[geefree]

Hi,

For the past couple of years i have toyed with the idea of going the full hog and driving forward and going from a one man band , to employing someone,
 
I think we all go through this phase of dreaming of having a couple of vans on the road, and  pushing on.??

I have got to the crossroads many times, pull back, level out and carry on, or should i take the huge step and take someone on ?

 Then i sit and think very hard about the figures, the workload, the "will he be able to pay his own wages and make me a profit"....  not to mention the hassle of  tax, holday pay and rainy day syndrome.

Then i sit and think of the profit one man could make and how he would help to expand the business , and so on and so on.....................................

i find it quite easy to generate custom whilst canvassing, so building is not the problem.

The problem is ME !.... ?... i am constantly sat on the fence dreaming.

I am alone , ?  i suspect  its us that sit about dreaming, envy the guys with the" get up and at them "attidude

Still on the fence me  

[Total shine cleaning services]

Go for it and do not allow negativity into your head, you will get responses from others, some will say go for it, others will say tried that won't do it again, last group will say I'm happy going it alone and being stress free, the key element is you as a manager, your work ethic and choice of staff, you won't know until you try..!

Graham

[robertphil]

 iv never regretted employing.  dig a bit into the past of whoever you take on,avoid liars

 dont delay is my tip

[formb]

You sound to me like you are bored. Is managing a window cleaning business the answer for you? No one else can tell you. It is up to you.

[bobplum]

damn....i have "should i stay or should i go" ringing in my head now,.......was it the clash

[roundbuilder]

It will defo cover his wage and tax and expences and a little profit for yourself too depending on how much work you have him doing.
if you dont take the plunge now you will regret it in the future as i can see lots of 1 man band outfits growing into a business in the nrlear future as it is so easy to do with wfp on the market! Sky is the limit gazza my old son!!.

[windiewasher]

Ive done it gazza.my bloke starts tommorow otherwise i would just plod along..
Ive done it to really push forward.
Every month im further and further behind and losing 100s if not thousands each month.
I will get that done and take on more custys.

[geefree]

Thanks for some inspirational advice guys,

Soapy i aint bored, im just asking a civil question about expanding, i know i can run the business , just wanting to know the experiences of others in our line of work.

[PoleKing]

Each to their own.
Personally I like having the lads that work for me subbed.
I (on purpose) stay below the vat limit. It wouldn't be worth my while taking on someone unless I could sail past that. And I don't want to.
If you do though, all the best with it.

[formb]

I was not trying to be uncivil and I apologize if I came across that way. Most people that clean windows will get bored from time to time, part of the job I would have thought. That is the main reason we run in squads of 2. Breaks up the monotony of it.

I employ. I hate it. It's the best thing I've ever done.

Go for it it'll be the best thing you ever did. You'll hate it.

[windiewasher]

I was not trying to be uncivil and I apologize if I came across that way. Most people that clean windows will get bored from time to time, part of the job I would have thought. That is the main reason we run in squads of 2. Breaks up the monotony of it.

I employ. I hate it. It's the best thing I've ever done.

Go for it it'll be the best thing you ever did. You'll hate it.

I agree,window cleaning bores me but earns me a living and that is the main reason for employing someone.

[roundbuilder]

I was not trying to be uncivil and I apologize if I came across that way. Most people that clean windows will get bored from time to time, part of the job I would have thought. That is the main reason we run in squads of 2. Breaks up the monotony of it.

I employ. I hate it. It's the best thing I've ever done.

Go for it it'll be the best thing you ever did. You'll hate it.

I get where your coming from.. Employing opens a new can of worms and adds a bit of excitement into the unknown.. Especialy when you first take the plunge..

[robertphil]

employ 2 parttimers rather than 1 fulltimer .  that way you dont mind if 1 goes sick or has a holiday .  also if one is a slacker you can get rid straight away rather than muddle on with somebody who is bad for your business . i have 3 parttimers ,each do 3 or 4 days a week

[Neil Jones]

I was not trying to be uncivil and I apologize if I came across that way. Most people that clean windows will get bored from time to time, part of the job I would have thought. That is the main reason we run in squads of 2. Breaks up the monotony of it.

I employ. I hate it. It's the best thing I've ever done.

Go for it it'll be the best thing you ever did. You'll hate it.

I think above is the most fitting sentence I've ever read. I'm in the same situation although I don't clean windows, I've taken on another cleaner, bought another van and using someone to push the business forward from the office. It's only just happened and at the moment I'm skint but hoping it will pay off in the long run. If I wouldn't have done it then I'd always have wondered, what if...

[A & J Owen Window Cleaning]

hi mate well if you can get the customer base over 500 then its time to have a extra van on the road. choosing a partner in the business is tricky but if there is a mate who is wants to join you then its a the way forward. draw up  a binding  contract to finalise things though