Andy Mercer?

For Andy Mercer, the Jim’s Mowing franchise was worth it because it gave him a structured path out of work that was not moving his family towards their goals.

He wanted to stop renting and work towards buying a home.

He wanted business mentorship.

He wanted a model that had leads, systems, and practical support.

Within his first month in Deagon, he had already made $1,370 in eight hours, had only one week under $2,000, brought in a casual worker, and built momentum with regular customers.

That does not mean it was easy.

Andy made it clear that the work requires sweat, sore muscles, and long days. But his results show what can happen when effort meets demand, training, systems, and support.

For customers, it also shows why a Jim’s Mowing operator is different from a casual mower. Andy was using a scheduling system, working under the Jim’s brand, following health and safety processes, and taking customer trust seriously.

For future franchisees, Andy’s story is a strong example of what a Jim’s Mowing franchise can look like in the first 30 days when the operator is prepared to work hard.

Andy Mercer’s First-Month Jim’s Mowing Results Compared

Feature	Standard Operator	Jim’s Professional
Training	Learns through trial and error	Receives structured training, including quoting, health and safety, application rates, and customer handling
Leads	Must find every customer independently	Can receive leads through Jim’s Group while also building local referrals
Systems	May rely on memory, texts, or manual notes	Uses proper scheduling to book work, track jobs, and build trust
Branding	Starts with no market recognition	Operates under the Jim’s Mowing brand with local visibility
Income Consistency	Depends heavily on self-generated demand	Andy reported only one week under $2,000 in his first month

“The work’s been building so quickly. The leads are there from Jim’s Group, and I’ve been doing a bit of networking myself.”

— Andy Mercer, Jim’s Mowing franchisee, Deagon

Frequently Asked Questions

How Much Did Andy Mercer Earn With His Jim’s Mowing Franchise?

Andy Mercer said he made $1,370 in eight hours during his first month. That worked out to around $171 per hour.
He also said the only week he did not make over $2,000 was his first week, which included extreme heat, full-body cramps, rain, and a public holiday.

Where Is Andy Mercer’s Jim’s Mowing Franchise Based?

Andy Mercer operates his Jim’s Mowing franchise in Deagon, Queensland.
The location matters because Queensland conditions can create strong mowing demand. Andy said grass was growing extremely fast and that some overgrown jobs in Queensland could happen within a short period.

What Did Andy Mercer Do Before Jim’s Mowing?

Andy was DJing and doing hire work before joining Jim’s Mowing.
He sold generators, decks, and other equipment to help fund the move without financing. His motivation was to build a better future for his partner and children.

Did Andy Have A Difficult Start?

Yes. His first day back from training was during a 37-degree Queensland heatwave.
He experienced full-body cramps, needed HydroLite, and questioned what he had gotten himself into. After that, he adjusted his hydration, fitness, and work habits.

What Support Did Andy Get From Jim’s?

Andy said his mentor, Dan, helped with pricing, mowing routes, and business guidance.
He also used training around fertiliser application rates, pesticide spraying, health and safety, signs, and cones. These helped him work professionally and generate more quoting opportunities.

What Tools Did Andy Use In His First Month?

Andy used battery-powered Ego equipment, including a zero-turn mower and blowers.
He also set up his trailer with an inverter, lithium battery, solar panel, and RedArc DC charger. That gave him power on the road without needing to plug in at a customer’s house.

Why Did Andy Bring In A Casual Worker So Early?

Andy brought in a casual worker because the work built quickly.
The worker could stay on-site and keep jobs moving while Andy attended quotes in person. That helped Andy secure more work and manage demand.

Is A Jim’s Mowing Franchise Hard Work?

Yes. Andy said it requires hard work, sweat, sore muscles, and long days.
But his first-month results show that the work can also be rewarding when combined with local demand, systems, training, and smart pricing.

Key Takeaways

• Andy Mercer moved from DJing and hire work into a Jim’s Mowing franchise in Deagon, Queensland.
• Within his first month, he made $1,370 in eight hours, around $171 per hour.
• His only week under $2,000 was his first week, which included 37-degree heat, full-body cramps, rain, and a public holiday.
• Mentorship, pricing advice, scheduling, signs, cones, and in-person quoting helped him build trust and win work.
• Andy brought in a casual worker within his first month because the workload built quickly.

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