Clean It Up
UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: geefree on January 08, 2010, 02:43:30 pm
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There are a lot of interesting topics on here at the moment, regarding earnings, profit and staff etc,
I would just like to ask the guys on here who have taken the leap forward and employed. a couple of questions ...
Because some people are asking how many you employ as to how successful and wealthy you are,
but i dont believe that to be the case with a fair amount of people who have made comments.
1. Have you employed someone only to be worse off through paying wages, holiday pay etc etc.... and gone back to being a one man business?
2. Obviously when you first make that move you will take a pay cut, so how long does it take to break even again, do you have to keep building and employing, say two or three men to get back to where you was before financially.... then you start to make the money you envisaged?
3. I can imagine the kind of problems you will be up against employing, and i dont think its for the weak or faint hearted,
do you regret it and wish you had stayed on your own?...as before, you had not much.... less money.... but much much less hassle?
Thanks. ;)
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No rush , like ;D ;D
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Three No's there Gazza
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I think Dave St Ives and others have already answered this one.
I do think you have to get your prices right before considering employing though.
Unless the employee was bringing in 20 and hour, it wouldn't be worth the hassle in my opinion.
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hello gazza . no1, yes there are times when you are worse off as in any business, and in 25 years never gone back on my own . yes hols pay is a hard one , no2 . yes a slight pay cut , but what i try to do is take lads part time first , put in writing or verbul for a 6 week period ,2 or 3 days a week . if they impress i take them full time . by then you will have a better idea of how good they are and what you will make out of them. no3 theres always problems with employing ,ie sick pay ,holidays, time keeping missing days,excuses ,ex, ex, ex, theres pluses and minuses, i must have employed over 30 people over the years , the rewards are good , if you stick at it long enough. the key is good workers and a bit of luck a long the way . there have been times when i have been really ped of with things , but i dont think i would change a thing gaza. i got a good bit of advise from a contract cleaner 20 years ago ,he said dont give up to soon you have to stick with it , and it will work that is very true .
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So far my employing has not worked out Gerry good at all. Just carnt clean windows very good
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its hard find them right person and keeping them happy
but i done right its very profitable, but when it goes wrong its very stressful.
I guess the more employees ypu have the more you can handle the odd problem one has you have lots of cover but if you rely on them then be prepared for the let downs.
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I'm at the beginning of this and find it hard to be frank on the forum.I'm probably a bit worse off but have to work less hard.My route has been investment.I have the best kit,and the best kitted out van on the forum.So my strategy has been more than just employment.
We haven't worked for three weeks.I paid him for two but not three.Not sure about next week if we don't work.
If we do work we fly.
As regards growth i don't have the answers.It's very hard to beat a one man band trading just under the vat limit in terms of profit.But the guy has to work very hard and holidays, while they are easily affordable, are a big problem along with burnout.
Over the limit with more guys and the figures get to be quite large before you get anywhere.I have my suspicions as to how this becomes worthwhile but have never been in that position so can't really say.
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Slump mate lol... ;) best kitted out van on the forum.... most motivated...
you show humility in your post... then say that. ;)
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i would never employ again if i can help it!i prefer less hassle!im already a success in my eyes!always room for improvement but im happy with my current situation.
1.flexability/much less hassle
2.prefer to work on my own with no one irritating me! ;D ;D
3.start and finish when I WANT!!
4.NOBODY to let ME down!
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I have the best kit,and the best kitted out van on the forum.
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This post is meaningless without pictures ... ;D
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I do at this moment work on my own. But in my previous business I employed 82 members of staff in 4 different service businesses. There are many things to resolve first. E G
The think about price in the service business and taking on staff is when you on your own you take off costs and the rest can go in your pocket as income after tax that is.
When you employ them you have a far large expense in Wages etc.Most your prices do not accommodate this chang in application of price.
When you work on your own you do not build your people man agent skills It change from one day worker to next day boss.
You need very good procedures and practices. How you will respond and how you expect your staff to responded to your business. You need to teach them this and it must be on your finger tips. so you will not court out at your own game. Some people are just born with this talent. Others have to learn from there own bosses and sad to say many bosses are not good examples of good management. To big a whip and no carrot.( carrots are not always money some work for different reasons) Being a boss is not a big deal in a responsibility.
