I'm not, or ever have knocked anyone for staying solo, same for some of the rates/prices etc.. No one on here should feel down beat for the rate they are achieving or the biz they are running.
Taking on the first employee was the biggest and hardest decision we made, it's not a step to take lightly, but for me it was always in my 5 year plan, simply I don't want to be doing regular window work day in day out in my mid 50's - I don't have any form of pension so the aim is that the biz provides an income when I either do not want/can't work anymore.
Darran