Clean It Up
UK Floor Cleaning Forum => Carpet Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: clive ware on July 30, 2015, 09:05:47 pm
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Anyone been in the situation that they have too much work for one person?
Just wondered if there`s anyone on here who have stopped actual cleaning and started employing techs to carry ot the work.
Very long working hours just starting to take their toll on me after 28 years so just deciding whether to take people on or sell up.
Cheers
Clive
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Why would you sell up?
Just take on as much work as you need to keep you happy.
Nothing better than being as busy as YOU want to be.
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time to buy truckmount?
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I have had this umpteen times with window cleaning work I have tried taking people on, also subbing people. Now i have sold a lot of work off and sub some to my nephew. I am now doing the bulk of my work as carpet cleaning and are uncertain what I will do when this gets too much. As my goal is to earn as much as possible with no employees I will likely just trail off the advertising and then let the people who phone know there is a bit of a wait (like at the moment) and perhaps put the prices up too. Can you do the same?
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Could probably put prices up Robin. The main reason I would consider selling up is that I`ve seen a couple of businesses up for sale recently near me which I`d quite fancy and it would nice to be in the position to buy one.
Cheers for the other comments. Ive had various truckmounts for years and average 5 jobs per day plus going out to give quotes so pretty full on!
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then employ, not good to give the jobs away, if some recession happen then you stay working yourself with bigger customer database to market to.
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Sounds as though you're considering leaving the trade anyway, personally I would up your prices and offer Scotchguard on every clean upping your job total as you shed some customers you'll gross the same.
Roger Peach would be a good person to talk to if you decide to sell.
Shaun
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If you can I would sell up 28 years doing same thing is too long . You obviously have transferable skill that has made you a very sucessful Carpet Cleaner . But In your nexst business make sure its a business that you manage and do not to be working at coal face. If you expand you would have the worry of keeping everybody busy
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yes, in the same position right now, I've just bought another TM and Van, now the hard bit finding someone reliable to go out and work ;D
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If it's the long hours that are getting you down then turn work away, I'm busy all the time and at times it get too busy and I start to get stressed out, so I let all the calls go to the answer phone and screen them, I pick the best and call them back, so existing customers get called back and jobs that I want. I find the crap calls don't even leave a message.
When someone rings It's not a crime to say.... "I'm Sorry I'm not taking on new clients at the moment, I can reccomendation another company who can help you"
Might be an idea to take on a helper which I find really eases the day.
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yes, in the same position right now, I've just bought another TM and Van, now the hard bit finding someone reliable to go out and work ;D
Billy,
Good luck with that.
Employing people is or can be a nightmare.
Simon
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Clive
thought you had a truckmount mate ?
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Clive just wants to go fishing.
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I must admit I've got a few little hobbies and finding that work takes up my hobby time and that can be frustrating, success is what we crave and we don't know when to stop because that's what we have programmed ourselves to do as I can remember being desperate to get that first job and the thought never goes away.
Shaun
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yes, in the same position right now, I've just bought another TM and Van, now the hard bit finding someone reliable to go out and work ;D
Billy,
Good luck with that.
Employing people is or can be a nightmare.
Simon
thanks Simon,
its not something i'm going to do lightly, we employ around 180 on the office cleaning side, but this is a little different, I might have to buy your book ;D
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Not surprised your so busy when you are always on holiday, golf or going fishing
when was the last time you did a full week? ;D
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You can only trust your self
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Clive have you thought about franchising your business ?
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Hi Steve - funny, I had thought along those lines. You employ a couple of techs don`t you? Does that work well?
Cheers,
Clive
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Yep have done for a few years, but have just agreed a franchise arrangement with them both, seems the sensible way to go.
They responsible for their own businesses as franchisees and i have my own business as a franchisor provinding the customers etc.
Probably not right for everyone but suits me fine, as I enjoy the marketing side of things more these days after doing the hands on stuff for 20 odd years or more.....
Steve
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If you're bored then a change of role with you in the office more, and techs out on the tools may work.
It's what we've done, but Olly & I are both full-on working some days - like today (we've got one tech on holiday, leaving one other), but then we each get whole days to do some office stuff - Olly is 80% office, 20% tools, I'm about 50:50.
Get a valuation for the business. I reckon I value my business higher than anyone else would and can see the potential which buyers won't want to pay for. I eventually want to get to the position of taking an income whilst retired, and it's too late to learn another business well enough for it to do that.