[Paul H]

Afternoon All

So i'm thinking of maybe venturing into the field of taking someone on part time...

Those who have part time or even full time workers... how has this helped you?

My views are yes I have enough work for me alone and do well... somedays I have too much ...(just how its structured and works out )... so those days defo need an extra hand..

There are some days when im done by lunch time...

Now i'm not being lazy i'm viewing it as a chance to get through the work and more of it, if I choose to take someone on... whilst at the same time freeing up time to try and grow and expand...

Their script would be a mixture of window cleaning , leafleting, maybe a bit canvassing.... with the aim  of gaining more work .... so the carrot to them is they can get more work and hours if that makes sense.

I,m at that cross roads I think .. so be grateful to hear from those where they took the plunge and it worked and also those who it may not have worked for..

Is this the right time to take the plunge?

Hours wise ... looking at 16 - 20 max.


Setting the van up to 2 man set up would only incur the cost of an extra hose and reel...


 

[TomCrowther]

I was at the same point in Feb last year. Took someone on part time because I couldn't stand the thought of doing the big blocks of flats on my own anymore.
Pros are it forces you out on days when you might bunk off. You do the back of a house and hey, the front is done at the same time, lovely.
Disadvantages are, the guy might be a pain, smell, smoke, be late, not turn up on Monday when you have a busy day booked. Holiday pay, they are entitled to a lot if time off. My guy who works three days a week gets 17 days a year.
If you find a good guy it will work well. All the disadvantages are due to getting the wrong one. 

[robertphil]

i currently have 3 workers who are almost fulltimers now.  iv not regretted employing tho at first itll cost you at first so be sure you have a wedge in the bank to cover insurance ,shoes etc for the newbie.   
    write down a list of questions to ask at interview , at least some should be "trick questions" to catch out a liar .   
   

 never employ a liar is my tip

[bobplum]

Afternoon All

So i'm thinking of maybe venturing into the field of taking someone on part time...

Those who have part time or even full time workers... how has this helped you?

My views are yes I have enough work for me alone and do well... somedays I have too much ...(just how its structured and works out )... so those days defo need an extra hand..

There are some days when im done by lunch time..

Now i'm not being lazy i'm viewing it as a chance to get through the work and more of it, if I choose to take someone on... whilst at the same time freeing up time to try and grow and expand...

Their script would be a mixture of window cleaning , leafleting, maybe a bit canvassing.... with the aim  of gaining more work .... so the carrot to them is they can get more work and hours if that makes sense.

I,m at that cross roads I think .. so be grateful to hear from those where they took the plunge and it worked and also those who it may not have worked for..

Is this the right time to take the plunge?

Hours wise ... looking at 16 - 20 max.


Setting the van up to 2 man set up would only incur the cost of an extra hose and reel...


 

i have been at this point for two years but used my son, son in law and daughter, all have moved on so now its decision time.

cost is putting me of, especially if i have to pay holidays

i may go down the self employed route

[Paul H]

I was at the same point in Feb last year. Took someone on part time because I couldn't stand the thought of doing the big blocks of flats on my own anymore.
Pros are it forces you out on days when you might bunk off. You do the back of a house and hey, the front is done at the same time, lovely.
Disadvantages are, the guy might be a pain, snestmell, smoke, be late, not turn up on Monday when you have a busy day booked. Holiday pay, they are entitled to a lot if time off. My guy who works three days a week gets 17 days a year.
If you find a good guy it will work well. All the disadvantages are due to getting the wrong one. 

Ive got someone lined up... hes taking early retirement... was talking to him and he was saying he's just after a little part time driving job... hes fit as a fiddle too... id been mulling the taking someone on for a while... then when we caught up I had an eureka moment... that NOW was the ideal chance...

He's reliable and honest too... wont take the P*&S... at the same time will tell you if he thinks its not for him.. but get an instinct he'll be bang up for it...so I think there are massive advantages... as well as more earning potential for me..... and him if he wants it.

