[Richard iSparkle]

hey folks!

so staff was the biggest difficulty related to growing their business identified by people in my last poll

i'm really interested to see what people find troublesome.

just to give you more info... i have had staff since i started, and i have bits i do pretty well, and other part which i'm still looking for the way to do...

[SB Cleaning]

Having staff is hassle full stop.

Much better on your own.

[Richard iSparkle]

which bits were so much hassle for you?

[NWH]

Richard I’ve said it many times before if I could get 2-3 that would work like me and thought that when it’s daylight that’s the time to go to I work I’d never have to do much window cleaning m8,
Advertise knock doors the list goes on it’s not about building it that’s the easy part,it’s servicing it and having reliable people work for you that are conscientious to a point and actually realise you the business owner are running a “Business “.
You get some say it’s you the way you treat staff etc,it’s complete nonsense the generation who grew up in the 70s or 80s either are hard workers or they sit at home draining the system they want to start a job at the bottom but earn the top money.

[Simon Trapani]

I wanted to put a tick in most of the boxes if not all.

[NWH]

I’ve always believed that this is a trade like any other you have to learn it,the thing that may wake someone new up is to send them straight on a WFP course if you think they could be the right person.
Then they might think hang on I thought this was just a cash in hand anyone can clean windows kind of gig,when I watched Forest Gump I thought he was a 1 off until I had a few come and go just like him 🤣🤣.

[NWH]

It always makes me laugh when i come across Steptoe  and Son and it gets to the bit when the wedding ring goes in the horse S***T,that’s what it’s like trying to find a smart looking reliable employee 🤣🤣👌

[jk999]

Heres what i think you need someone thats a great worker but not quite a full shilling in the brain department because you get a good worker with good brains that think they can go out on their own or think you should be paying them more because you earn alot ,i know a guy who has a couple of guys working for him that are grafters but wouldn't have a clue how to run a business, one of them is a fully qualified welder but says his boss is the best boss he has ever worked for so quite happy where he is

[davids3511]

I don't seem to be able to select them all.

[tom20001]

Heres what i think you need someone thats a great worker but not quite a full shilling in the brain department because you get a good worker with good brains that think they can go out on their own or think you should be paying them more because you earn alot ,i know a guy who has a couple of guys working for him that are grafters but wouldn't have a clue how to run a business, one of them is a fully qualified welder but says his boss is the best boss he has ever worked for so quite happy where he is

So this what i need as thinking of employing. Funny  i had much the same idea in my head

[Jay Le Huray]

I don't employ anymore but when I did I found it hard to find good reliable staff

[SB Cleaning]

which bits were so much hassle for you?

Pretty much the whole lot!!

[johnwillan]

Richard I think you know my answer...

Yes we've had issues, have some now and will no doubt encounter more in the future but on balance we have a great team that I trust and respect, build a team of 9 & 10's that 'get it', be kind and treat them well, appreciate all they do and try to become the employer of choice, they are one of your best assets, put them first.

HTH

John

[NWH]

The main trouble with most of them is that when they know what you are getting per job-house that’s when you know if you have a keeper or not,you could pay them £25 an hour if they know they’ve just cleaned a house for £70-80 in 30 minutes then on to the next that’s when they start thinking hang about lol.
You can do all the online bacs you name it they can easily find out,I had 1 bloke in the van with me he bent down and looked out the front windscreen looked at the house and said she just gave you £100 for that,if it was me doing it I reckon a couple of them then I’d be off home lol genuine.
Don’t worry about the fact that I’ve been doing the job for however long getting new work etc out in all weathers,some people just need their balls cutting off and having them eaten in front of them 🥜🥜🥜🥜🤣🤣

[jk999]

my daughter sold some trainers last night the guy that bought them was banging on about how he had built a patio area for a customer of his boss did it all himself and said he got 500 for that job but only paid me 130 could do it for myself he said ,i said crack on he said but i cant drive 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[NWH]

Sounds about right I could do that I could do this but never done nothing but sit indoors  and have who can do a roll up the fastest competitions with the Mrs and then mooch on down to the school at 2-30 and pick the kids up,I tell you what if you want any bright ideas these people should be asked because they know what and how to do everything lol.
If you need to know how to get to the next level on some computer game go and ask 1,they have all the answers 👍

[Tom-01]

When I worked in sales for a media company the target was to always try to get 30% mark up, as we acted as middle man for printing and package design. The MD had 30% profit overall as aim at the end of each year, that’s after everything.

