[gewindows]

What amount of time would you say is fair/average considering the business we are in. Heres my thinking.

3 days per month for poor weather = 36 days (7 weeks)

3 weeks holiday per year.

1 week bank holidays.

1 week ill/sick.

1 week for various (van in for MOT, van breakdown, family sickness, dentist etc)

3 months!!

That equates to 25% of the year.

I was quite surprised to think it might be a full quarter of my working year.

[the bfg]

Matt.

what about weekends,  bank holidays, festive season, Easter


I know some windies work these times but a fair majority don't

[Dave Willis]

I normally expect to lose one day a week due to bad weather - could of course make this up on the weekend. Don't generally take holidays except when forced to (Christmas etc). So far I have been incredibly lucky regarding illness and van breakdowns.

I think I lose one month per year untangling my hose!

[Perfect Windows]

I think I lose one month per year untangling my hose!

One of the scariest facts I ever worked out: Spend two minutes per working day doing something and it's a working day a year...

I bear this in mind whenever I find myself doing something not related to making money in the business.

Vin

[geefree]

Not to mention , not going out of the door early enough in the mornings. 

on some days

[LWC]

I think I lose one month per year untangling my hose!

One of the scariest facts I ever worked out: Spend two minutes per working day doing something and it's a working day a year...

I bear this in mind whenever I find myself doing something not related to making money in the business.

Vin

Wonder how many days we spend on the forum then cause i know i spend more than 2 minutes a day on here!!

[the bfg]

One of the scariest facts I ever worked out: Spend two minutes per working day doing something and it's a working day a year...

I bear this in mind whenever I find myself doing something not related to making money in the business.

Vin

have you tried Viagra ? 

[gewindows]

 

[Paul Coleman]

What amount of time would you say is fair/average considering the business we are in. Heres my thinking.

3 days per month for poor weather = 36 days (7 weeks)

3 weeks holiday per year.

1 week bank holidays.

1 week ill/sick.

1 week for various (van in for MOT, van breakdown, family sickness, dentist etc)

3 months!!

That equates to 25% of the year.

I was quite surprised to think it might be a full quarter of my working year.

I generally lose less time for the weather as I work unless it's raining fairly hard (or frozen up).
I take less holidays than that too and sometimes work on a bank holiday.
I may lose 2 - 3 days for van repairs and/or a couple of medical appointments.  If the van was going to be off road for a while, I would rent a small one and work from containers and backpack.  I don't usually get sick but anyone can have a week or so for (man) flu.  I suppose it averages out at a week or so taking longer illness into account but little illness at other times.
I usually cost work at holidays and sickness being 10% of the working year.  It's rare for me to need that much though.  Mind you, family sickness isn't such an issue as I live on my own.

[gewindows]

Paul the figures Ive quoted arent necessarily the ones that materialise in my work but they are fair and balanced I think.

I put this thread up because I did a gutter clean job this week and when I rang the lady whose house it was to see if she was happy with the end result asked me 'How much was it???' as if to say 'Isnt that rather a lot for 2 hours work?' as her mother had been in whilst I did the job so reported back once Id been.

And yes on the surface it was a lot of money for 2 hours work, but things are never as clear or as simple as some people might like to think.


I have since worked out that for every £1,000 I earn I will only be left with £440.

Figures above indicate loss of earning of £250.

Other business, equipment, capital expenditure and fuel costs might be £80 a week.
Taxation and national insurance on remaining £670 would be approx £220.
So lets say that lot totals £550.

Leaving £450.00

It isnt quite as simple as I have generally thought either and I dont think thats a great deal of money for a self-employed individual.

[Perfect Windows]

I have since worked out that for every £1,000 I earn I will only be left with £440.

Figures above indicate loss of earning of £250.

Other business, equipment, capital expenditure and fuel costs might be £80 a week.
Taxation and national insurance on remaining £670 would be approx £220.
So lets say that lot totals £550.

Leaving £450.00

It isnt quite as simple as I have generally thought either and I dont think thats a great deal of money for a self-employed individual.

That's getting your maths back to front.  You are not losing £250 out of very £1,000 you earn. 

You're double counting there.  The 25% should be taken as a deduction at the end, i.e. take your net figure for a week and multiply by 39 weeks, not 52.  Taking it at the start is meaningless mathematically. 

Finally, if you're paying £13,000 of £39,000 turnover (less £3,000 expenses) in tax, you need a new accountant.

Vin

[Perfect Windows]

You also neglecting the fact that you tend to catch up for poor weather, bank holidays, sick and van MOTs, etc, so the days aren't actually lost, just deferred.

Vin

[gewindows]

It isnt a lesson in taxation.

Its intended as an illustration of varying costs, some we all are aware of and some that are hidden and not so obvious at first glance.

Essentially to show that what you charge can be a long way off what you have at the end of the day.

Just a discussion, nothing more.

[Sunshine/Cleaning]

I'm not commenting on your maths as I havn't checked them.

However you do make valid points about the time spent 'cleaning' and everything inbetween.
If it helps an accountant, for examble, wont spend 36 hours a week 'working'. Neither will any other office worker. Think of the lost hours going to the loo, talking to the collegues, daydreaming and the like.

Many offices like to up productivity but then they become sweat shops.

For us, all the customer sees is the time when they eventually clap eyes on us till the time we hold our hand out for payment. almost 100% time 'actually working'. There are of course other things to do like having a pee and daydreaming!

I'm sure some people look at the profit that car salesmen take in their half hour with the customer and think WHAT! Say a 2k profit for less than an hour. But thats not a fair reflection at all.

When customers comment about the time/price ratio I sound shocked and say "Oh dear is as long as that, I usually aim for £xx.xx" then double their number.

Our hourly 'on the job rate' should be way higher than our turnover divided by 36 hrs, which will be way highr than our actual spendable income.

[gewindows]

Exactly.

[gewindows]

You also neglecting the fact that you tend to catch up for poor weather, bank holidays, sick and van MOTs, etc, so the days aren't actually lost, just deferred.

Vin

I hope you dont rely on that.

[Sunshine/Cleaning]

There is definatly a 'potential' loss of 25% if not a bit more.

Put it this way for every £750 we earn there is another £250 that we could have earnt if it wasnt for the factors you mentioned.

[gewindows]

Thats the one! 


And because of that needs to be allowed for when pricing or working out your hourly rate. Its no good and very bad business practice to think 'It'll be okay I can make up for it tomorrow'!

[Perfect Windows]

I hope you dont rely on that.

Of course I do.

In the same way that there is always more toothpaste in the tube, there's always space to slip in an extra job into a day.

Simple.

Vin

[Sunshine/Cleaning]

That really depends where your focus is in life. Do you live to work or work to live?