Holidays and that is just part and parcel I guess.... but I can see when i'm now on holiday he'll still be maiking money for me... so rough with the smooth I guess

[Paul H]

i currently have 3 workers who are almost fulltimers now.  iv not regretted employing tho at first itll cost you at first so be sure you have a wedge in the bank to cover insurance ,shoes etc for the newbie.   
    write down a list of questions to ask at interview , at least some should be "trick questions" to catch out a liar .   
   

 never employ a liar is my tip

Have given that all  consideration... doing it right and correct will cost money initially...

He's already passed any potential interview  

[Paul H]

Afternoon All

So i'm thinking of maybe venturing into the field of taking someone on part time...

Those who have part time or even full time workers... how has this helped you?

My views are yes I have enough work for me alone and do well... somedays I have too much ...(just how its structured and works out )... so those days defo need an extra hand..

There are some days when im done by lunch time..

Now i'm not being lazy i'm viewing it as a chance to get through the work and more of it, if I choose to take someone on... whilst at the same time freeing up time to try and grow and expand...

Their script would be a mixture of window cleaning , leafleting, maybe a bit canvassing.... with the aim  of gaining more work .... so the carrot to them is they can get more work and hours if that makes sense.

I,m at that cross roads I think .. so be grateful to hear from those where they took the plunge and it worked and also those who it may not have worked for..

Is this the right time to take the plunge?

Hours wise ... looking at 16 - 20 max.


Setting the van up to 2 man set up would only incur the cost of an extra hose and reel...


 

i have been at this point for two years but used my son, son in law and daughter, all have moved on so now its decision time.

cost is putting me of, especially if i have to pay holidays

i may go down the self employed route

Think you have to decide what best for you and your circumstances...

I initially just wanted enough for me ... stress free etc...

Now i'm getting a little bit hungrier with plans and ideas.... and like coming into this game from a well paid career.. the question I asked when I decided to do it was "you'll never know till you try".. I managed to get myself in the position to try... and have yeah have had problems and struggles but so glad I perservered....

I'm now at the same question with growing and taking someone on...

[windowswashed]

Makes me laugh how some of you get busy with work, can't cope and immediately decide you want to employ someone straight away to keep up with workload. The idea of employing someone is to help make you a profit at the end of the day. Factor in holiday pay, sick pay, insurance and your time doing their wages PAYE and all the other stuff that goes with it like what do you do when the weather is atrocious, etc. If you're just getting by on the smallest of profit I would say dump your worst customers and continue building a good round at decent prices before thinking of taking someone on or consider part time work to begin with.

[Mitchellmoxo]

3 months ago i was at that point where it didnt NEED someone but thought it would be a good help.

Put an advert on facebook and took a guy on and wonder how i worked on my own now! If you get the right person it will give you the motivation to get out there and gain some more business.

Taking someone on that you can trust will make you look at business completely differently i think

[Richard iSparkle]

Good luck!

What i would say is becoming an employer is a big step and takes a lot of learning.

I have been employing for 5 years now and am still making mistakes and learning from them.

If i were to offer you advice it would be to take it all very professionally and do things by the book.  It wont make a jot of difference to the gooduns out there, but when/if you get a badun you'll be thankfull.

there are 3 main areas to learn

1. recruitment & selection
2. management
3. human resources law and discipline

they are all huge!!!!!

Good luck!  

[Paul H]

Makes me laugh how some of you get busy with work, can't cope and immediately decide you want to employ someone straight away to keep up with workload. The idea of employing someone is to help make you a profit at the end of the day. Factor in holiday pay, sick pay, insurance and your time doing their wages PAYE and all the other stuff that goes with it like what do you do when the weather is atrocious, etc. If you're just getting by on the smallest of profit I would say dump your worst customers and continue building a good round at decent prices before thinking of taking someone on or consider part time work to begin with.

And a part timer is what I'm considering

[Paul H]

3 months ago i was at that point where it didnt NEED someone but thought it would be a good help.

Put an advert on facebook and took a guy on and wonder how i worked on my own now! If you get the right person it will give you the motivation to get out there and gain some more business.

Taking someone on that you can trust will make you look at business completely differently i think

Well put and I agree totally mate

[Paul H]

Good luck!

What i would say is becoming an employer is a big step and takes a lot of learning.

I have been employing for 5 years now and am still making mistakes and learning from them.

