Reviewed by Alisa Canama, Marketing Manager
Published 27 August 2026 · Last reviewed 1 September 2026
Before Diggermate, Mit and Jay, Franchise Owners of Diggermate Wangara, Cannington, and Midland, were on very different career paths.
Mit had worked as a Procurement Officer while also running a rental business for cars, vans, utes and trailers. His business partner, Jayesh (Jay), had spent around eight to nine years working as a chef.
Then, in 2021, they started Diggermate Wangara as a side business.
What began alongside their existing work has since grown into a full-time machinery hire operation spanning three Diggermate territories, 69 active assets and a growing team.
In one recorded month, the three territories generated $154,368.09 in gross booking value across 178 bookings.
Starting Wangara as a Side Business
Mit and Jay did not leave their careers and immediately jump into running a large machinery hire operation.
Diggermate Wangara started on the side in 2021.
For Mit, there was already some familiarity with the rental model through his vehicle and trailer business, but machinery hire represented a new opportunity. Jay was making an even bigger shift after spending close to a decade working as a chef.
They had to learn the market, understand the equipment and build the operation while continuing with their existing commitments.
Over time, the side business became something bigger.
Read more about growing a Diggermate business beyond the side hustle.
Going Full-Time After Roughly Two Years
After around two years, the business had developed enough for the transition into Diggermate full-time.
That move created more capacity to answer enquiries, manage bookings, prepare and deliver machines and focus on growing the operation.
It was also the beginning of the next stage.
Rather than remaining a single-location business, Mit and Jay continued expanding.
From Wangara to Three Diggermate Territories
Today, their operation spans Wangara, Cannington and Midland, with 69 active assets across the business.
The fleet has grown alongside customer demand, allowing the team to service a wider range of jobs and provide greater equipment availability.
One recorded month gives an indication of the scale they have reached:
- 69 active assets
- 178 bookings
- $154,368.09 in gross booking value
Gross booking value represents the value of bookings before business expenses. It is not profit or owner income, and individual franchise performance will vary.
For more on the fleet strategy behind this growth, read how Diggermate franchisees can build fleet capacity around local demand.
From Doing the Work to Building a Team
The transformation goes beyond owning more machines or territories.
Mit and Jay have built a team capable of keeping the businesses operating while they are away for periods of six to eight weeks.
That is a significant change from starting a side business in 2021.
As an operation grows, the owner’s role can begin shifting from personally handling every booking and machine to building the people and systems that keep the business moving.
Diggermate’s booking and operational systems support that process by helping franchisees manage equipment, availability and bookings as their fleet grows.
Read more about how the Diggermate franchise operations system works.
A Very Different Working Life
Mit spent around eight years working in procurement.
Jay spent eight to nine years working as a chef.
In 2021, they started Diggermate Wangara as a side business.
Today, they operate three Diggermate territories with 69 active assets and a team behind them.
Their journey shows the progression that can be possible when a business is built in stages: start alongside existing work, learn the model, follow local demand, reinvest where appropriate and build the people and systems needed to grow.
Their results are specific to their business and should not be treated as a guarantee of what another franchisee will achieve. But as a real Diggermate transformation story, Wangara shows just how far a business can develop from its starting point.
If you are thinking about moving beyond the 9-to-5 and building something of your own, learn more about the Diggermate franchise opportunity.
Could Diggermate Be Your Next Business Move?
Mit and Jay’s journey from an employee to the owner of a multi-territory Diggermate operation shows what can be developed over time with effective systems, thoughtful fleet planning and consistent local effort.
If you’re thinking about moving beyond your 9–5 job and starting an equipment hire business, join the free webinar to explore how the Diggermate franchise model works. You’ll learn about the business model, available opportunities, support systems and the important factors to consider before making the transition into business ownership.
Disclaimer The figures in this article relate to a specific Diggermate franchise operation and are not a guarantee of future results. Gross booking value is not profit or owner income. Results vary depending on territory, investment, utilisation, operating costs, management and other factors. Prospective franchisees should conduct their own due diligence and obtain independent legal, accounting and financial advice before making an investment decision.
