Clean It Up
UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: Jonny 87 on April 03, 2019, 11:13:19 am
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Any one else in here have their wife in as a business partner?
Any tips and ticks I can glean? :)
Tomorrow she is giving up her part time job to come in with me. It’s not been a decision we’ve taken lightly. We’ve thought about it for the past year or two really.
My business can easily support it, and with the tax benefits of becoming a partnership it’s actually a no brainer.
She only does 2 days a week at the moment at her current work as she does a lot of other volunteer work. So with me it will be much the same. Probably together out in the van for 1 Mayb 2 days a week, and then she can look after the little bits of book keeping, bank runs etc.
I know there’s lots of experienced guys on here so I’m happy to take any advice on board.
Thanks in advance.
Ps.... it’s too late to turn around now so please no advice saying “DONT DO IT”. ;D ;D ;D
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Any one else in here have their wife in as a business partner?
Any tips and ticks I can glean? :)
Tomorrow she is giving up her part time job to come in with me. It’s not been a decision we’ve taken lightly. We’ve thought about it for the past year or two really.
My business can easily support it, and with the tax benefits of becoming a partnership it’s actually a no brainer.
She only does 2 days a week at the moment at her current work as she does a lot of other volunteer work. So with me it will be much the same. Probably together out in the van for 1 Mayb 2 days a week, and then she can look after the little bits of book keeping, bank runs etc.
I know there’s lots of experienced guys on here so I’m happy to take any advice on board.
Thanks in advance.
Ps.... it’s too late to turn around now so please no advice saying “DONT DO IT”. ;D ;D ;D
Then I suggest you lock the topic now. ;D
I do my own self assessment tax submissions at the end of the year. How does this work with a partnership? I understand you have to submit a partnership tax return and then a self assessment return for each of the partners. So some say its best to employ the services of an accountant.
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Any one else in here have their wife in as a business partner?
Any tips and ticks I can glean? :)
Tomorrow she is giving up her part time job to come in with me. It’s not been a decision we’ve taken lightly. We’ve thought about it for the past year or two really.
My business can easily support it, and with the tax benefits of becoming a partnership it’s actually a no brainer.
She only does 2 days a week at the moment at her current work as she does a lot of other volunteer work. So with me it will be much the same. Probably together out in the van for 1 Mayb 2 days a week, and then she can look after the little bits of book keeping, bank runs etc.
I know there’s lots of experienced guys on here so I’m happy to take any advice on board.
Thanks in advance.
Ps.... it’s too late to turn around now so please no advice saying “DONT DO IT”. ;D ;D ;D
Then I suggest you lock the topic now. ;D
I do my own self assessment tax submissions at the end of the year. How does this work with a partnership? I understand you have to submit a partnership tax return and then a self assessment return for each of the partners. So some say its best to employ the services of an accountant.
Thanks spruce. ;D
To be honest, I don’t know the ins and outs of it other than that it should work out quite well in a tax saving sense. Ive got an accountant who looks after the returns.
I am trying to understand a bit more about the tax return side of things but every time I look into it I just get confused. Probably why I’m a window cleaner. ;D
As a partnership we get to utilise both our tax allowance, so the business can earn £25k before paying tax. As far as I know there isn’t any other costs involved with a partnership, other than accountants fees.
I thought of employing her, but that’s a bit more complicated and not as tax efficient..... I was told.
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You is very brave man 😆😆😆
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You is very brave man 😆😆😆
That’s one word for it. 🤣
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As you say you can pay her 12-5k roughly having her as a partner is better Tax wise is better because of the extra 12-5k Tax saving,all depends on how much you think you are going to look to earn in the future.
If you were to stay under the 40% bracket you’ll be better off than just putting her down for the 12-5k as an employee.
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What are your plans - is she going on the glass or office based ?
I’ve had the other half doing the office side almost since day one - she does the rounds, paperwork, enquires, sorts the web and Facebook etc...
I just go and quote ( I even used to clean the odd window 😩 )
It’s worked extremely well for us
Darran
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my wife has been working with me for about 5 years now,
we work well together however there are a few things that she has problems with , eg
if we wash down facias and gutters she finds it hard to do the top ones to a decent standard as she is small and does not have the strength that I have, she normally one washes bottom sections,
she can manages to clean normal top windows unless it's a 3 story townhouse when once again I have to clean the top ones
apart from that she is a really good asset and we work well together.
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I did consider both employing or partnership but over the years with kids and "volunteer work" my wife's ability and desire to work for money has changed over the years.
