[dave f]

I had a visit from my son the other day showing a bit of interest about window cleaning the thing is every body says don't employ family as I am a on my own I don't have a clue about employing nor have I enough work at the moment my son works as a chef but with a young family its a mighty risk he only gets 30hrs a week at his place of work.so he wants to supplement his work with some thing else .how ever his working hours are irregular so to fit window cleaning to his hours is going to be difficult  I have suggested that if we get some week end work which has got to be decent priced work to start with work from there so he can learn the ropes I will then give him the work we have got plus a few I want to get rid of  I am in the prosses of getting a new van and set up any way so  he can have my old van. any advice most welcome

[Arnold Palmer]

I've worked with family (and friends) for nearly 20 years. I ain't going to BS you and say there are never any problems but we get on reasonably well most of the time.

My dad had been cleaning windows for 5 years or so when I started. He was at the stage he was employing but his round had gotten too big for him and his employee to cover. It was split in half and we grew it from there.

[Smudger]

I worked for my brother for 5 years - it all ended in tears ( and not work related ) while most of the time it was good when its bad it's really bad !!

Then I employed father in law - family politics just get in the way of the working day

Darran

[dave f]

the thing I am trying to do for him is to get him started  small scale se how he gets on  I don't  want to take on full time .he may find its not for him long term ,so winter time  may sort him out

[Matt.]

As says above, there will be issues with family matters, I have employed both my brothers an sister an let them go through family issues, but my daughter have ran the cleaning side of it for years with no probs. 

Just get him out with u and start training him up, take it from there

[dave f]

at the minuet  its just talk so we need to put the cards on the table and se what happens I am going to get him to have a look on this site to get an idea of the pit falls  .etc

[Arnold Palmer]

I am going to get him to have a look on this site to get an idea of the pit falls

[Tom White]

I work with Wor Lass.  We also have a similar hobby where we spend time together too.

My life is a living hell.

[Smurf]

Why not as a trial take your son  out with you and give him bit of training and see what he thinks of the job first.
If he is still keen to make a bit of money in his spare time as a self employed person just lend him your old van etc to get him started. Rather than trying to build a window cleaning round at first he could take on one-off's and add-on stuff you don't want to do and fit it in around his work commitments weekends etc.

Myself I would concentrate on more profitable ad-hoc exterior property cleaning rather than just window cleaning but that’s just me.

[Arnold Palmer]

I work with Wor Lass.  We also have a similar hobby where we spend time together too.

My wife was getting fed up of her old job and asked if she could come and work for me. Absolutely no modded chance. I mean, she's great and everything but modded that. She's started up her own business now, thank modded.

My life is a living hell.

Had you thought about regular exercise? Apparently that can make you happier.

[Tom White]

Had you thought about regular exercise? Apparently that can make you happier.

Biologically younger too, those clever science people say.

But no, not me, it's bad for your back.

[andyM]

I think dave f is a bit slow on the uptake here.
If it were me I would get him to practice his technique on my house windows on a regular basis, which would save me having to do it.
Effortless and Free window cleaning....what's not to like?

[Susan Dean (1stclean)]

I employed all my kids but was lucky to be trained buy my farther and he was a hard guy to get on with , if your going to make it work you do what I did and tell them from the off , that you expect them too work harder and better then any employee would and if they start there fun and games you will sack them quicker then you would a normal guy off the street !

it worked well for my two girls they now have a hair saloon each because they towed the line , my son got sacked by his dad three weeks in to the job because he was never off his phone and has got northing to his name hes learning the hard way and me and his dad just stand by and watch him struggle because you have too or he will never learn

if your not this strong then don't go there

[Arnold Palmer]

I employed all my kids but was lucky to be trained buy my farther and he was a hard guy to get on with , if your going to make it work you do what I did and tell them from the off , that you expect them too work harder and better then any employee would and if they start there fun and games you will sack them quicker then you would a normal guy off the street !

it worked well for my two girls they now have a hair saloon each because they towed the line , my son got sacked by his dad three weeks in to the job because he was never off his phone and has got northing to his name hes learning the hard way and me and his dad just stand by and watch him struggle because you have too or he will never learn

if your not this strong then don't go there

Ha ha. True. I never got the sack, my phone went in a bucket of water, I've had my earphone wires snipped and my smokes crushed and chucked in the bin. And trust me, I was the hardest working employee!

Good thing about employing family it's difficult for them to take you to a tribunal I suppose.