Reviewed by Tony France, General Manager
Published 18 June 2026 · Last reviewed 11 July 2026
One of the clearest signs a business is working is when it starts demanding more time than you originally planned to give it.
That is what happened for Ian and Thomas with Diggermate.
They did not both move full-time on day one. The transition happened as demand grew and the business needed more responsiveness.
Missing Hires Became the Trigger
The key issue was simple: people were calling on the day wanting to hire a machine, and the team could not always service those enquiries while juggling other work.
That meant missed hires.
It also created knock-on costs. When they could service the demand, one of them would sometimes have to leave a wet hire job, causing lost time and jobs blowing out by days.
Moving into the business full-time changed that. It meant someone could respond quickly, get the machine moving, and keep the customer happy while the other person continued on the job. That shift was worth more than $10,000 per month.
Bendigo and Ballarat show why Diggermate is not just a side-hustle idea when the demand and operator effort are there. Bendigo has built consistent demand over time, with regular $30,000+ booking value months and a standout month above $71,900. Ballarat shows the next layer of the story: since Ian and Thomas took over, the location started moving quickly because they followed the system, lifted capacity and got active locally. The marketing, brand and systems help create the platform, but the operator still has to respond quickly, service the market and keep the business moving.
Every Diggermate business is different. Some owners push hard and grow into larger multi-machine or multi-location operations. Others prefer a smaller, more flexible local business. The figures shared here are historical booking value examples, not profit, owner income, forecasts, or guaranteed results.
Growing Across Bendigo and Ballarat
Ian and Thomas now run a fleet of roughly 15 machines/items across Bendigo and Ballarat.
At Bendigo, the fleet includes a Wacker Neuson EZ25 two and a half tonne excavator, 1.7 tonne machines, a 1.7 with tilt hitch, a micro excavator, Huski skid steers, a stand-behind, truck, ride-on mower, trailers and other equipment.
At Ballarat, they are running a smaller but growing fleet with 1.7 tonne machines, a micro, a Posi-Track and compaction plates.
That scale shows how a Diggermate business can grow from a local opportunity into a broader operation when demand and execution line up.
Leaning Into the System
One of the strongest lines in the clip is simple: buy into it, lean into the systems, and they will carry you forward.
That is a useful message for future franchise owners.
Diggermate is not just about buying machines and hoping customers arrive. The model includes systems, brand, marketing, support and a network. The more operators lean into those systems, the more they can reduce guesswork and build momentum.
Franchisees Having a Voice
Ian and Thomas also talk about DMAC, the Diggermate Advisory Council.
DMAC gives franchisees a way to provide feedback to the franchisor, raise concerns, discuss improvements and help prioritise what matters from the franchisee perspective.
That matters because the best franchise systems improve when operators in the field have a real voice.
As the clip puts it, what works for the franchisee normally works for the franchisor too.
Thinking About Starting Your Own Diggermate?
Ian and Thomas’ story shows a practical growth path: start the business, build demand, step in full-time when the numbers and workload support it, and keep leaning into the systems that help the network grow.
If you want to build a machinery hire business with brand support, marketing systems and a franchise network behind you, Diggermate is worth a closer look.
Related Diggermate franchise resources:
- Can you run a Diggermate franchise as a side hustle?
- Growing Across Two Locations: Ian and Thomas’ Diggermate Story
- How Diggermate’s booking system helps franchisees save time
- How Diggermate franchise marketing support helps franchisees get leads
- What Growth Looks Like Inside a Diggermate Franchise
- More Diggermate franchise owner stories
- Diggermate franchise cost: fees, setup and what’s included
