Kevin has run his Jim's Mowing franchise for 10 years. Before Jim's he spent 14 years managing plumbing retail stores, on call 24/7.
In this episode he tells Joel Kleber what he has learned about pricing, quoting, communication and building a round close to home.
Kevin bought in with 35 clients and doubled the number within three months.
He grew to about 140 clients and was working almost seven days a week.
He sold splits, cut back to 80 to 90 clients, and now every job sits within 15 minutes of his house. Most of his new work comes from referrals and word of mouth.
What You Will Learn
Why Kevin left plumbing retail after 14 years
How he grew from 35 clients to 140, and why he cut back
How selling out-of-area splits brought every job within 15 minutes of home
Why he messages every client the night before
What to look at when you quote a lawn: edging, garden beds and trees
How he quoted a deceased estate clean-up as a day rate plus tip fees
What "mowing fit" means and what the first three months do to your body
The equipment he uses, and where battery gear works for him
How the business gives him flexibility for family
His advice for anyone weighing up a franchise: research first, then commit
Chapters
0:00 Kevin's advice on pricing and communication
0:41 10 years with Jim's and the call from Jim
1:19 14 years in plumbing retail
1:46 The Facebook ad
2:15 From 35 clients to 140
3:04 Referrals and word of mouth
4:10 Every client within 15 minutes of home
5:09 The services he offers
5:25 Jim's Mowing vs independents
5:53 Equipment and battery gear
6:43 Business advice: pricing and the night-before text
7:25 How to quote
8:21 How pricing has changed in 10 years
8:47 Support and the Jim's job system
9:08 The biggest challenge
9:53 "Why didn't I do it sooner?"
11:07 Six months of research before he started
11:42 Clients who have stayed 10 years
12:08 Mowing fit
14:04 55 years of hockey and the Masters nationals
16:29 The most unusual customer story
17:08 The 1.6 tonne clean-up
19:36 What comes next
20:09 Wrap up
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