Clean It Up

UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: steve123 on November 20, 2012, 09:21:44 am

Title: Domestic work. How many men per van is best
Post by: steve123 on November 20, 2012, 09:21:44 am
I have been operating with a 2 man team in a large van for quite a while now, but starting to wonder if I should buy another van and split them up.

the numbers just don't ever seem to be enough.
for instance.....
If 1 man averages £200 a day, 2 men in a van never average £400.

Is this usual or just me?
Title: Re: Domestic work. How many men per van is best
Post by: formb on November 20, 2012, 09:26:58 am

If 1 man averages £200 a day, 2 men in a van never average £400.


Even if you don't double your turnover 2 vans will double your overheads.......
Title: Re: Domestic work. How many men per van is best
Post by: steve123 on November 20, 2012, 09:32:08 am

If 1 man averages £200 a day, 2 men in a van never average £400.


Even if you don't double your turnover 2 vans will double your overheads.......

Yes i realize that but only the van costs. I already have to buy 2 lots of equipment.
If (using the figures above for example) I split them up my turnover would be up by £500 per week. No van should cost me that. It seems a no brainer yet i can help thinking i am then wasting a seat in the van    :(
Title: Re: Domestic work. How many men per van is best
Post by: formb on November 20, 2012, 09:35:04 am
All my squads are 2 men. There are other issues to consider, H&S for one (yeah yeah I know). Your fuel bill will double, insurance too.

Plus cleaning windows by yourself can get really boring.
Title: Re: Domestic work. How many men per van is best
Post by: Steve Sed on November 20, 2012, 09:35:44 am

If 1 man averages £200 a day, 2 men in a van never average £400.


Even if you don't double your turnover 2 vans will double your overheads.......

Yes i realize that but only the van costs. I already have to buy 2 lots of equipment.
If (using the figures above for example) I split them up my turnover would be up by £500 per week. No van should cost me that. It seems a no brainer yet i can help thinking i am then wasting a seat in the van    :(

Take the seat out.
Title: Re: Domestic work. How many men per van is best
Post by: gewindows on November 20, 2012, 10:04:17 am
2 men 1 van is never as efficient as 1 man 1 van. Never. I often work alongside one other, we rarely do double what one would do. If we do its as a result of better pricing not working procedure.

I will be buying a new van soon. My options are sell the existing one and work two guys out of one van or keep both and have one guy working out of each. To me it's a simple efficiency equation. 2 vans, one operative in each.
Title: Re: Domestic work. How many men per van is best
Post by: Richard iSparkle on November 20, 2012, 10:35:56 am
I have been operating with a 2 man team in a large van for quite a while now, but starting to wonder if I should buy another van and split them up.

the numbers just don't ever seem to be enough.
for instance.....
If 1 man averages £200 a day, 2 men in a van never average £400.

Is this usual or just me?

working 2 guys to one van should maximise your profit.  you should squeeze everything out of your van before you get another one.  a second worker costs what £70 a day so if they're adding £150 to your day that makes sense i reckon.  when you re getting maxed out on that van then add another and maybe split the workers....  until you grow again then add another employee.

i think if you're only making £200 a day off a 1 man 1 van setup you maybe need to work out how to increase your income though as it would make profit margins very tight.  if you can get 1 man bringing in £300 then the second man can easily add £150 and its a different story
Title: Re: Domestic work. How many men per van is best
Post by: roundbuilder on November 20, 2012, 12:59:47 pm
2 men 1 van is the best way to manage it. You wont get quite double the workload done but remember there is always a saturday to send them out to make up for it and save the expence of another van.
I was in same position 2 vans looking at getting the third but after lots of thought i decided to add an extra £100-150 a day with 2 men in a van instead of just the 1. So far all working well apart from quite a few short days where canvassing is needed to up the days.
Only get another van when you cant posibly earn you anymore out of the van you have now.
Title: Re: Domestic work. How many men per van is best
Post by: formb on November 20, 2012, 01:03:52 pm
The trick has to be to maximise your assets.
Title: Re: Domestic work. How many men per van is best
Post by: roundbuilder on November 20, 2012, 01:07:21 pm
The trick has to be to maximise your assets.
Exactly maximise everything you can with the least amount of overheads and you will be on the winning team.
Title: Re: Domestic work. How many men per van is best
Post by: robertphil on November 20, 2012, 02:09:03 pm
big places it defo pays off to have 3 men per van , less so on small houses but still better than 2 men if its a long slogger day