Cleaning windows is about cleaning, management is about people.
There is a lot more but I could be here all night. Good luck Guys.
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It takes a particular kind of person to be able to go out cleaning windows day in and day out, if you are that person then this is a great job for you, money can be very good as your round develops and you are your own boss, no downside at all.
I, like many others, am not able to do that (nothing wrong with it, I just cant do it). I am in business and want to grow my business for its own sake( I think of ,my business as an entity seperate for me), I harbour delusions of one day having a really big business covering the country, dreams like that are what get me out of bed each morning.
Without those dreams I would pack up and go get a job.....................except I am like most wc's unemployable.
Now in answer to the questions 1. no never go back 2. that depends on how quickly you can develop the business 3. no, I dont do regrets.
I think that if you are someone who is considering the option of employing then you probably have a little bit of those delusions that I mentioned above, will the day in day out eventually wear you down? then go for it, warts and all!! if you read these posts and snear at guys who try to become employers and think they are nuts, then you are probably happy doing what you are doing, fair play to you, keep it up.
There is no simple answer, it depends on the person.
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Employing was the best move ive made by far,
It give a business extra scope to take on more work in my opinion.
Dean
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I have the best kit,and the best kitted out van on the forum.So my strategy has been more than just employment.
;D ;D ;D
surely no-one will bite at that, come on slumpy
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I have been very lucky to find 2 fantastic employess who are hardworking and reliable , this i understand is the most difficult thing to achieve,
With one man my income increased slightly , i am looking for another slight increase with the second man but my timing was very bad as i employed him at end of November so it is currently costing me a fortune in wages and no money coming in :'( :'( , SO
if i was on my own i wouldnt have these extra expenses and in these lean and snowy times i would just need to look out for myself , because i have these committments and wages to pay things are very tough BUT i wouldnt look back and you have to expect challenging times like this , you cant build a successful business without a bit of extra stress!! SO onwards and upwards and roll on positive thermometer readings ;D
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I have the best kit,and the best kitted out van on the forum.
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This post is meaningless without pictures ... ;D
I think what he probably means is his van-mount tank has pretty flowery motifs on it. ;)
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Answer For EWAN : Yes I employed 83 staff at one time is business. We also trained 169 people in those business over 20 odd year.
I thing the problem is people do not train to manage the most complex on me3duin of all business.( POEPLE)
One needs to have a clear vision of were your want your business to go. Clear short time goals with clear long tern objective to achieve . And a plan to apply .Them you med to sell your plan to staff. Bearing in mind there goals ore not yours. The trick is to help them achieve your goals and pay them with there aims. Poeple work for different reasons. What I have observed so often is the Boss has his goal and needs ,to hell with what his staff need and then Bash our objectives out of your staff. If this cannot be achieved them get rid of them and find more. As a boss to fire staff at the first or more hurdle is a failing in the skill.
If would employ again and I do hope so be cause you can only grow so far.
In Business there is only two place that count Grow or stagnate. Before anyone jumps on the I did say business. Because if you like me work along we do not have a business, we are self employed and stay that until we employ again.
This is why there is often so many different view point on topics on this forum it’s the view of self employed and the view of businessman. Business is a passion of mine and could chat for hour But I will not bore you to death. .
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I've just started employing, and I have to say its all down to the ppl you employ. I've 2 part timers who are brilliant, absolutely 110% effort from them and never a problem. Unfortunately they are limited to how many hours they can work. I've a 3rd who is good most of the time, but has occasionally "Missed the bus" and turned up an hour late.
I'm just about to hire a 4th on a part time basis for a school cleaning contract. I'm always apprehensive taking on someone new, but I feel that if I set out EXACTLY what I need from an employee and EXACTLY what the terms and conditions of that employment are right from day one (Even in the advert in the paper) then it saves a good bot of messing about,.. though you still do get the occasional fool with not a single word of English that applies for a job requiring "Excellent communication skills"!
