Reviewed by Tony France, General Manager
Published 18 June 2026 · Last reviewed 11 July 2026
One of the biggest fears people have before starting a business is simple.
What if no one calls?
You invest in the equipment. You commit to the model. You take the risk. Then you wait and wonder whether the market is actually there.
For Tom from Diggermate Mount Barker, that was the concern before he joined.
After more than three years in the network, his answer is clear: the phone does ring.
Finding a Different Way to Work
Tom joined Diggermate a bit over three years ago.
After buying a rural property, he became interested in machines and saw an opportunity to turn that interest into a small business.
Since joining, Diggermate has given him what he describes as a different way to earn money and a different way to work. It has also given him the chance to meet new people, operate machines, and be part of a local business with the backing of a broader network.
That is one of the appeals of Diggermate. It is not just about owning machinery. It is about building a practical local business around machinery hire, with systems and support behind it.
The Fear Before Starting
Tom’s biggest concern before joining was the risk.
He summed it up plainly: you buy the machines, buy the franchise, and then worry the phone will not ring.
That is a real concern for any new business owner. Equipment alone does not create demand. You need marketing, brand presence, systems, customer trust, and enough local demand to make the business work.
For Tom, the concern did not play out the way he feared.
The phone does ring.
Tom is now seeing that local demand show up in the numbers. Over the last 12 months, Diggermate Mount Barker has had months around the $27,000 mark, including one month that grossed more than $27,900 in booking value across 26 bookings.
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 gross booking value examples, not profit, owner income, forecasts, or guaranteed results.
That one line is powerful because it speaks directly to the fear many potential franchise owners have before taking the next step.
Tom’s story is a good reminder that Diggermate is not just handing over a machine and hoping the phone rings. The local business has the backing of a recognisable brand, local ad campaigns, website infrastructure, creative support and proven marketing systems. Tom still has to answer quickly, service customers well and build the repeat demand in Mount Barker, but he is doing that with a platform behind him instead of trying to create everything from scratch.
A Franchise Network With Franchisee Input
Tom’s Diggermate journey has also included being part of the Diggermate Advisory Council.
The Advisory Council gives franchisees a way to provide feedback, discuss new ideas, and help the franchisor understand priorities from the perspective of people operating in the field.
That matters because a strong franchise system is not just top-down. The people running local businesses need a voice in what is working, what needs attention, and which ideas are worth prioritising.
Tom describes it as a way to avoid having 100 people shouting different ideas at once, while still making sure franchisee perspectives are heard.
Why More Franchisees Can Strengthen the Network
When asked whether he would encourage other people nearby to join Diggermate, Tom said yes.
His view is that the more Diggermate operators there are, the better. Cross-hiring works, and more Diggermate equipment in the area helps strengthen the network.
That is an important point for anyone worried about nearby franchisees being competition. In a well-structured network, nearby operators can support each other through availability, cross-hire opportunities, shared knowledge, and stronger brand presence.
Thinking About Diggermate?
Tom’s advice is simple: get on board, the system works.
For someone considering a machinery hire business, his story speaks to the common concerns: risk, demand, support, and whether the model can actually work in the real world.
After more than three years with Diggermate, Tom’s experience is that the opportunity is real, the enquiries come, and the network adds value.
If you are looking for a practical way to build a local machinery hire business without starting from scratch alone, Diggermate is worth exploring.
