[jlo]

Hi Everyone,

MY wife started her own cleaning Business 2.5 yrs ago which she fits around looking after our 3 yr old.
We would like to expand the business in respect of taking someone on as she turns work down from time to time, due to family commitments.
The concerns are, if we take someone on & therefore extra work & the new cleaner lets us down we may struggle to cover the job if my wife is looking after junior.
We don't want to wait a few yrs until our son is at school, there must be people who have successfully expanded from part -time with family commitments out there?

Furthermore, I am confused, If we are charging around £11 per hour domestic & pay about £7 per hour to new cleaner would they expect holiday pay etc aswell as this would turn a small profit to a non-existant one!

Any tips or advice would be greatfully received.

Thanks in Advance

 

[*Chris Browne]

Have a look at the business link site, i found them very helpfull when i started up.

http://www.businesslink.gov.uk

Chris

[kuiwik]

If you want to take staff on doing domestics you need really have 2 people working full time with a set 'run' of houses, having 1 staff member only doing part time domestics will drive you up the wall and not make you anything really. after paying public liabilty induance employers liability insurance cleaning materials etc etc you really will be left with nothing.
i made the change like you are about to do 5 yrs ago and what i believe you need to do is take on some small regular cleaning jobs like offices or similar to bring in regular income, just doing domestics will not bring in enough unless you have plenty of them.
working by yourself at the start is great as all the money comes straight to you after expenses but once you start employing costs go up and margins and workload are your biggest goals.
You really need to take a bigger step than just 1 part timer, or just keep it for yourself.
hope this helps.
karl

[Joe H]

Furthermore, I am confused, If we are charging around £11 per hour domestic & pay about £7 per hour to new cleaner would they expect holiday pay etc aswell as this would turn a small profit to a non-existant one!

Even part timers are now entitled to 24 days paid leave per year, and going up in near future.