[lisa123]

hi all,
I have been thinking about this for a liitlewhile, don't really know much about what needs doing to get there, but seems to me that it could be a good idea.
Theres loads of companies advertising for cleaners, and loads of people who want to clean.
I could be the go between, employ staff, and send them on contracts.
does anyone know how employment agencies work?
I know I need a sales person to speak to potential clients who need a cleaner, and obviously all the H&S and employers things are still the same. Insurance might be loads more.
do employment agencies take a fee for every hour/day/week whatever a member of staff works for the company?
any advice would be great, I tend to run away with ideas, but then get stuck on the details.

[Art]

Lisa in my experience agency staff in alot of cases (not all) are people who generally don't want or don't need to work fulltime, so more hassle than what there worth and if you set up as an agency you've the hassle with them then more hassle with clients when they refuse to pay for sub standard work

[Tim Downer]

Yes, but if Lisa started her own agency up with her own dedicated and trained cleaners, surely these would be better than going to an employment agency and ending up with any tom, dick and harry.
I use employment agencies when we are really busy, and even though they say they have cleaners on their books.....well most of the time they are not!!
However, if i knew there was an employment agency specifically dealing with cleaners......well i would be more than happy to give it a try.

But looking at the Agencies i have used over the past few months, Blue Arrow charged me £8.50 per hour plus VAT (4 hours minimum) and gave the cleaners £5.50 of it per hour.

Regards

Tim

[Tim Downer]

If you do a search on "Agency" there is a posting by Paul@scc on April 2nd of this year about the subject.

Tim

[martin19842]

hi there,

Lisa is already running a cleaning business, and is muting about an Agency.

There is much similar in both, one of the beog differences being that the cleaners could be self employed if it was an agency, and PAYE employees if its a cleaning business.

That really is the only difference, cause irrespective of whether you are running a cleaning busines or an agency, you still need the CLIENTS and you still need a labour supply to carry out the service.

Therefore all the associated ENJOYMENT or running your own business remains the same.

regards

martin

[Art]

The way i run my business is new cleaners work with my experienced staff who decide if there any good and if there not they go.
Now with an agency can you still vett cleaners in such a way or do you take on numbers and hope for the best ??

Regards Arthur

[Tim Downer]

If the Agency cleaner turns up on the Monday......and is no good for ANY reason, then for the Tuesday you ask them for a different cleaner. YOU are the client and the Agency have to ablige.
However, regarding a dedicated Agency for just cleaners.....i am sure if you ask how they vet the cleaners, they should be able to provide you with the information.

Kind Regards

Tim

[lisa123]

hi all
I was just thinking of possible ways i could make my biz work. Thanks for your replys.
They are both one and the same really. Perhaps I should stick to what i'm doing.
Trying to get some advertising done. Had 350 leaflets put out in 1 area last week, and had 1 phone call, and they didn't like my price of £10p/h. they want everything for free. Apparentlyshe had 2 cleaners and they worked for an hour but she paid them for an hour each. I said in her 4 bed detached house that we would need 2.5hrs min to do regular light cleaning a week with one cleaner, she ummed and arred and put the phone down. makes me wonder if they were cleaning to a high enough standard, and doing all the task list. they must bot have been paid very much. They left her anyway to do commercial work. Didn't give her much notice.
I hate mrs mop cleaners who arent self emp or insured and just want to make a £5er.

Anyway, the next batch of leaflets will be going out this week, in a different area, and I'm getting an ad run in the local papers. hopefully, this will bring us a new customer or 2.

[Art]

Lisa, Have you ever tried direct mail shots? If Not try the letting agents in your area that's where a fair bit of my work comes from.

Regards Arthur

[stevemc]

Try 5 star personnel tel 01775 710707 ask for Tracey they are based in Spalding but cover most of the midlands and a wider area as well and there staff have cleaning experience mainly new build/ shop fits/office etc.

I think it is £8.30 per hour + a mileage cost and you have to pay for 8 hours minbut have cleaning experience.