Guest Independent lawnmowing Posted October 20, 2009 Share Posted October 20, 2009 I think everybody in England has heard of Jims Mowing by now . http://www.smh.com.au/small-busines...91019-h511.html THE owner of Australia's second-largest franchise system is facing a revolt by franchisees. Jim Penman, the founder of Jim's Group - which spans 28 different franchises including mowing, plumbing and electrical with 2700 franchisees in Australia alone - faces being forced out of the company, and a class action, after a referendum held at the weekend. The ballot has so far found 89 per cent of master franchisors who voted wanted Mr Penman out, while 81 per cent supported a class action for alleged breach of contract. Those behind the ballot have extended it to Friday, saying their efforts to hold the referendum were hampered by Mr Penman shutting down a website promoting the vote. Mr Penman - whose franchise is second only to Australia Post in size - has dismissed the referendum as a ''made-up vote'' orchestrated by a disaffected British master franchisor. It comes as he is being pursued for $1 million in damages by Paul Carr, who claims Mr Penman and others in Jim's Group conspired in his removal from the British business. Mr Penman has denied the claim and is pondering legal action of his own against Mr Carr and the website hosting the vote, which he says has libelled him. But Mr Penman admitted many in his Australian operation wanted him out of the company he built from a single mowing business in Melbourne in 1982 into one of the world's largest franchises, with an annual turnover in this country of about $250 million. ''I'm not sure the majority would be in favour of me right now, but give it a couple of years and they might be,'' Mr Penman said. While those behind the vote would not make public the numbers who cast ballots, Jim's Group has about 215 ''divisional'' and ''regional'' franchisors - in effect master franchisees - in its system who were eligible to vote. These franchisors buy areas from Jim's Group - often large parts of a state - and split up the areas and on-sell those to franchisees. Jim's Group allows franchisors to be voted out by franchisees - or Mr Penman to be voted out by franchisors - if three people call for a referendum. A similar vote in 2005 found in Mr Penman's favour. But there has been growing resentment from franchisors around Australia largely based around what they say are unfair increases in the monthly fees they pay Jim's Group for each franchisee and changes to the company's operational manual. Monthly fees were initially set to more than double, leaving franchisors claiming they could not on-sell their businesses. Most franchisors have spent several hundred thousands dollars to get into the business. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Hearne_Family Posted November 14, 2009 Share Posted November 14, 2009 Have you seen the guys picture on the side of the vans? The guy cant even trim his own face...trust him with my lawn? I think not! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest AjimsWife Posted November 24, 2009 Share Posted November 24, 2009 I'm a Jim's Mowing franchisee wife, all i can say is DON'T DO IT. In my humble opinion that are the worse franchisers, i've worked for franchise organisations (i.e. head offices) and Jim's has to take the prize for the crappiest of all. Advertising is no existant unless you hound them, but of course they take their advertising fees each month from us. Support well whats that? If someone in the Sydney office actually returned a call then i would fall of my chair in shock. We have been with Jim's for under a year now and are already taking steps to get the hell out of it and work as an independant. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Petals Posted November 24, 2009 Share Posted November 24, 2009 One of my friend's husband sued them and won, I think if you want to mow just put an ad in the local rage local supermarket board and wait, lot cheaper than buying a franchise and you probably will get just as much work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest proud2beaussie Posted November 24, 2009 Share Posted November 24, 2009 ok guys and gals,this thread is turning into a free for all for anyone who has a grudge against the company and I am of the opinion that this is not what the OP wanted,the thread has been running for well over a year now and I believe has served it's purpose so I'm closing it . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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