TL;DR
In short: a Jim’s Building & Maintenance franchise in New Zealand gives qualified builders access to fixed fees, controllable leads, business coaching, and a customer base they can build over time. Robert Young says repeat and referral work often becomes much stronger after 18 to 24 months, while some established operators become booked months ahead.
BLUF: In a Jim’s Podcast episode, Robert Young shares that Jim’s Building and Maintenance gives tradespeople a structured way to build their own customer base instead of relying solely on an employer or one-off jobs. Young brings 30 years of sales and marketing experience to the division, while franchisees such as TA, a qualified builder in Mount Wellington, use tools including the Jimbo app, controllable lead settings, and a fixed-fee system to manage customers and work.
A Jim’s Building Maintenance franchise is designed to help qualified builders build a customer base around property maintenance, repeat work and referrals. In Mount Wellington, TA was one new franchisee Robert Young said turned over more than $10,000 in his first month, while Neil in Massey landed a $17,000 job on his first day. This article covers the professional shift, maintenance work, fixed fees, leads, territories, training, and customer ownership behind the New Zealand division.
Watch the full episode below, or keep reading for the key takeaways.
Why Are Builders Moving From Employment to Their Own Customer Base?
Robert Young brought Jim’s Building & Maintenance, alongside Jim’s Handyman, to New Zealand five years before the interview.
He says many builders who consider the model have become tired of 7 am starts, months on the same building site, constant time pressure and having somebody else control their working day.
The alternative is not simply buying a franchise and waiting for work.
Robert expects franchisees to have genuine trade capability, communicate well with customers, quote jobs and build their business. Qualified builders are his preference for Jim’s Building & Maintenance.
People entering Jim’s Handyman without a building qualification need to be highly capable, and Robert says they use an LBP, or licensed building practitioner, as a subcontractor when the work requires one.
His longer-term objective is also clear: build a personal customer base.
Robert repeatedly uses 1,000 customers as the target because the goal is to reduce reliance on new leads as repeat and referral work grows.
Corbin Borey is one example. Robert says Corbin now takes few new leads because his repeat and referral business has become strong.
Robert says that shift commonly happens after about 18 to 24 months.
The model can also support different business goals. Robert estimates roughly half his team are “empire builders” who want to scale, while the other half are “lifestylers”.
Ricky in Papakura, for example, keeps Saturdays free so he can play golf.
Builders considering the same move can learn more about owning a Jim’s franchise and how much a Jim’s franchise can earn.
Why Does Property Maintenance Keep Builders Busy in a Slow Market?
Property maintenance sits at the centre of the business Robert describes.
During a weak building market, he says his teams continued receiving work for leaky windows, roof repairs, guttering repairs, gutter replacements and conversions from internal to external gutters.
By comparison, larger value-add jobs such as decks and kitchen renovations had become scarcer and more competitive.
Robert compares property maintenance with dentistry.
“If there's something wrong with your tooth, the longer you wait, it's just going to cost you more. You've got to get it done now.”
Guttering is a practical example.
A gutter system collects water coming off the roof and directs it away through the drainage system. When the system fails, repairing the cause early can prevent the repair scope from becoming larger.
Robert specifically identifies internal-to-external gutter conversion as one specialist area within his franchisee network.
Pro Tips
- Start with necessary maintenance. Robert says windows, roofs and gutters continued producing work even when discretionary renovations slowed.
- Look beyond the first repair. A small maintenance call can uncover other legitimate work around the same property.
- Keep customers close to home. Robert says mature operators often narrow their working area to around a 20-minute drive in each direction to reduce kilometres and improve efficiency.
Why Can Jim’s Builders Compete More Effectively Than Independents?
One of the biggest differences Robert highlights is the fixed-fee model.
Jim’s does not take a percentage of every job in the model he describes.
Joel Kleber used an example of one builder turning over $100,000 and another turning over $1 million. If their franchise arrangements and lead usage are otherwise the same, turnover alone does not result in Jim’s taking a larger percentage of each job.
Robert described the regular fee as “a couple hundred bucks a week.”
That structure also means the customer pays the franchisee directly.
Robert says that matters because the franchisee builds their own customer database. If that customer returns years later, the system can reconnect them with the original operator.