If i were to offer you advice it would be to take it all very professionally and do things by the book.  It wont make a jot of difference to the gooduns out there, but when/if you get a badun you'll be thankfull.

there are 3 main areas to learn

1. recruitment & selection
2. management
3. human resources law and discipline

they are all huge!!!!!

Good luck!  

Thanks for the sound advice and input ...completely agree .. Like I said I won't know till I've tried ... And I'm at the point of trying ... And the fact the chap I mentioned is massively swaying it too ... I just know it'll be a great chance to see whether it'll work because of his characteristics ...

[windowswashed]

Nothing makes you more determined to grow your business and treat it like a business when you start employing. Done it myself as well, nearly ran myself into the ground being pre-occupied with work and not getting the balance right with work, family and health.

Eleven years ago I had to quit my window cleaning business because of a serious illness which left me paralysed. Specialists in the hospitals told me I'd never work again!! Proved them all wrong...took me about three years to fully recover through help with consultants, doctors, nurses, physiotherapists, occupational thereapists and many others to get back to full time work again but I did it and decided from then on that I didn't want the hassle of running a business again, just want to appreciate my independence which I lost when I became paralysed, so I just do enough work to pay the bills and put aside for rainy days and emergencies.

Always took health for granted being extremely fit back then. Nowadays I just remember how demoralising it was being dependant on other people to look after me, feed me, dress me, shower me and all the other embarrassing things and how limited my life was and how grateful I am to all my friends, family and all the staff in the NHS who helped me mentally and physically to perservere and recover. Sometimes you need to remember there's more to life than just work, getting the balance right between work, family and health is the most important.

[Paul H]

Nothing makes you more determined to grow your business and treat it like a business when you start employing. Done it myself as well, nearly ran myself into the ground being pre-occupied with work and not getting the balance right with work, family and health.

Eleven years ago I had to quit my window cleaning business because of a serious illness which left me paralysed. Specialists in the hospitals told me I'd never work again!! Proved them all wrong...took me about three years to fully recover through help with consultants, doctors, nurses, physiotherapists, occupational thereapists and many others to get back to full time work again but I did it and decided from then on that I didn't want the hassle of running a business again, just want to appreciate my independence which I lost when I became paralysed, so I just do enough work to pay the bills and put aside for rainy days and emergencies.

Always took health for granted being extremely fit back then. Nowadays I just remember how demoralising it was being dependant on other people to look after me, feed me, dress me, shower me and all the other embarrassing things and how limited my life was and how grateful I am to all my friends, family and all the staff in the NHS who helped me mentally and physically to perservere and recover. Sometimes you need to remember there's more to life than just work, getting the balance right between work, family and health is the most important.

Moving post .. Glad to hear you got sorted and are back up and running

I left a well paid career .. For the reasons you mentioned ..

I see this now as part of my growth ... And exit strategy ... where over time you you gradually step back from being in the orchestra ... To conducting it and enjoying the fruits of your labour ... Albeit maybe in 15 years time though 

[PoleKing]

Nothing makes you more determined to grow your business and treat it like a business when you start employing. Done it myself as well, nearly ran myself into the ground being pre-occupied with work and not getting the balance right with work, family and health.

Eleven years ago I had to quit my window cleaning business because of a serious illness which left me paralysed. Specialists in the hospitals told me I'd never work again!! Proved them all wrong...took me about three years to fully recover through help with consultants, doctors, nurses, physiotherapists, occupational thereapists and many others to get back to full time work again but I did it and decided from then on that I didn't want the hassle of running a business again, just want to appreciate my independence which I lost when I became paralysed, so I just do enough work to pay the bills and put aside for rainy days and emergencies.

Always took health for granted being extremely fit back then. Nowadays I just remember how demoralising it was being dependant on other people to look after me, feed me, dress me, shower me and all the other embarrassing things and how limited my life was and how grateful I am to all my friends, family and all the staff in the NHS who helped me mentally and physically to perservere and recover. Sometimes you need to remember there's more to life than just work, getting the balance right between work, family and health is the most important.

What an inspiration!
Fair play to you fella!
All the best for the future.