When she was employed elsewhere she also kept my books and occasionally helped out if I had (eg) a school or a heavy day's work before going on hols and the such like so I paid her as a self employed contractor and she filled out her own tax return for self employment and stated that she earned "X" thousand pounds as an employee - which figure she took from her payslip.
Now she still does bookkeeping and tax for me and will still occasionally help me with window cleaning but she also does cleaning herself (as in domestic cleaning) and has four or five regular clients. She also does a bit of bookkeeping for another window cleaner and charges him and she also "rents" out some gear (gutter vac, trailer, generator, supply of water) which she administers and charges for on a monthly basis.
So in short she is self employed in her own right and charges me for services rendered (fnaaar, fnaaar).
The above activity takes her up to about the basic rate tax threshold and she pays her own self employed stamp.
Hope that all makes sense.
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Iv got my mrs on paye for doing the same job as smudgers mrs
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make sure you eat, you will eventually argue if your hungry
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What are your plans - is she going on the glass or office based ?
I’ve had the other half doing the office side almost since day one - she does the rounds, paperwork, enquires, sorts the web and Facebook etc...
I just go and quote ( I even used to clean the odd window 😩 )
It’s worked extremely well for us
Darran
Thanks Darran. Glad to hear it’s working for you.
The plan is to do a bit of both at the minute. Office work and out In the van with me one day a week or so.
Then it depends how I want to take things going
Forward. I’m a one man band, so if I start taking on employees then she will look after all the office work. I’m undecided for the future to be honest.
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my wife has been working with me for about 5 years now,
we work well together however there are a few things that she has problems with , eg
if we wash down facias and gutters she finds it hard to do the top ones to a decent standard as she is small and does not have the strength that I have, she normally one washes bottom sections,
she can manages to clean normal top windows unless it's a 3 story townhouse when once again I have to clean the top ones
apart from that she is a really good asset and we work well together.
Thanks Jay. I suspect it may be similar for me too. Time will tell.
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I did consider both employing or partnership but over the years with kids and "volunteer work" my wife's ability and desire to work for money has changed over the years.
When she was employed elsewhere she also kept my books and occasionally helped out if I had (eg) a school or a heavy day's work before going on hols and the such like so I paid her as a self employed contractor and she filled out her own tax return for self employment and stated that she earned "X" thousand pounds as an employee - which figure she took from her payslip.
Now she still does bookkeeping and tax for me and will still occasionally help me with window cleaning but she also does cleaning herself (as in domestic cleaning) and has four or five regular clients. She also does a bit of bookkeeping for another window cleaner and charges him and she also "rents" out some gear (gutter vac, trailer, generator, supply of water) which she administers and charges for on a monthly basis.
So in short she is self employed in her own right and charges me for services rendered (fnaaar, fnaaar).
The above activity takes her up to about the basic rate tax threshold and she pays her own self employed stamp.
Hope that all makes sense.
Thanks for the info, that does make sense. I guess that puts you in a similar financial position as a partnership, (tax savings wise).
There’s more than one way to skin a cat as the old (weird) saying goes.
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make sure you eat, you will eventually argue if your hungry
That's her job, innit?
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What are your plans - is she going on the glass or office based ?
I’ve had the other half doing the office side almost since day one - she does the rounds, paperwork, enquires, sorts the web and Facebook etc...
I just go and quote ( I even used to clean the odd window 😩 )
It’s worked extremely well for us
Darran
Thanks Darran. Glad to hear it’s working for you.
The plan is to do a bit of both at the minute. Office work and out In the van with me one day a week or so.
Then it depends how I want to take things going
Forward. I’m a one man band, so if I start taking on employees then she will look after all the office work. I’m undecided for the future to be honest.
My mrs would never entertain going out and “do” actual cleaning 😳 - but doesn’t stop her criticing my times and prices 😩 - so fair play if she’s up for going on the tools - if you go down the expansion route then someone office based is essential
Darran
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What are your plans - is she going on the glass or office based ?
I’ve had the other half doing the office side almost since day one - she does the rounds, paperwork, enquires, sorts the web and Facebook etc...
I just go and quote ( I even used to clean the odd window 😩 )
It’s worked extremely well for us
Darran
Thanks Darran. Glad to hear it’s working for you.
The plan is to do a bit of both at the minute. Office work and out In the van with me one day a week or so.
Then it depends how I want to take things going
Forward. I’m a one man band, so if I start taking on employees then she will look after all the office work. I’m undecided for the future to be honest.
My mrs would never entertain going out and “do” actual cleaning 😳 - but doesn’t stop her criticing my times and prices 😩 - so fair play if she’s up for going on the tools - if you go down the expansion route then someone office based is essential
Darran
Thanks Darran.
