Find a speaker

Jim Penman

About Jim Penman and the Jim's Group of Companies

With just $24 in his pocket Jim Penman started a part-time mowing business while earning his PhD in history. He launched Balwyn Gardening, later renamed Jim's Mowing, as a full-time business in 1982.

He originally aimed only at taking on subcontractors, but his business grew and he gradually began to specialise in the building up and selling of lawn mowing rounds - more than 100 over several years.

By 1989 he franchised his business and since then the growth of Jim's Mowing has been rapid. From being small and relatively unknown, it has become the largest and best known lawn mowing business in the world.

Jim's Cleaning was launched in 1994 and was soon followed by dog wash, handyman, fencing and about 15 other divisions which now operated in Australia, New Zealand, Canada and the United Kingdom.

Today the Jim's Group of Companies has divisions ranging antennas, building maintenance, fencing, irrigation, paving to pool care consisting of 2600 franchisees and is Australia's largest home service franchise network.

Jim says the key to success has been a consistent concern for the welfare of both franchisees and customers and he is still actively involved in the running of the business with his primary focus being franchisee satisfaction.