[myvanwi]

I was wondering how many people on here enjoy a good living from employing staff to do all their cleaning and leaving them to grow the business? I have been looking at ways to grow our business in the same way management franchises do

[Colin Stokes]

When we started 4 yrs or so ago I did 80+ hours a week in order to build a foundation/decent profit. Through much trial and error (with emphasis on error) got to a place last year where not only do I not clean (that finished 3 yrs ago) but where I am not even supervising personally - this is mainly due to a lucky find of an employee who started as a cleaner but now manages the whole day to day operation.

I concentrate on the overall direction and large decisions and client stuff (like lunches!) and admin (although we outsource HR, H&S etc) and work approx 2 hrs a day Mon-Fri mostly by liaising with the manager.

This business model does initially reduce the profilibility obviously but takes the long term view that eventually you can earn much more by employing staff and adding sites plus it allows time for building other business interests and you cant argue with the quality of life.

[martin19842]

hi there

the key here is, what is your definition of a good living ??

this is entirely subjective, and vares from person to person, some people are happy at £25k per year, others at £10ok per year.

therefore this is diffcult to quantify.

i personally have worked extremely hard for my self for 4 years, employing staff etc, i was happy, but financially possibly not, now i have taken a Sales Manager role, that will earn me in excess of £60k in year 1, will put a brand new car on the drive after 2 years (owned ) i wont say i work less than i did for myself because if i work harder i will earn more, however i dont have stress like before, dont work weekends, have got holidays to take, and generally am a lot more chilled out.

therefore it can be said that i am happy in the role that i have got, as the combined income of the household is comfortable, including rental income from a property, and we do what we want to, with out major hassle.

that is why it is a subjective matter, others mya need more or less to be happy, you have to be content with what you do.

regards

martin

[John Kelly]

Good luck Martin, I'm surprised, thought you loved it. I couldn't work for anyone now.

[martin19842]

hi john

i did, but certain things were stacked a little against us,

my role has a lot of autonomy, and therefore not to bad, i do agree however i could nt be a small fish in a big pond, with lots of beaurocracy, as it is i am responsible for my own destiny

regards

martin