[geefree]

Hi Gazzasp8..long time no speaks....

The aim is to remain a one-man band...I would like about 10k more work per year and that would leave us comfortable and able to save...

Currently I have 6 weeks work out of 8 and and a number of half days off during the 1st 6 week period ...must admit I like it like this....

Would like to persue something else in the 'off 2 weeks'...perhaps soemthing that helps others...bit of volunteer type work...what I am not sure.

There simply has to be more than working all day, every day for the buck.

Cheers
Dave.

GOOD TO HEAR FROM YOU DAVE, WE BOTH STARTED AT THE SAME TIME..oops... and shared a lot of the start up problems together ,

good to know you still at it and making it work.

good luck with your ambitions.

Gary.

[geefree]

What are your ambitions Gazza?

Well,.. first i want to build a comfortable round..( think thats ok now,).... then i want to take it forward, and employ someone , part-time... then another part time. and take it from there.... my goal is simply to be successful at this,

and there ara  so many variations of success, in different individuals that , what i may class as success, others may not.

if you know what i mean.

[see clear lee]

been going 10 yrs now, working for 3 days a week for the past 5yrs.....work to live not live to work and all that........ always able to get work done in britains weather situation......no stress

[bluez]

6 figure income 20 hours a week work.

My problem with a comfortable round, what next wheres the challenge, wheres the satisfaction?



 

[matt]

ive achieved the "Just to build yourself a comfortable round"


so i guess i have no other ambition to do with work, that just might be my problem

[Ian Lancaster]

For close on 40 years I was (almost) content with a full round - enough work to give me a comfortable income and the security of knowing I could weather recessions, bad winters etc.

A couple of years ago I suddenly realised I was getting near retirement age, and although I've been paying in to a private pension fund for umpteen years, there won't be enough money to live in the lap of luxury once I stopped working "on the tools" - in fact there won't be enough money to stop working

So I worked out an "emergency" business plan.  I decided the only way I was going to achieve a reasonably comfortable retirement was to have a minimum of 6 people out there working, and providing me with an income.

As lots of you have stated, employing is a nightmare - been there etc....

Currently I have 3 franchisees, all working well, earning themselves a good living and paying me a royalty fee (which is much less than they would be "paying" if they were employees - i.e. the proportion of their wages to the amount of income they would generate for their employer).  I've just appointed the fourth who will be starting after he's had his hols.

Originally the plan was to appoint one every six months.  I'm a little behind schedule, but I'll get there.

There you are: that's my ambition described in detail.

RETIREMENT

[LSB]

i voted empire building , and im on my way , ( still a long way to go )

however , i have also ' had enough of window cleaning '

[mark dew]

i do like the idea of building an empire, but the trouble with that is it would mean living the business for a good few years. And i'm not prepared at this stage to do that.
At the moment i want to build a comfortable round that also improves my hourly rate. I am in my 5th year now and there are many (if not most) aspects of the work i could do with my kit, that i know very little or or nothing about. And i want to learn more about window cleaning prices before i put my efforts into larger, higher end work.
So i'm happy building myself a nice little round, acquiring (slowly) the tools, the knowledge, the website, stationary and training.
When i have all this in place i will probably look again at how i can improve things..

 

[windowwashers]

after employing one,two three that can be a nightmare and going back to square one is a kick in the teeth more than once it hurts and gets you very down, I voted build empire, and this is not just window cleaning as I like more baskets and more eggs. Employing is not as easy as some would make out trust me I have done it and still do. Takes a lot of thinking and planning and your staff are key to this, wages to them are more important than anything else.

[NWH]

For close on 40 years I was (almost) content with a full round - enough work to give me a comfortable income and the security of knowing I could weather recessions, bad winters etc.

A couple of years ago I suddenly realised I was getting near retirement age, and although I've been paying in to a private pension fund for umpteen years, there won't be enough money to live in the lap of luxury once I stopped working "on the tools" - in fact there won't be enough money to stop working

So I worked out an "emergency" business plan.  I decided the only way I was going to achieve a reasonably comfortable retirement was to have a minimum of 6 people out there working, and providing me with an income.

As lots of you have stated, employing is a nightmare - been there etc....