Those customers are organised through the Jimbo app, which can also become important when the franchisee eventually decides to sell the business.
Readers comparing different structures can see Jim’s Group’s explanation of how franchising fees work.
How Do Jim’s Leads Work?
Robert said New Zealand lead fees ranged from about $22 to a maximum of $35.
He said the actual cost of generating a lead reached $36 during parts of the recession.
Franchisees do not have to take the same number of leads every month.
Savini in Mangere might take 30, while TA in Mount Wellington might take 10 when already busy.
A franchisee can also switch leads off completely.
Robert gave the example of winning a 600-metre fencing job and then turning leads off for six weeks while completing it.
He says only 85% of supplied leads are charged, allowing for customers who cannot be reached or decide not to proceed.
Most importantly, Robert does not see a fresh lead as the end goal.
“That's not really a lead. We're giving you another customer.”
His example is simple: a franchisee may first fix a window latch and then be asked to build a $40,000 deck three months later because the customer already knows and trusts them.
What Support Do Jim’s Builders Get Before and After They Start?
Robert describes the joining process as a two-way assessment.
The first call checks whether the prospect actually has the trade skills needed for the division.
If both sides want to continue, Robert says the next meeting normally lasts about an hour and a half.
Prospects can then speak directly with existing franchisees in their area.
They can meet them for coffee, spend a day with them or even work alongside them for half a day.
Robert deliberately connects prospects with franchisees who have similar backgrounds or will form part of their local team.
The existing franchisees also get a say.
“They're interviewing you while you're interviewing them.”
Prospects then attend two days of induction training before signing.
Jim’s Group provides more information about its franchisee training process.
What Is the Pay-for-Work Guarantee?
Robert describes the pay-for-work guarantee as a safety net rather than the business plan.
Eligible franchisees need to make themselves available and complete activities that help establish the business, such as quoting, reviewing properties, and local promotion.
Robert says the first operator entering Hamilton needed the guarantee for his first two weeks because the division was starting from a cold market.
Other new operators did not need it.
TA, a qualified builder in Mount Wellington, and Neil in Massey both turned over more than $10,000 in their first month, according to Robert.
Neil's start was particularly unusual. Robert says he secured a $17,000 job on his first day.
How Do Jim’s Building Territories Work in New Zealand?
Robert deliberately limits the number of territories he sells.
In Auckland, he said there were 35 mapped territories, but he would sell a maximum of 25.
At the time of the interview, only two were available: Takapuna-Devonport and the Te Atatus.
For Wellington, which Robert defined as extending through to Levin, he said there were 15 territories, with a maximum of 10 to be sold.
Four franchisees were operating there at the time, leaving room for another six under his plan.
He also discussed Christchurch, New Plymouth and Rotorua.
New Plymouth could have two operators under his model, while his Rotorua example involved one.
A territory gives the franchisee the first opportunity on local leads, but it does not prevent that franchisee from serving customers outside the boundary.
Robert's rule is based on customer ownership.
“Your real territory is your customer base.”
If a franchisee earns a referral outside their original territory, that customer can remain in their database.
Robert says franchisees also receive opportunities through Jim’s Contracts, including commercial maintenance.
His examples included repairs after deliveries for a major New Zealand retailer and maintenance work at petrol stations.
The residential work is just as varied. Robert mentions windows, roofing, gutters, fencing, gates, carports, sheds and renovations.
Customers looking for practical property-maintenance help can explore Jim’s Handyman services.
How Do Better Customers, Pricing and Repeat Work Increase Earnings?
Robert's business model comes down to three things: more opportunities to quote, converting more of those opportunities, and charging a sustainable price.
He says being part of the Jim’s brand can increase a franchisee's close rate by 10% to 20%, followed by ongoing coaching to improve quoting and customer communication.
Robert also cautions against using an extremely high close rate as the only measure of success.
If a franchisee is winning 90% of quotes, he says they may be pricing too cheaply.
Ed, a qualified builder in Mount Albert, summed up the pricing idea with a phrase Robert likes:
“Do half the work at twice the price.”
Each franchisee still chooses their own pricing.
The wider goal is to build a customer base that values the work rather than taking every job simply because no other opportunities are available.
Travel matters too.