She’s quite looking forward to getting out and being a bit more active, I think cabin fever being stuck in her office is how she felt.
We will see what it’s like when the snow and hail comes in June here in Scotland though. 🤣 That warm office will no doubt be calling.
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Behind every successful man there is a good woman 👩 ;D
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Behind every successful man there is a good woman 👩 ;D
True, but its nice to get a break from them now and again, it would be going back to being an employee again that I would find the hardest part of this to cope with (http://www.cleanitup.co.uk/smf/1554360966_grin.gif)
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Behind every successful man there is a good woman 👩 ;D
True, but its nice to get a break from them now and again, it would be going back to being an employee again that I would find the hardest part of this to cope with (http://www.cleanitup.co.uk/smf/1554360966_grin.gif)
Aye, you're better off staying behind a successful man than getting a job, love.
Just don't let him get hungry.
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Behind every successful man there is a good woman 👩 ;D
True, but its nice to get a break from them now and again, it would be going back to being an employee again that I would find the hardest part of this to cope with (http://www.cleanitup.co.uk/smf/1554360966_grin.gif)
Aye, you're better off staying behind a successful man than getting a job, love.
Just don't let him get hungry.
She already makes my lunch for me.
I’m on to a winner. ;D
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Behind every successful man there is a good woman 👩 ;D
True, but its nice to get a break from them now and again, it would be going back to being an employee again that I would find the hardest part of this to cope with (http://www.cleanitup.co.uk/smf/1554360966_grin.gif)
Aye, you're better off staying behind a successful man than getting a job, love.
Just don't let him get hungry.
She already makes my lunch for me.
I’m on to a winner. ;D
She sounds like a good 'un.
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I once read that one of the world's largest shipping lines allowed captain's wives to stay on board with the captain in his quarters for a maximum of 3 weeks a year.
They found that if she stayed any longer she started to have an influence on the captain's decision making on board which wasn't necessarily in the best interests of the ship or the company.
The Concordia is probably a good example how a captain's decision making and good judgement can be easily manipulated by outside influences.
When my wife started working with me part time she had never cleaned a window with a pole before. But within a couple of hours I was informed that I was doing this all wrong despite having cleaned windows with the pole for some 8 years previously.
She was and still is always cold so retreated to the van to 'warm up' when I thought she was around the back wiping sills etc. So the diesel air heater was on virtually all day keeping the cabin warm. I ended up winding in 2 hose reels, the hoses of which were invariably tangled up because she did it her way. In the end I found it took us longer to do each house than doing the same houses on my own.
One morning in the van I was informed that women make better cleaners than men. I have had enough experience to know that this is a subject that is better left alone. The first house that morning she did she missed the customer's lounge window. The customer was there watching her and was indignant about it. I always checked her work when I wiped off the sills so would have seen the window was missed. I just cracked up with laughter when he came out to repremand me about it. He was very annoyed. I explained why it was funny; women being better at cleaning than men and that I would have noticed the uncleaned window as I had started to wipe the sills of his house. Anyway I got the reel out again and cleaned that window. Once done he cancelled our service. The wife was sitting in the van as usual and asked what that was about. (I still talk to his wife when I see her but he blanks me.)
Toilet necessities became an issue. Public loos are few are far between and I can understand her not wanting to use the ones that are still open. We can just pee in a bottle in the back of the van, women can't. She needed the loo every 'five' minutes.
What I decided was that we wanted an extra long wheel base van with an inbuilt kitchenette, a gas hob, fridge, lunch and coffee making facilities and a comfortable seating area to relax. We also need a toilet comparment all screened off from the work area at the back of the van. It also needed to be comfortably heated at all times, including the toilet compartment.
Anyway, it never happened that way as we ended our working relationship after we had a full blown argument on a customer's front lawn over the working procedures. But she still expected to be paid a monthly wage. ;D
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I once read that one of the world's largest shipping lines allowed captain's wives to stay on board with the captain in his quarters for a maximum of 3 weeks a year.
They found that if she stayed any longer she started to have an influence on the captain's decision making on board which wasn't necessarily in the best interests of the ship or the company.
The Concordia is probably a good example how a captain's decision making and good judgement can be easily manipulated by outside influences.
When my wife started working with me part time she had never cleaned a window with a pole before. But within a couple of hours I was informed that I was doing this all wrong despite having cleaned windows with the pole for some 8 years previously.
