Reviewed by Michael Watkins, Founder
Published 17 July 2026 · Last reviewed 17 July 2026
At 25, Lochlan was working a seven-days-on, seven-days-off FIFO roster and building Diggermate Cockburn during his week at home.
Then the business reached the point where he was still taking calls while away. He used his annual leave to test the move, left FIFO, and stepped into Diggermate full-time.
His story is a practical look at starting around an existing job, following demand, and using the support of a franchise network to make the transition into business ownership.
Seven Days Away, Seven Days Building a Business
Lochlan’s FIFO roster gave him seven days away followed by seven days at home. During that week back, he focused on Diggermate Cockburn.
He used the time to service jobs, handle bookings, and understand where local demand was coming from. It was a staged entry into business ownership rather than an immediate leap away from secure employment.
That is one of the practical advantages of a model that can begin around existing work. The goal is not to quit first and hope demand appears. It is to start, learn the system, and make the bigger decision when the workload gives you a reason to.
For more on that staged approach, read Can You Run a Diggermate Franchise as a Side Hustle?
The Point Where FIFO No Longer Worked
Over summer, the calls kept coming. Lochlan was working away, working at home, and still handling the phone while on rotation.
He reached the point where the business needed his full attention. He took his annual leave, used that time to make the final assessment, then left FIFO and moved into Diggermate full-time.
It is a familiar goal for many FIFO workers: replace time away with a local business that lets them build something closer to home. Diggermate has a dedicated guide for people considering that move: Best Franchise for FIFO Workers Wanting to Come Home.
Starting at 25 Without Pretending to Know Everything
One of the strongest parts of Lochlan’s story is how honest he is about starting young.
“I have no clue what I am doing 90 percent of the time.”
That is not a weakness. It is a realistic description of learning to run a business without decades of management experience behind you.
The difference is that he is not inventing every process from scratch. Diggermate provides the operating systems, national marketing support, training, and access to people who have already dealt with the same problems. Franchisees still need to run the local business, respond to customers, and put the work in, but they have a proven structure behind them.
Learn more about the support structure in No Experience? How Diggermate Training and Support Works.
A Local Network That Helps Get the Job Done
The video also shows how the Western Australian Diggermate network works in practice.
If Lochlan is booked out, or another operator has the better machine for a particular job, work can move between local Diggermate franchisees. Pierre at Fremantle and Corey at Mandurah are part of that same network.
For the customer, the priority is getting the job handled. For the franchisee, the network creates backup, machine access, shared knowledge, and a trusted group of operators to call when capacity is tight.
Repeated Booking Value, Not Just One Standout Month
Cockburn’s booking records show more than one strong month.
From October to December 2025, Diggermate Cockburn recorded three consecutive complete months above $23,600 in gross booking value. December was the strongest of those months, with $25,712.80 across 22 bookings, all recorded as paid. In May 2026, Cockburn again recorded $25,664.52 across 30 bookings.
Every Diggermate business is different. Some owners push hard and grow into larger multi-machine operations. Others prefer a smaller, more flexible local business. These figures are historical gross booking value examples, not revenue, profit, owner income, forecasts, or guaranteed results. Individual results vary by territory, fleet, utilisation, local demand, and operator effort.
For broader context on franchise performance and the difference between booking value and owner income, read How Much Can You Earn With a Diggermate Franchise?
More Western Australian Owner Stories
See how Pierre manages bookings and fleet availability in How Easy Is It to Run the Operations Side of a Diggermate Franchise?
Read how local franchisees share machines and cover jobs in What the Diggermate Franchise Network Looks Like in Western Australia.
For the family and lifestyle side of ownership, read More Time at Home: Corey’s Diggermate Mandurah Franchise Story.
Thinking About Making the Move?
Lochlan’s story is not about quitting a job on a whim. It is about starting around work, proving local demand, leaning on the system, and stepping in full-time when the business required it.
If you are in FIFO, trades, construction, or another hands-on industry and want to build a local machinery hire business, Diggermate is worth a closer look.
You do not need to know everything before you start. You do need the willingness to learn, serve customers, and follow a system that has already been built.
Related Franchise Resources
- Can You Run a Diggermate Franchise as a Side Hustle? – Learn how many franchisees start while still employed before transitioning to full-time business ownership.
- Best Franchise for FIFO Workers Wanting to Come Home – Discover why many FIFO workers choose Diggermate to build a local business closer to home.
- No Experience? How Diggermate Training and Support Works – See how Diggermate helps new franchisees learn the systems, marketing, and day-to-day operations.
- The Power of Franchise Support: Anthony’s Diggermate Story – Learn how the franchise network helps owners solve problems, share ideas, and grow together.
- How Much Can You Earn With a Diggermate Franchise? – Understand how booking value, fleet size, and utilisation influence business performance.
