[Hilton]

Just out of interest , to see what level of sales are for those who visit this site are currently  operating at.
Many on here have been around many years so must have had a good level of sales to stay solvent over the years.
Many will be sole operators and others would have just been starting out and feeling a little scared about what they may have let themselves in for.
It may be helpful to note that 10 years ago the average sales for a single van operator was around £35k, I think it was the NCCA that did the research into this but I might be wrong..
No need to leave any names , etc just pick one and let's see what the average is for various levels may give a few that need it some encouragement and others food for thought.

[Glynn]

You need to add more choices.

[Hilton]

Yeah I thought that but it won't let me .
If your doing in the 100000 thousands just pick 100k plus

[Buckland]

Glynn - you still doing less than 5k? Thought you would have broken that barrier by now!

[Dave_Lee]

One man band, partnerships, multi operators, limited companies?
Sales are one thing, profits are another, once met a guy who managed the same turnover as me one year, but had spent 50% of that on marketing compared to my 0.5%.

[Hilton]

Quite simple it's sales.....
This represents the amount of business you are doing,

Not one vote at 25-35k which is a surprise..

[Simon Gerrard]

Glynn - you still doing less than 5k? Thought you would have broken that barrier by now!

Glynn is getting old now and can only manage £4950 a year, but is hoping his recent upgrade from a Puzzi 400 to a Puzzi 405 will help him through the £5k barrier 😃

[Mike Halliday]

Years ago I went on a health & safety course, the instructor taught us some thing that has always stuck with me, it was how graphical information can be tested for honesty and that collected information will always follow a set formula.

It will either be a   parimid (sp)  with the largest figure at the bottom leading to the smallest figure at the top eg imagine the severity of injuries on a building site........ the largest number at the bottom of minor injuries leading to the top which is deaths of  which there will be a small number. The figure make the shape of a parimid

Or it will be a bulge out shape with the smallest number at the top or bottom and the largest number in the middle.eg: people's amount exercise, the bottoms will be small of people who do no excercise, the middle will be large who do moderate excercise and the top small people who do a excessive exercise.

Hope this makes sense

Most collected information follows this formula, apart from this poll which is the exact opposite. the smallest figure is in the middle and the largest at the top and bottom of the earning scale.

In my opinion   This poll is just people purposely giving the wrong answer for a laugh or just lying, does anyone really believe that there are 12 times more people earning the top figure than the one in the middle?

[Hilton]

You could be right of course although I am not sure why anyone would find it funny to post as figure they are not doing, doesn't make any sense.

No, I think that's a pretty fair reflection of what is going on, with new starts at the bottom and established at the top.
Some will be struggling and some will be turning work away because they need to scale up but are resisting it.

Those at the lower end can see that they are not to far away from those in front of them which and by far the majority at the moment are at £55k or above which is very achievable and not considered that high any longer when, as I said a decade ago that would have been in the top earning bracket were at £35 + so something to aim for definitely.

Those in the middle, are probably on the up or stuck looking for a push.

What would be interesting would be new starts that have accelerated quickly to £55k plus say within two years, probably would have been a good option to add.

[clive ware]

Mike - no idea what you`re talking about!

[Simon Gerrard]

Neither has Mike😃

[Mike Halliday]

Wibble....wibble...force9 gale ... A dancing  we will go.....potted meat sandwiches 

[clive ware]

 

[Hilton]

That's what's years of using solvents does to you.....new starters beware 

[Shaun_Ashmore]

Now if Mike had been using mpower he'd be on Egg heads 

[Robin Ray]

A interesting poll would be the level of profit rather than turnover.

Afterall If I was turning over 100k and had an expenditure of  85k I would be better off stacking shelves in tesco. Conversely If I had a turn over of 60k and had an expenditure of only 10k I would be doing very well indeed.

There are a lot of potential expenses in carpet cleaning especially when you start employing.

[JandS]

Yes my father and brother are both builders and both struggle to keep below the VAT level due to the amount they receive.
Unfortunately a lot of it is paid back out at the end of the month to the suppliers.

[Hilton]

The reason for sales over profit has been explained above but if I was doing a 100k a year with only 15% profit then first off I would be pleased I had managed to achieve 100k in sales and then would look at why so much cash was flowing out of the business and put it right.

After all it could be in that 85% that your salary is being included in which case it would put a whole new perspective on how your read into it.

100k sales at the margins CC  operate at should give you a very good standard of living.

[Robin Ray]

Regardless of the words we use to describe these things, the important thing is how much money are you left with after everything is paid for. That is what pays for your standard of living.

I could be turning over billions of pounds and feel very pleased with myself for building such a massive company however if my expenditure is only £1 more than my income my business is dead. The sad fact is many businesses and individuals operate just like this.

[Kev Martin]

Regardless of the words we use to describe these things, the important thing is how much money are you left with after everything is paid for. That is what pays for your standard of living.

I could be turning over billions of pounds and feel very pleased with myself for building such a massive company however if my expenditure is only £1 more than my income my business is dead. The sad fact is many businesses and individuals operate just like this.

Couldn't agree more:
Net Profit is Key! 
Turnover means SFA