So running a window cleaning business with say, 4 or 5 staff with ALL associated costs, what sort of profit percentage would you be looking at?

[NWH]

5 staff you’d need a minimum of 250ks worth of work a year and that would be tight if you provided vehicles,imo 250 Wouldn’t be anywhere near enough.

[Stoots]

I haven't voted because it would be the first 5.

I've employed half a dozen

Either too slow, a poor learner, too fast and get complaints. I had one who kept breaking stuff including smashing the van up. Another kept having days off or needing to finish early. Had quite a few apply then not turn up.. Had a decent one but he was only looking for a leg up to go self employed...

But overall I hated it, having the responsibility of someone on the books felt like a weight around my neck. Having to worry if they are going to turn up today or get all the work done or do a poor job or scrape the van down a wall.

I can see how it would work with the right person but finding them is another story.

[johnwillan]

When I worked in sales for a media company the target was to always try to get 30% mark up, as we acted as middle man for printing and package design. The MD had 30% profit overall as aim at the end of each year, that’s after everything.

So running a window cleaning business with say, 4 or 5 staff with ALL associated costs, what sort of profit percentage would you be looking at?

Hi Tom

Obviously there's a lot of variables that can affect the result but between 20 & 30% would be reasonable per operator.

HTH

John

[Tom-01]

I haven't voted because it would be the first 5.

I've employed half a dozen

Either too slow, a poor learner, too fast and get complaints. I had one who kept breaking stuff including smashing the van up. Another kept having days off or needing to finish early. Had quite a few apply then not turn up.. Had a decent one but he was only looking for a leg up to go self employed...

But overall I hated it, having the responsibility of someone on the books felt like a weight around my neck. Having to worry if they are going to turn up today or get all the work done or do a poor job or scrape the van down a wall.

I can see how it would work with the right person but finding them is another story.

Yes I hear that a lot.

[Dry Clean]

I’ve always believed that this is a trade like any other you have to learn it,the thing that may wake someone new up is to send them straight on a WFP course if you think they could be the right person.
Then they might think hang on I thought this was just a cash in hand anyone can clean windows kind of gig,when I watched Forest Gump I thought he was a 1 off until I had a few come and go just like him 🤣🤣.

There's your problem in a nutshell, people who think that washing windows is a trade or need a wfp course shouldn't be allowed outside unless on a lead never mind be allowed to work.

[Dry Clean]

I don't employ anymore but when I did I found it hard to find good reliable staff

You have to be able to pay well to get good reliable staff, problem is if you do this then there's not enough profit left to make it worthwhile.

[Stoots]

I don't employ anymore but when I did I found it hard to find good reliable staff

You have to be able to pay well to get good reliable staff, problem is if you do this then there's not enough profit left to make it worthwhile.

Exactly what I found.

I paid peanuts and got monkeys. But when I did the math paying a decent wack just isn't viable.

Im not going to go through all the hassle to make only 20% profit on an employee. Better to just sell the work.

[Smudger]

I don't employ anymore but when I did I found it hard to find good reliable staff

You have to be able to pay well to get good reliable staff, problem is if you do this then there's not enough profit left to make it worthwhile.

Exactly what I found.

I paid peanuts and got monkeys. But when I did the math paying a decent wack just isn't viable.

Im not going to go through all the hassle to make only 20% profit on an employee. Better to just sell the work.

what do you call a decent wage ?

Darran

[NWH]

I meant send them on a WFP course just to let them know I’m serious or that some people see it as serious lol,the average wage is over 500 a week so they tell me.
This is what I mean pay me 200-250k a year before wackin it up with Rishi and it’s a no from me,sounds good doesn’t it all this million notes a year turnover  stuff it should come with a swivel 🪑 thrown in for good measure 😳.