[paulben]

I now work on a 5 week cycle try and do all work in 4 on 5th week catch up gutter cleans etc and go away in caravan beats working for someone else

[Smudger]

Then you employ...!


Darran

[Perfect Windows]

I don't see the point of having an over full round.

Why?  Well, let's take a simple example.  The numbers themselves are irrelevant; it's the principle that matters.  Assume ten houses a day, no holidays, etc.

1. You do a four week round and you have 200 customers so you're always on time.  You can clean 10 houses a day and you earn £100 from them, so £500 a week for 52 weeks a year so £26,000 turnover.

2. You do a four week round but you have 400 customers so you actually get round in eight weeks.  You can clean 10 houses a day and you earn £100 from them, so £500 a week for 52 weeks a year so £26,000 turnover.

I'll accept that's simplified but you get the point.  In case one you're happy, your customers are happy.  In case two, you're constantly under strain and apologising to all and sundry for being late.  And all for no financial gain on your behalf.

Seems obvious to me.

Vin

[dazmond]

i agree vin.i have 300+ customers and very rarely get behind.maybe a day or two in winter or occasionally a week or two(xmas,summer holidays or prolonged extreme weather).most work is 4 weekly.

i usually get a few days off at the end of the month,sometimes a week before im back at it again.if your constantly behind by 3 or 4 weeks then the windows are dirtier,customers moaning etc and your not earning any more than if you had a third less customers.

ive sold work on before now when i had too much work to keep to my schedule.so i made money on selling on customers and got round on time so i didnt lose out earnings wise.in fact it left a little space for taking on higher paying work.

and so it continues.constantly refining work,fine tuning it over months and years to a manageable profitable round.

of course if your bursting at the seams and cant cope then employing is the way forward if your want to expand but for a sole trader its all about fine tuning the work you ve got and can manage without burning yourself out day in/day out IMO.

regards



dazmond

[NWH]

I have never managed to catch fully up to date with all my work ever I'm always a couple of weeks behind,my work is 6 weekly 8 weekly or 3 monthly. I've always taken on to much for that reason if your late more often than not you'll here them say I was just thinking you must be due,there's nothing worse than seeing peoples faces when your early and they know you are lol it's  like sucking a lemon getting out the van waiting for the old you were only hear a few weeks ago.

[8weekly]

I don't see the point of having an over full round.

Why?  Well, let's take a simple example.  The numbers themselves are irrelevant; it's the principle that matters.  Assume ten houses a day, no holidays, etc.

1. You do a four week round and you have 200 customers so you're always on time.  You can clean 10 houses a day and you earn £100 from them, so £500 a week for 52 weeks a year so £26,000 turnover.

2. You do a four week round but you have 400 customers so you actually get round in eight weeks.  You can clean 10 houses a day and you earn £100 from them, so £500 a week for 52 weeks a year so £26,000 turnover.

I'll accept that's simplified but you get the point.  In case one you're happy, your customers are happy.  In case two, you're constantly under strain and apologising to all and sundry for being late.  And all for no financial gain on your behalf.

Seems obvious to me.

Vin

In my case it's because when I take someone on (very soon) I don't want to run out of work too quickly. I am two weeks behind and that gives me two week's work in hand to catch up over a few weeks.

[NWH]

Anyone even thinking of taking someone on full time will needs loads more work,from a full house on your own to a front and a side of a house over night will enable you to fly through the work.think how much time and energy it will save especially if your sending him round the backs lol

[Perfect Windows]

I don't see the point of having an over full round.

Why?  Well, let's take a simple example.  The numbers themselves are irrelevant; it's the principle that matters.  Assume ten houses a day, no holidays, etc.

1. You do a four week round and you have 200 customers so you're always on time.  You can clean 10 houses a day and you earn £100 from them, so £500 a week for 52 weeks a year so £26,000 turnover.

2. You do a four week round but you have 400 customers so you actually get round in eight weeks.  You can clean 10 houses a day and you earn £100 from them, so £500 a week for 52 weeks a year so £26,000 turnover.

I'll accept that's simplified but you get the point.  In case one you're happy, your customers are happy.  In case two, you're constantly under strain and apologising to all and sundry for being late.  And all for no financial gain on your behalf.

Seems obvious to me.

Vin

In my case it's because when I take someone on (very soon) I don't want to run out of work too quickly. I am two weeks behind and that gives me two week's work in hand to catch up over a few weeks.

Agree - if you're expanding, it makes sense.  And it makes us an odd industry, whereby you can give up that couple of weeks' work and not see your earnings drop.

Vin

[Smudger]

I have never managed to catch fully up to date with all my work ever I'm always a couple of weeks behind,my work is 6 weekly 8 weekly or 3 monthly. I've always taken on to much for that reason if your late more often than not you'll here them say I was just thinking you must be due

In many case they go, that windy is unreliable, let's try another 


   Re: Catching up?
« Reply #26 on: Today at 05:56:07 pm »   Reply with quote
Anyone even thinking of taking someone on full time will needs loads more work,from a full house on your own to a front and a side of a house over night will enable you to fly through the work.think how much time and energy it will save especially if your sending him round the backs lol

You need to be full, but remember that it takes time to find the right guy and train them up

Darran

[NWH]

I have never managed to catch fully up to date with all my work ever I'm always a couple of weeks behind,my work is 6 weekly 8 weekly or 3 monthly. I've always taken on to much for that reason if your late more often than not you'll here them say I was just thinking you must be due

In many case they go, that windy is unreliable, let's try another 


   Re: Catching up?
« Reply #26 on: Today at 05:56:07 pm »   Reply with quote
Anyone even thinking of taking someone on full time will needs loads more work,from a full house on your own to a front and a side of a house over night will enable you to fly through the work.think how much time and energy it will save especially if your sending him round the backs lol

You need to be full, but remember that it takes time to find the right guy and train them up

Darran