Starting a business is no small feat. It requires a tonne of hard work, plenty of patience, and a great deal of resilience. However, starting your own business can also be one of the most rewarding experiences in the world. The sense of achievement that comes with building a business from scratch is truly second to none, which is why you should never let the fear of the unknown deter you from pursuing your goals.

With over 4,350 franchisees and counting Australia-wide, Jim’s Group is Australia’s largest franchising family and a global leader in the mobile service industry. We’re signing on more and more franchise owners every year and expanding rapidly. So, if you’ve ever wondered about opening a Jim’s franchise business of your own, we’re here to answer some of your questions. Here’s everything you need to know about starting a Jim’s franchise in 2022.

Are Jim’s franchises profitable?

Starting a small business is notoriously difficult. Those first few years of opening a business can be extremely tough, which is why one in three small businesses in Australia fail within a year of opening their doors. 

Interestingly, at Jim’s Group, our franchises don’t come with the same level of risk when compared to their independent competitors. In fact, many of our franchise owners are profitable within their first year–a remarkable achievement when you take into account the national statistics. Some of our franchisees, like Jim’s Mowing’s Dan Cahill, even go on to achieve six-figure sales within their first 12 months! 

The reality is that Jim’s franchises are built under extremely favourable franchising conditions. We have a unique fee structure; unlike most other franchise companies, we don’t take a percentage of our franchisees’ total sales. Instead, we charge a monthly fixed fee, which means that our franchisees get to keep more of their hard-earned dollars to themselves. This allows our franchise owners to build and scale their businesses at a faster pace and to increase their chances of achieving profitability within their first 12 months of operating. 

We also recognise that starting a business can still be tough financially–no matter how favourable the conditions are. This is why we offer all of our franchisees, regardless of their division, a minimum weekly guarantee of $1,500 as a safety net that they can fall back on if needed. However, we regularly receive far more leads than we can handle, which is why most of our franchisees never need to fall back on this guarantee as most of them end up making much more than this amount from the very beginning of their business journey.

Do you need to have qualifications to start a Jim’s franchise?

Our franchise owners come from all walks of life. From ex-bankers to uni students, we truly have some of the most diverse people working across our Group. The beauty of starting a business under Jim’s Group is that we provide you with all the business training you need to start and scale your business with confidence. Our world-class in-person training program takes place at our headquarters in Mooroolbark, Victoria. Over 3 days (more for some divisions such as Test & Tag, Cleaning, and Mowing), we’ll teach you everything you need to know about business to help you get started on the right foot.

Whether you need specific qualifications or licences to start a Jim’s franchise largely depends on which division you’re starting your business under. For divisions such as Jim’s Mowing and Jim’s Cleaning, you don’t need to obtain any formal qualifications before you can jump in. Other divisions such as Jim’s Test & Tag, Jim’s Pool Care, and Jim’s Building Inspections do require formal training. And for some other divisions like Jim’s Antennas and Jim’s Dog Wash, qualifications and formal training may not be required, but are recommended. 

If you don’t have the qualifications needed to work within a specific industry, our skilled and passionate franchisors can help you obtain one if it really is the direction you want to take your career. Ultimately, we don’t want anyone to feel like they can’t start the business of their dreams because they think they don’t have enough experience. If a particular franchise division is really calling your name, we can definitely make it possible. It never hurts to get in touch to explore all options and possibilities–you might be surprised at just how straightforward the entire process is!

What tools and equipment do you need to start a Jim’s franchise?

Figuring out exactly what you need to purchase before you begin taking on clients can be extremely daunting. At Jim’s Group, we aim to make every step of the startup process as easy as possible, including equipment acquisition. Since we’re a nationally recognised brand, we have a high level of purchasing power. This means that we’re able to source and secure great deals for all of our franchisees across vehicles, tools, equipment, phones, insurance, uniforms, and more.

The equipment you need to acquire before starting a Jim’s franchise varies greatly depending on which division your business belongs to. The startup items that a Jim’s Skip Bins franchise will need will look extremely different from the startup items that a Jim’s Car Detailing franchise needs. One of the benefits of starting a franchise under a franchise group like Jim’s is that you’ll have the guidance of a franchisor to walk you through those initial steps. Since your franchisor is an expert in their field and industry, they’ll be able to make recommendations for you based on their experience.

How much does it cost to start a Jim’s franchise?

The costs involved in starting a Jim’s franchise varies significantly depending on several factors, including whether you’re purchasing a new business or an established business and also considerations like location and division. With that being said, Jim’s franchises still continue to be some of the most competitively priced franchises on the market. Unlike many other franchises, our businesses operate on a mobile basis, which means that our franchise owners don’t have to funnel hundreds of thousands (if not millions) of dollars into acquiring expensive property and equipment. Whilst retail franchises typically cost millions of dollars to purchase and set up, Jim’s Group franchises can start from as little as $20,000!

You might be wondering why you would pay to start a business under a franchise model when you could just start a mobile business from scratch. The answer is simple: you’re ultimately less likely to fail when you have the support of a nationally recognised brand behind you. When you start an independent business, you’ll have to work hard and spend hard during those early days to get your name out there and to build trust and goodwill amongst your community. In comparison, when you sign on as a Jim’s Group franchisee, you’ll immediately receive access to all those intangible assets that money simply can’t buy. Assets such as brand recognition, goodwill, and logo rights will all be on the tip of your fingers, so you won’t have to struggle as much to get your name out there.

Since our franchises are priced according to so many different considerations, the best way to get an idea of the cost of a franchise in your area is to get in touch with our team. You can call us on 131 546 or submit an enquiry online. 

If you’ve been bitten by the entrepreneurial bug and are looking to invest in your future this year, get in touch with us at Jim’s Group today. Every month, we receive far more leads than we can service, so we’re always on the lookout for more motivated people to join our growing family. Call 131 546 or enquire online to discuss next steps.