Jim Penman started his part-time gardening business while completing his PhD in history. He went full time in 1982 and Jim’s Mowing was franchised in 1989. Currently, there are over 3,500 Franchisees in four countries, and growing at the rate of around 200 per year. There are no company owned businesses and all work is done by Franchisees. Franchisor rights are also privately held and all Divisions, except Mowing, are partnerships with individuals experienced in those industries.