[Ian101]

Would like to hear some thoughts from experianced multi van operators ... situation is stepson wants to start window cleaning in the spring.

Hes already got an astra van so would be ideal for a 400 litre system

Dont think employing is way foward ?? unless others can tell me otherwise but thinking of giving him say 200 customers of mine with a 30/70 split of takings (70% him) then I will canvass some more for him again on the same split. I would retain the customers though.

Does anyone know how Ian Lancaster does it ?

[ronnie paton]

do a good search there was a great post on it about 5 months ago.

[darren clarke]

just do what u was going to do,  if he is using his own van and tools, then he can be self employed, 

[geefree]

just do what u was going to do, if he is using his own van and tools, then he can be self employed,

but then he will need to work for somone else too....to be self employed.

[bobby p]

before committing,get him to tagalong with you ,be sure he likes the slog of it. 2 easyish  days followed by at least 3 killer days  may be enough

[darren clarke]

if he uses was using a van and tools owned by his step dad then he couldnt be self emplyed,  but as he is using his own van tools,  and only renting the work of his step day he can be self employed,  its a fine line,  but he will be classed as self emplyed

[Smudger]

I would do as your suggestion, we run this way for one of our guys - but as mentioned he should be doing
work independant of you ( weather that be w/c or building work or running something online ) otherwise he may
get classed as your employee.

but i think its a good way to start, altho, i would think a 'franchise' could be worked out reasonably easily

Darran

[alanwilson]

employ him on 70% like you said.

the work remains yours and you get 30% each month.

[bravo20]

 situation is stepson wants to start window cleaning in the spring.

Why is he waiting for spring?

Will he carry on through the winter months?

Don't get me wrong, I think it's great to try and grow a family business, but you need to think of the reputation and service you're trying to build.

I think the previous suggestion of letting him do some work with you will give you both a good idea of what lies ahead.

[Frankybadboy]

family and work dont work.

[George P]

it can work, but sometimes difficult

[chopsie]

family and work dont work.

I think its a load of rubbish that, It sometimes does not work, but that could be said for any partnership.
After all how many Joe bloggs and sons etc are there out there, So obviously it can and often does work. Farming is another prime example.

[Ian101]

situation is stepson wants to start window cleaning in the spring.

Why is he waiting for spring?

Will he carry on through the winter months?

he would start sooner but me saying spring as gives me time to get a few other things sorted and by early next year I will be ready for next phase of business

[Crystal-clear]

If he started in the winter he would see how hard the work can get frozen hands rain wind etc

If somehow he could start in the winter and make it to spring you know for a fact he can do it long term at least let him work with you a week next month!

And 70% for him sounds fair what i would do is any work picked up by him goes off his rent bill up to say 3 cleans or 2 cleans or even 1 clean think about it he picks you up £200 a month say his rent is £1000 if you credit him £200 then next month you will earn £1060 so your round builds up! and he will have the motivation to pick up as he works!

[Nameless Drudge]

Its a complete recipe for disaster,so much so i am going to say it again,its a complete recipe for disaster,and the fact that you are contemplating it means you are ripe for the taking.
I might not be a very experienced window cleaner but i am experienced in life.
There is a very good chance that in even just a years time you will be able to sit down and work out that in hindsight it would have been cheaper to just pay him a wage to stay away from your window cleaning business.
So outright sale of 200 customers with cash up front or you simply give advice and encouragement as he sets up himself. If he wants to start in the spring then he can show commitment by revealing his business plan now and devoting all his spare time(and spare cash) to getting it all set up and started.He could start canvassing now(paid on results by you) and you cover the customers gained until you hand them over when he starts and he works a day or two or whenever able starting from now. If you are slightly wary of employing him full time then you certainly dont want to be even contemplating a business relationship.

[Spruce]

Hi
I have a bit of a different opinion on this.

Your stepson is your family and I believe that as parents we have a duty to help our youngsters get the best start in life possible. This also means making sacrifices.

He has a van which is a big help. During the next few months you can help him kit it out with the basic kit he needs to clean windows. (If he needs anything special - longer pole etc he can always borrow it from your van for the day).
Give him some of your work to get him started and help him with it until he gets the confidence to continue by himself. Help him with new customer quotes and show him how to go doorknocking to expand his round. Yes, you may need to spoon feed him for a while, but then you gradually let go until he can stand on his own.  Yes, you may be short of work yourself to start off with, but it doesn't take long to replace your donated work. As I said, having children means making sacrifices.

Let him be responsible for his own round and give him 100% of his takings. Yes he needs to pay toward shared expenses, ie water purification etc., and being self employed would need to pay his own taxes when due.

We have a father and son working relationship and work this way. He helps me with some of my customers and I help him with some of his. If I do a day's work with him on his customers, all the proceeds go to him, but it works the other way as well. We also go collecting on a Friday evening together and collect each others debts. Our customers know both of us.

There will always be niggles in working relationships but it works for us.

Spruce.
 

[formb]

This is not really your decision to make.

Does your stepson want to be a self employed window cleaner?

If he does not want to do it then there is no point in you losing customers over the heads of it, also if he doesn't and is happy for you to be his gaffer there is no reason why you cant employ him. (this looks like the best option to me, least risk anyway)

If this is something that he does want I would be very wary at handing your customers over, remember you've put alot of work into building this up, and it would be tragic if he screwed it up.

[Ian101]

Thanks guys for all the input so far !