Currently I have 3 franchisees, all working well, earning themselves a good living and paying me a royalty fee (which is much less than they would be "paying" if they were employees - i.e. the proportion of their wages to the amount of income they would generate for their employer).  I've just appointed the fourth who will be starting after he's had his hols.

Originally the plan was to appoint one every six months.  I'm a little behind schedule, but I'll get there.

There you are: that's my ambition described in detail.

RETIREMENT

Ian how do you work the fee they give you out of interest.

[alanwilson]

Had enough of employing people to do window cleaning that's for sure.
If you put all the brain cells of the last 5 to work for me you'd be lucky to generate enough intelligence to strike a match

I have to say we have been really fortunate with our guys - they have been with us for a few years (4 or 5) and no problems,ever.  I can happily leave them for weeks at a time if I want, money never goes missing, I have told both of them that if they are out working and want to take £10 or so for lunch then its no problem - they always bring a packed lunch though.

Gave both our guys a pay rise 3 weeks ago of £220 a month, between the 2 of them they brought in nearly £900 of new work in the last year and I wanted to reward them for it.  

[NWH]

Had enough of employing people to do window cleaning that's for sure.
If you put all the brain cells of the last 5 to work for me you'd be lucky to generate enough intelligence to strike a match

I have to say we have been really fortunate with our guys - they have been with us for a few years (4 or 5) and no problems,ever.  I can happily leave them for weeks at a time if I want, money never goes missing, I have told both of them that if they are out working and want to take £10 or so for lunch then its no problem - they always bring a packed lunch though.

Gave both our guys a pay rise 3 weeks ago of £220 a month, between the 2 of them they brought in nearly £900 of new work in the last year and I wanted to reward them for it.  

Which method works best for you regarding paying them.

[windowwashers]

Had enough of employing people to do window cleaning that's for sure.
If you put all the brain cells of the last 5 to work for me you'd be lucky to generate enough intelligence to strike a match

I have to say we have been really fortunate with our guys - they have been with us for a few years (4 or 5) and no problems,ever.  I can happily leave them for weeks at a time if I want, money never goes missing, I have told both of them that if they are out working and want to take £10 or so for lunch then its no problem - they always bring a packed lunch though.

Gave both our guys a pay rise 3 weeks ago of £220 a month, between the 2 of them they brought in nearly £900 of new work in the last year and I wanted to reward them for it.  

Which method works best for you regarding paying them.

Bacs, or cheque on work complete

[Clive McDonald]

ha ha, he means hourly rate or paid on work done.

What's brilliant about Ians scheme is that this empire avoids Vat, and therefore has a 20% edge over a similar sized conventionaly structured biz. It does however have the economies of scale, shared advertising, and Ian's head office backup and strategy.

Get all six viaing to be the top boy, and if they are ever stupid enought to want out he will buy back. It's a masterstroke Ian and I'm a bit jealous, but after forty years I think you're entitled.

[Clive McDonald]

And their's one other thing as a business (assuming this works) it has a huge stand alone value, which at some point in the future Ian could cash in either by selling the biz to one or more franchisee's, or a third party.
'

[Dale Smith]

For me its the comfortable round scenario....
Only want to be busy nearly everyday, that would be great.
We are getting there, but still need more 

[clear-view]

I wont be happy till im earning £5 million a year from window cleaning

[alanwilson]

my guys are on an hourly rate - the £220 bonus is dependant on their completing 36hrs per week - in other words they received a pay rise of £1.41 per hour.

[Ian Lancaster]

Ian how do you work the fee they give you out of interest.

Not sure I understand the question.

In all franchises the franchisee pays a regular fee, usually a percentage of his turnover, in return for management services, and the right to continue trading under the franchisors business name etc.

I provide my franchisees with all the work they require, and I charge a franchise fee of 20%

As part of the service, we maintain records of work done, etc.  Provide weekly print outs of work due to be done, supply pure water, carry spares of all necessary equipment, maintain a spare van in case of breakdowns and so on.  Spares can be bought from us "of the shelf" when required, the van is available at an agreed rental rate, and help and advice is available at all times.

[Helen]

my guys are on an hourly rate - the £220 bonus is dependant on their completing 36hrs per week - in other words they received a pay rise of £1.41 per hour.

Alan out of interest what hourly rate were they on before the £1.41 rise.