Robert says many mature franchisees eventually concentrate most work within about 20 minutes of home.
He referenced diesel at $3.50 when explaining why reducing unnecessary kilometres can make a real difference.
Robert also said 100% of negotiated supplier discounts flow through to franchisees, with Bunnings one example he discussed.
Jim’s Builder vs Independent Builder: What Is the Difference?
Robert argues that the biggest difference is not simply having a logo. It is the combination of lead generation, customer ownership, coaching, systems, and the ability to control workload.
| Feature | Standard Independent Contractor | Jim’s Professional Standard |
|---|---|---|
| Customer acquisition | Must generate and fund their own marketing | Can use Jim’s leads while building repeat and referral work |
| Lead competition | Marketplace jobs may attract five to 10 tradies | Robert says one Jim’s lead goes to one franchisee |
| Fee structure | Marketing costs vary by provider and channel | Fixed franchise fee plus accepted lead costs |
| Customer records | Contractor must create and maintain their own system | Customers are stored in the Jimbo app and remain linked to the franchisee |
| Work volume | Contractor must manage demand independently | Franchisees can switch leads on, off or limit them by area |
That does not mean an independent builder cannot run an excellent business.
Robert's point is that an independent operator has to build these systems, marketing channels and customer processes personally.
“Robert Young, Jim’s Building and Maintenance franchisor in New Zealand: ‘The way to secure your future is to have a thousand of your own customers that know you.’”
Frequently Asked Questions
How Much Are Jim’s Building Maintenance Lead Fees?
Robert said New Zealand lead fees ranged from around $22 to $35. He also said the cost of generating one reached $36 at certain points during the recession.
Does Jim’s Take a Percentage of Every Building Job?
Robert said his division operates on fixed fees rather than taking a percentage of each job. The customer pays the franchisee directly.
How Long Does It Take to Build Repeat and Referral Work?
Robert says this often develops strongly after about 18 to 24 months. The actual timeframe will depend on the operator, service quality, workload, location, and customer retention.
Can a Jim’s Building Maintenance Franchisee Work Outside Their Territory?
Yes, under the system Robert described. A territory gives first access to leads from the local area, but customers and referrals generated by the franchisee can be served outside that boundary.
What Training Happens Before Signing a Jim’s Franchise?
Robert says prospects can speak with existing franchisees before completing two days of induction training. Signing happens after that training in the process he described.
Does Jim’s Have a Pay-for-Work Guarantee?
Robert describes it as a safety net for eligible new franchisees who complete the required business-building activities. He said it was needed for the first Hamilton operator for his first two weeks.
What Jobs Does Jim’s Building and Maintenance Handle?
Robert listed leaky windows, roofing, gutters, gutter conversions, fencing, gates, carports, sheds, decks, kitchen renovations, and other maintenance. Commercial work can also come through Jim’s Contracts.
Do You Need to Be a Qualified Builder?
Robert said only currently qualified builders can use the Jim’s Building and Maintenance brand in his New Zealand operation. Jim’s Handyman is available to non-builders who demonstrate strong practical ability and use an LBP where required.
Key Takeaways
- Robert's long-term target is a customer base of about 1,000 customers, with repeat and referral work often strengthening after 18 to 24 months.
- New Zealand lead fees were described as roughly $22 to $35, and franchisees can control when and where they accept leads.
- Prospects can talk with existing franchisees and complete two days of induction training before signing.
- Territory protects access to local leads without preventing franchisees from serving customers they generated elsewhere.
- Robert's maintenance-first approach centres on necessary work such as windows, roofs and gutters rather than relying only on larger renovation projects.
Ready to Take the Next Step With Jim’s?
Need a Reliable Builder or Property Maintenance Professional?
Jim’s customers can access local property-maintenance services backed by professional standards and Jim’s National Guarantee.
For windows, roofs, gutters, and other maintenance jobs, dealing with problems early can also reduce the risk of the repair becoming more extensive.
Request your free quote from Jim’s Building & Maintenance today.
Want to Build Your Own Customer Base With Jim’s?
Robert Young's experience shows how qualified builders can combine practical trade skills with leads, fixed fees, training, customer ownership, and ongoing business coaching.
Learn more about joining Jim’s Group at jims.co.nz or call 0800 454 654 today.