She was and still is always cold so retreated to the van to 'warm up' when I thought she was around the back wiping sills etc. So the diesel air heater was on virtually all day keeping the cabin warm. I ended up winding in 2 hose reels, the hoses of which were invariably tangled up because she did it her way. In the end I found it took us longer to do each house than doing the same houses on my own.
One morning in the van I was informed that women make better cleaners than men. I have had enough experience to know that this is a subject that is better left alone. The first house that morning she did she missed the customer's lounge window. The customer was there watching her and was indignant about it. I always checked her work when I wiped off the sills so would have seen the window was missed. I just cracked up with laughter when he came out to repremand me about it. He was very annoyed. I explained why it was funny; women being better at cleaning than men and that I would have noticed the uncleaned window as I had started to wipe the sills of his house. Anyway I got the reel out again and cleaned that window. Once done he cancelled our service. The wife was sitting in the van as usual and asked what that was about. (I still talk to his wife when I see her but he blanks me.)
Toilet necessities became an issue. Public loos are few are far between and I can understand her not wanting to use the ones that are still open. We can just pee in a bottle in the back of the van, women can't. She needed the loo every 'five' minutes.
What I decided was that we wanted an extra long wheel base van with an inbuilt kitchenette, a gas hob, fridge, lunch and coffee making facilities and a comfortable seating area to relax. We also need a toilet comparment all screened off from the work area at the back of the van. It also needed to be comfortably heated at all times, including the toilet compartment.
Anyway, it never happened that way as we ended our working relationship after we had a full blown argument on a customer's front lawn over the working procedures. But she still expected to be paid a monthly wage. ;D
Wow, that’s a scary post. :o ;D
Time will tell, but this has all come about under the strict instruction that I want things done my way for the first 6 months. After that, she can give suggestions.
After all, it is only 2 days a week so I think we will
Be fine. The toilet issue may be the tricky one, or I just upgrade to a high top van with a portaloo. 🤣
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https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.co.uk%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F173508346736
Sorted 👌🏼
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https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.co.uk%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F173508346736
Sorted 👌🏼
;D
Good idea.
Thought you sent me a link to a thai bride catalogue for a second.
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luckily my missus already has her own business too(interior designer) so she ll never want to come window cleaning with me..... ;D
jeesh....spruce your missus sounds like a nightmare! ;D
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luckily my missus already has her own business too(interior designer) so she ll never want to come window cleaning with me..... ;D
jeesh....spruce your missus sounds like a nightmare! ;D
I wouldn't say a nightmare tbh. If she was writing this she would call me an arrogant, male chauvinist who believes he knows everything and never listens to anyone else's opinion. ;D Two people will see the same thing totally differently. Its either right or wrong, there is no grey area with her. So the way she sees something is this way and every other way is wrong. Her father was exactly the same.
I always knew that we could never work together. This just proved it. Some couples can, some cannot. I have the greatest respect for couples who can. To work together you both need to be flexible and pliable as a couple - a give and take. We aren't.
The wife has always been a hard worker and skilled as what she turns her hand to do, but she is one of those people who needs to always be 'directing traffic'. Everything she does she gives 100%. This is one of the qualities that attracted me to her in the first place. If it had worked we would have been unstoppable. It didn't.
It doesn't make her a bad person in the same way as it doesn't make me a bad person either.
I occassionally wear a T shirt that says; 'I don't need Google, my wife knows everything.' My daughter in law bought it for me in Spain last year and basically says it all.
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https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?mpre=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.co.uk%2Fulk%2Fitm%2F173508346736
Sorted 👌🏼
From a blokes point of view this solves a problem but I doubt the missus will have the same enthusiam for it.
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a bit of topic in away , but my daughter works for me .
I have been in this game for 27 years, and I have to say my daughter is the best worker I have ever had .
my customers like her, she is thorough, does a great job, and works very hard.
however... I have noticed she thinks like a woman lol ;D
but it has proved a good thing, and when I listen I realise she makes sense lol ;D
but when she needs a wee ,I do have to find a toilet no matter what distance I need to drive .
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a bit of topic in away , but my daughter works for me .
I have been in this game for 27 years, and I have to say my daughter is the best worker I have ever had .
my customers like her, she is thorough, does a great job, and works very hard.
however... I have noticed she thinks like a woman lol ;D
but it has proved a good thing, and when I listen I realise she makes sense lol ;D
but when she needs a wee ,I do have to find a toilet no matter what distance I need to drive .
We did get quite a number of new walkup customers when the wife worked with me. They were mainly women who probably felt more comfortable with another woman. When the wife left, they slowly left one by one all as well.