Reviewed by Michael Watkins, Founder
Published 18 June 2026 · Last reviewed 11 July 2026
Building one local business is a serious effort.
Building across two locations takes an even stronger model, clearer demand, and the confidence to keep investing as the business grows.
That is the story Ian and Thomas are building with Diggermate across Bendigo and Ballarat.
From One Opportunity to Two Locations
Ian and Thomas are now running two Diggermate locations: Bendigo and Ballarat.
Bendigo has been gaining strong traction, while Ballarat is already kicking along from a strong physical location at Ballarat Sand and Soils.
Running two yards about an hour apart is not without effort. They mention the late nights that can come with it. But the reason they keep pushing is simple: they can see the business continuing to grow.
Demand That Justifies Expansion
One of the clearest proof points is that they have already added another machine at Ballarat because the demand was there.
That matters.
Growth is not just about ambition. It needs to be supported by customer demand, utilisation, and the ability to move machines where they are needed.
Ian and Thomas talk about moving machines between Bendigo and Ballarat when needed, so customers know they will get looked after. That local service mindset matters in hiring. Customers want to know the machine will be there, the job can keep moving, and the operator has a no-worries attitude.
Bendigo and Ballarat show the Diggermate model from two angles. Bendigo shows what can happen when a location builds consistent demand over time, with regular $30,000+ booking value months and a standout month above $71,900. Ballarat shows how quickly a location can start moving when the right operators take over, follow the system, lift capacity and get active in the local market. The marketing, brand and systems help create the platform, but Ian and Thomas still had to bring the urgency, service and follow-through locally.
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.
Marketing Was the Missing Piece
Before joining Diggermate, they were looking at wet and dry hire and knew it was a competitive market.
They also knew marketing would matter.
That was not their natural strength, so they looked for a way to solve it. Diggermate became the answer.
Customers are now finding them through Diggermate advertising, social media work, and walk-in traffic. That mix of brand marketing, local activity, and physical presence is helping them build momentum.
Confidence in the Brand
Ian and Thomas also talk about confidence in the Diggermate brand.
They see the brand becoming well-known and reliable, which gives them confidence not only to serve customers now, but to expand into another location and build a business that could become more valuable and sellable in the future.
That is an important distinction.
This is not just about buying machines. It is about building a business with systems, demand, brand recognition, and growth potential.
The Power of the Network
Their first Diggermate conference also had a big impact.
They joined and attended the conference in their first month. They walked away enthused and more confident in the opportunity.
For new franchise owners, that network matters. It gives people a sense of what is possible, what others are doing, and how the model works beyond their own local area.
Thinking About Starting Your Own Diggermate?
Ian and Thomas’ story shows the opportunity to build beyond one site when the demand and model support it.
With Diggermate, they found a way to combine local work ethic with brand support, advertising, systems, and a network behind them.
If you want to build a machinery hire business with marketing support and room to grow, Diggermate is worth exploring.
