Stephen Spearman built a Jim’s Mowing franchise in Geelong that now gives him high income, school-run flexibility, and the backing of a local franchisee network. After 10 years, he says he can average about $100 an hour and still structure the business around family.
In short: Stephen Spearman moved from retail and factory work into a Jim’s Mowing franchise in Geelong. He now earns about $100 an hour on average, can make around $1,000 on big spring days, and kept his business alive during a three-month injury because local Jim’s franchisees covered his clients.
In this More Than Just Mowing Podcast episode, Stephen Spearman, a Jim’s Mowing franchisee in Geelong, moved from retail and 60-hour factory weeks into a business that now averages about $100 an hour. His business runs on practical systems including formalised invoicing, a paper diary, ride-on mowing equipment, battery gear, and the Jim’s local support network.
A Jim’s Mowing franchise can work well when the operator is consistent, customer-focused, and willing to build around local demand. In Stephen’s case, the proof is 10 years in business, a strong customer rating, flexible family hours, and income that he says removes the money stress he once felt in retail. This article covers how Stephen started, what he earns, how the Jim’s system protected his Geelong business, and what future franchisees can learn from his experience.
What Did Stephen Do Before Joining Jim’s Mowing?
Stephen worked in retail before moving into factory work.
Retail was hard because there was “no money” and “no overtime”. Factory work paid better, but it came with long hours.
He worked 60-hour weeks for around 10 years and used that income to pretty much pay off his first house.
That work ethic helped him later. But it also showed him the limit of working for someone else.
He was putting in the effort, but the reward was capped.
Why Did Stephen Choose a Jim’s Mowing Franchise In Geelong?
Stephen had a mate who had been with Jim’s for about 15 years.
That mate told him to “give it a crack”.
The decision still felt risky. Stephen had never gone out on his own before, and he had to take out a loan to start.
He knew a regular job gave him a predictable income. The concern was whether the business would work long-term.
But he also knew one thing clearly: when you work for yourself, effort and reward are more closely connected.
That is why the Jim’s Mowing franchise opportunity made sense for him.
He had the work ethic. Jim’s gave him a recognised brand, a local territory, training, and support.
What Happened In Stephen’s First Few Months After Starting?
Stephen did not pretend the first stage was easy.
He said the first two to three years can test whether the business has real staying power.
That is an honest point for anyone considering owning a franchise. A Jim’s Mowing franchise is not passive income. It still needs quoting, customer service, weather management, equipment care, and consistent work.
Stephen kept going because he enjoyed the work.
The customer feedback was good.
Ten years later, he is still in the business.
How Much Can You Earn With Stephen’s Jim’s Mowing Franchise?
Stephen says he earns about $100 an hour on average.
On big spring days, he can make around $1,000 a day doing mowing and general clean-ups.
When he has his kids, he structures work around school drop-off and pick-up. In those weeks, he may work five or six hours a day and make around $500 to $600 a day.
Across 25 to 30 hours, he said he can still earn around $1,500 to $2,000.
That is why questions like how much can you earn with a Jim’s franchise need real context.
Stephen is not claiming every day is easy.
He is saying that with the right jobs, good quoting, and a strong work ethic, the numbers can be strong for a sole operator.
How a $375 Corio Clean-Up Showed the Value of Quoting Properly
One example came from a big clean-up job in Corio.
The grass had not been mowed for about nine months. It was waist-high.
Stephen quoted $375 and completed the job in about an hour and a half to an hour and three-quarters.
He knew the ride-on mower could handle much of the job. He also knew some areas would need whipper snipping, which would slow him down.
That is the difference between guessing and quoting with experience.
He understood the time, the equipment, and the effort required before giving the price.
How Did Stephen’s Geelong Jim’s Mowing Business Grow Over Time?
Stephen built a business that suits his life.
He is a single dad and works around a week-on, week-off parenting.
During lockdowns, when his boys were homeschooling, he could not work during the weeks he had them. He worked flat out the following week, doing 10-hour days to keep regular customers serviced.
He was still able to keep his head above water while effectively working only two weeks out of the month.
That flexibility is a major part of his story.
His business now runs Monday to Friday. He does not work weekends because he wants those weekends for his kids and his partner.
Sometimes he even takes a Monday off and makes the rest of the week busier.
That is not a normal employee schedule. It is the kind of flexibility many people are chasing when they look at a service-based franchise.
What Systems And Tools Made the Biggest Difference?
Stephen’s business is not built on flashy technology.
It is built on practical systems that work for him.
He uses formalised invoicing but still schedules most of his work through a paper diary. That suits the way he operates.
For equipment, he has used Honda mowers, a Greenfield ride-on mower, and an Ego battery-powered mower. He still keeps two-stroke equipment for heavier clean-ups where battery runtime becomes a limit.
Why the Jim’s Franchisee Backup Network Protected Stephen’s Business
The most important system in Stephen’s story was not a piece of software.
It was the Geelong franchisee network.
In September 2022, Stephen injured his thumb badly in an accident with an angle grinder. He thought he might be off for six weeks.
After surgery, the surgeon told him it would be 10 to 12 weeks.
That meant three months away from work during spring, the busiest time of year for mowing.
Stephen called his franchisor, Ben. Ben connected him with four local franchisees: Andrew, Mark, Steve, and Jason.
They covered his business while he recovered.
Andrew and Mark took on the bulk of the work, around 20 to 30 or more clients each, on top of already busy schedules. Steve and Jason handled jobs in their areas.
When Stephen was ready to return, the clients were handed back.
