[terrymaloy]

My busy time is fast approaching...Sept - End of Dec and I've been toying with the idea of employing someone to give me a hand.
Do you think this is a wise move ?
The work would involve just general help (not actual cleaning )
I couldnt pay a great deal and it would only be temporary...What are the pro's and cons of doing this ?

Does anyone actually employ someone and what are the implications ?
Or do you think I should just still go it alone ?

Your views are appreciated

Terry

[John Kelly]

As this person would not adding directly to your bottom line, ie going out cleaning in a seperate vehicle, I would personally avoid it.
There are some major headaches involved in this unless you already know someone who is suitable,
If not you would have to have them either checked out with the police which takes time or be very trusting. Then you have employees liability insurance, PAYE, etc.
Why not increase your prices, do less work and earn the same money.

[PaulKing]

same problem, inheriting a employee who is 19 and having hell getting insurance for a van £4000p.a
anybody know of a decent inurance company that like young drivers???

[the red carpet]

There must be good points though

Its gonna speed you up so your gonna earn more per hour

Your working life is gonna be that bit easier as you have someone else to fetch and carry

And its someone you can train up to take over if you need a day off or fancy a weeks holiday

Just make sure they earn there keep, once they have finished setting up and vacing or pre-spraying or watever there main jobs are get them out posting leaflets or knocking on doors on the strret your working as you clean

[tomh]

have you made any enquiry's to any driver policy ! 4k thats a lot of money, swintons were good for me this year way cheaper than anybody but over 25 & clean d/l only.

[angela carlton]

I previously worked with my partner and we found that two people working effectively got through the work, in the time, three working individually, would take.

Obviously, both have to be experienced and have an affinity, but it really does work in these circumstances.

The other side, of course, is working with someone who can't achieve the same standard. In this scenario, they can still be used effectively, by cleaning around the peripheral areas, leaving the tracking,etc to the ' expert '

angie

[colin thomas]

i agree with angela, i have a great guy who is retired but a really good worker, if i get snowed under with work, rather than turn it down he helps me and we do more than twice the work of one person. he presprays and scrubs, i extract, very tiring though, you don't have a forced break to refill pre-spray etc you just keep going until job done!

[the red carpet]

If you had him with you full time you would be snowed under with work all the time.

If you just carried on as usual in the quite times while he was knoking on doors or delivering leaflets in the area you were working you would soon have more work than you could handle.

And would need him back in the house spraying and scrubbing before you new it.

[House Buddies]

Hi

Try More than insurance or Norwich Union, they dont seem to worry about the age of the employee, I have anyone over 18 can drive policy

[Steve Chapman]

I've had many people work for me in the past and it's alright doing the theory but in reality it's very hard to  get someone as enthusiastic about the job as you are,  most don't want to work hard, just do the bare minimum. :

i work alone mostly now, but when i get very busy i share the load with another self employed cc and just take a cut for myself,  it really saves all the hassle of employing someone and having to pay them when things go quiet.

regards
steve

[colin thomas]

red, i prefer to work by myself, the last thing i want is to be stacked out with work all of the time, you might think it sad but i don't live to work, i work to live. if i get loads of work and need help, so be it but i prefer to just be constantly busy doing 8.30 'til 4 by myself, if my guy helps me now and again he appreciates the extra money and i like the company, too regular and it could become a chore for me to get the work in and he might slack!!!