30 day Jim's Mowing franchise review with Garry from Jim's Mowing Ormeau

After 37 years in the IT industry, Garry Eilola was ready for a serious change.

Sick of desk life, long commutes, and the mental burnout of corporate work, Garry swapped the keyboard for a mower and hasn’t looked back.

In just his first month as a Jim’s Mowing franchisee, he matched—and then beat—his previous income while gaining back his time, health, and peace of mind.

In this episode:

Garry shares exactly why he left the IT world behind and how he found success with Jim’s Mowing so quickly.

He talks about his experience with franchise training, how the Jim’s system works, the support from fellow franchisees, and how lead generation and fixed franchise fees make growth achievable.

This is a must-listen if you're thinking about starting a mowing franchise or looking for a career reset that actually improves your quality of life.

Key Takeaways:

• The Jim’s system simplifies business development.
  Garry didn’t do any marketing. The Jim’s system generated all his leads, allowing him to focus on quoting, servicing, and growing his client base.

• Strong support from franchisors and fellow franchisees.
  In his first month, Garry was in daily contact with his franchisor Barry Walker. Everyone—from corporate to fellow franchisees—was willing to help.

• Franchise training prepares you with real-world tools.
  Garry found the training eye-opening and valuable. He credits instructors like John Wiles with changing how he saw his own business potential.

• The job is physical, but the benefits are massive.
  Garry lost weight, felt fitter, and said he felt 17 years younger within weeks. He sees Jim’s Mowing as a paid fitness program that also brings in serious income.

• Customer service is simple—treat people the way you want to be treated.
  Garry’s focus on honesty, reliability, and communication helped him earn trust quickly. He walks clients through quotes and manages expectations upfront.

• Lead fees and fixed franchise fees are worth every dollar.
  Garry landed a two-week job from a $12 lead. He sees lead fees as smarter marketing spend—and loves that his franchise fee stays fixed no matter how much he earns.

• You set the pace of your business.
  Garry scaled his workload intentionally, starting with 2–3 leads a day to let his body adjust. He now works six days a week but plans to slow down once fully established.

• Mental and physical health are major wins.
  Leaving the stress of IT gave Garry a new lease on life. He’s happier, healthier, and earning more than he ever did behind a desk.

• You don’t need 500 customers to be successful.
  Garry says around 80 loyal clients is more than enough to run a profitable Jim’s Mowing business—and there's more than enough demand to go around.