He lost only about three or four customers.
That is the deeper advantage of a franchise network. It gives a sole operator backup capacity when life goes wrong.
If Stephen had been completely independent, he said he would have been stuck.
How Battery Gear Helped Stephen Work Healthier
Stephen also moved from petrol tools to Ego battery-powered equipment for several jobs.
He is asthmatic, and two-stroke fumes were an issue when using tools close to his face for edging, hedging, and trimming.
Battery gear reduced fumes and made the equipment lighter.
He still uses petrol where the job needs longer runtime, especially heavy blower work on wet grass or big clean-ups.
That balance matters. The tool system has to fit the work, not just the trend.
What Challenges Did Stephen Face And Overcome?
Stephen’s main challenge was uncertainty.
He knew how to work hard, but he was not sure the business would last.
He also had to learn practical mowing skills, equipment handling, and customer confidence on the job.
His advice for new franchisees is simple: talk to the other franchisees, take training seriously, and ask plenty of questions when you go out with experienced operators.
Jim’s training helped him with the business side. But he also believes new operators should practise with their equipment before turning up at a customer’s property.
That is where franchisee training and field experience work together.
Stephen later completed Certificate II and III in horticulture over two years, which improved his plant identification, weed spraying knowledge, paving awareness, and landscaping judgement.
That knowledge helped him with customers who care deeply about their gardens.
Is a Jim’s Mowing Franchise Worth It For Operators Like Stephen?
For Stephen, yes.
He says he has no real money worries now, which is a major change from living week to week in retail.
He earns a high income, works around his kids, and controls his schedule.
He also still enjoys the work, even on rough weather days.
The clearest proof came when he was injured. His Geelong Jim’s Mowing business was protected by the local network, then handed back to him when he recovered.
That is what made the business worth it for him.
It gave him income, flexibility, and backup.
For anyone comparing the Jim’s Mowing cost with starting alone, Stephen’s story shows why the value is not only in the brand. It is also in the support structure behind the brand.
How Does Stephen’s Jim’s Mowing Business Compare With a Standard Operator?
| Feature | Standard Operator | Jim’s Professional |
| Training | Must learn everything alone or through trial and error | Gets business training, field exposure, and access to experienced franchisees |
| Leads | Must build local demand from scratch | Can operate under a recognised brand with local support |
| Systems | Must create quoting, invoicing, and scheduling processes alone | Can use Jim’s business systems, formalised invoicing, and franchisor guidance |
| Branding | Must earn trust without a national name | Benefits from Jim’s Mowing brand recognition and customer standards |
| Income Consistency | Depends heavily on personal marketing and repeat clients | Can build recurring mowing and garden maintenance work with support |
“If I were working by myself, I’d be stuck. The whole Jim’s system, the support and the network, is really amazing.”
— Stephen Spearman, Jim’s Mowing franchisee, Geelong
Frequently Asked Questions
How Much Do Jim’s Mowing Franchisees Earn?
Stephen Spearman says he earns about $100 an hour on average. He also mentioned making around $1,000 on big spring days and around $500 to $600 for five to six hours of work.
Is a Jim’s Mowing Franchise Worth It?
For Stephen, it has been worth it because it gave him income, flexibility, and support. After 10 years, he says he no longer has the money worries he had when working week to week in retail.
Can You Run a Jim’s Mowing Franchise Around Family Life?
Yes, Stephen’s Geelong business is structured around school drop-off, school pick-up, and week-on, week-off parenting. During lockdowns, he could homeschool his boys one week, then work longer days the next week to keep customers serviced.
What Happens If a Jim’s Mowing Franchisee Gets Injured?
In Stephen’s case, four Geelong franchisees covered his clients for three months after he injured his thumb. He lost only about three or four customers before returning to work.
What Tools Does Stephen Use In His Jim’s Mowing Business?
Stephen uses Honda mowers, a Greenfield ride-on mower, Ego battery-powered equipment, and some petrol gear for heavier clean-ups. He also uses formalised invoicing and a paper diary for scheduling.
What Services Does Stephen’s Jim’s Mowing Business Offer?
Stephen’s bread and butter is lawn mowing, garden maintenance, hedging, and spraying. He also does occasional gutter work, ride-on mowing, and some landscaping when it fits around regular customers.
Key Takeaways
- Stephen Spearman moved from retail and 60-hour factory weeks into a Jim’s Mowing franchise in Geelong.
- He now earns about $100 an hour on average and can make around $1,000 on big spring days.
- His business survived a three-month spring injury because four local Jim’s franchisees covered his clients.
- He runs the business around school drop-off, school pick-up, and weekends with his kids.
- The strongest advantage in his story is the Jim’s Group network, not just the brand name.
Ready To Build A Business With Real Backup Behind You?
Need A Local Mowing Professional Who Turns Up And Gets It Done?
Stephen’s story shows what local Jim’s Mowing operators bring to the job: practical experience, professional standards, and pride in repeat service.
Whether you need regular lawn mowing, garden maintenance, hedging, or a one-off clean-up, Jim’s Mowing connects you with local operators backed by the Jim’s National Guarantee.
Request your free quote from Jim’s Mowing today.
Want Stephen’s Mix Of Income, Flexibility, And Franchise Support?
Stephen’s Geelong story is a clear example of what a Jim’s Mowing franchise can offer the right person.
It gave him a way out of 60-hour factory weeks, a business built around his children, and the support of other operators when injury could have cost him his customer base.
Learn more about joining Jim’s Mowing at jims.net or call 131 546 today.