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And the rest :)
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Yes I did make a lot of cash and due to moving from a third world to a first world country you don’t get much pounds for your money. But we lived very well and went to many places till economic down turn and robberies and theft we lost a small fortune. Dut we rise from the ashes. That is properly why I will no moan because I have seen worse. But Thanks Even.
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Gazza, i was trying to be straight with you, and yes i am humble.Many of things wizard mentioned i am very poor at, or merely average at.Lots would win promotion in a larger firm in front of me including the hippey.
I do have the best kit though. Many people have several vans, i only have one, but it is the best and holds the best two man domestic set up on here if your criteria is speed and earning. I could enumerate why but i'm sure you've heard this from me before.
There are quite a few big head/braggarts on here but i think you'll find most of my bragging has to do with technical issues such as being first to crack a hot set up, first to sort electric rewinds, first to.......Again you've heard it all before.
The reason i come on the forum-apart from boasting- is to air my ideas and hear some from like minded people. I have got lots of ideas from here, and found out that some of my own ideas have been rubbish. You and other posters are as close as i get to having co directors who can rein me in.The fact that you cringe when i make certain (seen as bragging) comments is quite kind and well meant so thanks for that.
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Slumpy do you feel althought you have the best equipment you are noy reaching the heights you would like to?Idont feel you are bragging its sound like there is some more behind your statement.
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I'm okay, no probs or underlying agenda.
My fantasy is that the van would drive out on it's own and come back with the money, but that isn't going to happen. I invest in systems.I will spend hours to save minutes, and pounds to save pennies.Some disagree with this, including several very successfull businesses on here.I never try to argue that i am right, or that my way is better. I make loads of mistakes, i have an expensive pressure washer i never use for one, i could go on and tell you ten more mistakes. However alongside that some of my successes have been blinding.
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Slump
Dont waste time on the trivial, concentrate on the bigger picture.
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I'd say mistake. I've toyed with the idea myself and thinking about it, its more hassle than its worth. Another van, more kit, more insurance, holiday pay..... the list goes on.
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If you want to become rich, you wont do it without staff.
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Totally agree ;)
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If you want to become rich, you wont do it without staff.
Toataly wrong mate, You can become a larger opperation than you dave, without employing a sole!! ;)
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I aint big at all, so the even "bigger" isnt required.
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Is that still window cleaning
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Mac-mac,
How are you able to price up jobs and meet customers and still earn if you havent got employees keeping the ship afloat whilst you are away?
Id be working atleast a day a week unpaid if it was for employees and then I wouldnt even be able to do the jobs that I was pricing on time if it wasnt for them.
Dean
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Mac-mac,
How are you able to price up jobs and meet customers and still earn if you havent got employees keeping the ship afloat whilst you are away?
Id be working atleast a day a week unpaid if it was for employees and then I wouldnt even be able to do the jobs that I was pricing on time if it wasnt for them.
Dean
They are still doing the work, they just arn't your employees. ;)
Nuff said, there are some things I don't share willy nilly. ;)
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So you have subbies who work for you ???
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If you want to become rich, you wont do it without staff.
Certainly wont do it on the cards.
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Im interested macmac can you tell us more or else email me?
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Gazza, i was trying to be straight with you, and yes i am humble.Many of things wizard mentioned i am very poor at, or merely average at.Lots would win promotion in a larger firm in front of me including the hippey.
I do have the best kit though. Many people have several vans, i only have one, but it is the best and holds the best two man domestic set up on here if your criteria is speed and earning. I could enumerate why but i'm sure you've heard this from me before.
There are quite a few big head/braggarts on here but i think you'll find most of my bragging has to do with technical issues such as being first to crack a hot set up, first to sort electric rewinds, first to.......Again you've heard it all before.
The reason i come on the forum-apart from boasting- is to air my ideas and hear some from like minded people. I have got lots of ideas from here, and found out that some of my own ideas have been rubbish. You and other posters are as close as i get to having co directors who can rein me in.The fact that you cringe when i make certain (seen as bragging) comments is quite kind and well meant so thanks for that.
I dont cringe slump, i was just light heartedly making a comment you made... stand out,
Your posts, like others on here , are invaluable and helpful. ;)