[Paul-kent]

Hi

I’m 39 working as a one man band but I want to employ next year, but I was wondering how many vans I would need out working before I could go part time on the tools and concentrate on growing my business.

I have read that it’s around 3-4 vans due to added expenses like vat ect

Thanks Paul

[Lee Pryor]

Its a bit of a "how long is a piece of string question" depends how much money you need to live on month to month ect. For me I was part time on the tools when I had 2, off the tools when I had 3.

[Smudger]

At 3 vans - I went part time - most of our vans have 2 man set-up's so they were more flexible

I expanded the biz into exterior cleaning so we have 4 window cleaning vans and 2 pressure washing vans - I was still going out on large pressure washing jobs unto Jan last year ( roof cleaning - brick restoration works etc.. ) although I hadn't been out on windows  for the last 3 years but illness has meant I have been office/quoting only for just over the year so you can defo run without you being out on the tools at this level

expanding and growing is a big decision - a lot depends on yourself and whether or not you can 'let go' of the I am the only one capable of cleaning to the right standard - good staff are out there you just need to find them

build up your work until you can barely cover it - get in n employee and train them properly - show them quality counts as well as speed then when hopefully all is working as it should get a cheap small van (single set up) put them out on their own - you work "part time on glass" and part time canvassing and build up again until you get to the point of another employee - put these into a 2 man van and you repeat the above after this you should be able to leave the cleaning to staff while you then concentrate on building up work - we work on wages being 20 to 25% of the hourly turnover for regular windows

Darran

[Smudger]

Its a bit of a "how long is a piece of string question" depends how much money you need to live on month to month ect. For me I was part time on the tools when I had 2, off the tools when I had 3.

Hi Lee - how's the Q&A thread going ? 

Darran

[Lee Pryor]

Its a bit of a "how long is a piece of string question" depends how much money you need to live on month to month ect. For me I was part time on the tools when I had 2, off the tools when I had 3.

Hi Lee - how's the Q&A thread going ? 

Darran

lol see for yourself! Im still standing haha

[Smudger]

No Thanks - the wages thread was bad enough

but keep plugging away bringing the good word to the great un washed 

Darran

[Stoots]

I would say 1 van, maybe one full time guy or a full time guy and a helper.... depending on prices/part of country.

80k turnover - 40k in wages and costs

Leaving a pre tax profit of 40k

That might be more than enough for some depending on wants and personal circumstances

My personal goal is 2 vans, 1 full timer in one and me doing 2-3 days a week in the other and covering holidays etc.

[Paul-kent]

Thanks for the replies my plan at the moment is for my wife to set up a Ltd company and for me to work for her as a employee so we can get a true cost of employment and running a Ltd company.

At the moment due to the risks of working alone with ladders to get over fences ect,  I have decided to run two workers  in each van plus I feel it will be easier to cover employee sickness and holiday this way.

Thanks paul

[Arnold Palmer]

Thanks for the replies my plan at the moment is for my wife to set up a Ltd company and for me to work for her as a employee so we can get a true cost of employment and running a Ltd company.

I wouldn't do any of that without speaking to an accountant first.

[Lee Pryor]

Thanks for the replies my plan at the moment is for my wife to set up a Ltd company and for me to work for her as a employee so we can get a true cost of employment and running a Ltd company.

I wouldn't do any of that without speaking to an accountant first.

yep

[Paul-kent]

Thanks for the replies my plan at the moment is for my wife to set up a Ltd company and for me to work for her as a employee so we can get a true cost of employment and running a Ltd company.

I wouldn't do any of that without speaking to an accountant first.

In other words it's going to be a by legal NO then, that's not a problem we will just have to be equal owners instead

I still want to go Ltd though just so we don't have to mess around with changing bank transfer paying customers over later on

[John Mart]

It depends how much you need to earn. For me it was two until VAT hit and a unit cost plus water and a large personal loan l had to take out repaid at £1,000 a month. So then it became three as I returned part time. I’ve got a 300,000 leaflet campaign starting in April so should have 4 by July/August.

[Arnold Palmer]

Thanks for the replies my plan at the moment is for my wife to set up a Ltd company and for me to work for her as a employee so we can get a true cost of employment and running a Ltd company.

I wouldn't do any of that without speaking to an accountant first.

In other words it's going to be a by legal NO then, that's not a problem we will just have to be equal owners instead

I still want to go Ltd though just so we don't have to mess around with changing bank transfer paying customers over later on

Nothing to do with the legal aspect. You might be leading yourself down the wrong, more expensive path with it. For example, my accountant charges 3x more for a ltd company than a sole trader.

Most decent accountants will advise you for free.

[Ooooooog]

Running 4 vans and still on tools. Pick my jobs though. Who wants to be stuck in an office anyways.

[cleaniac]

Still on me tod at the mo.

Currently turning over 55k a year one van 4 days a week.

[Smudger]

Thanks for the replies my plan at the moment is for my wife to set up a Ltd company and for me to work for her as a employee so we can get a true cost of employment and running a Ltd company.

At the moment due to the risks of working alone with ladders to get over fences ect,  I have decided to run two workers  in each van plus I feel it will be easier to cover employee sickness and holiday this way.

Thanks paul

2 in a van is not very efficient - keep it one man one van where possible

Darran

[johnny bravo]

atm  im on a 450 RO because of my low water pressure,  23psi / 1.5 bar.      this has  to be on most days all day.    been advised mt tap pressure is too low for a good 4040 RO setup   so I can produce more pure water for extra work load.

what would my best scenario be  if I took a part timer on  to make sure we have enough pure water to keep up a high work load.  atm  im out 5 days,   a week,     sometimes a sat.   to ease work load.
I do see this as a stumbling spot.
any ideas lee.

my son saw 2 logo d vans out and tells me I have to raise my game.    I rolled my eyes.    There is too much work in my areas now .   I just cannot cope with any more atm  until I get my water production up to a new level
 

[Don Kee]

atm  im on a 450 RO because of my low water pressure,  23psi / 1.5 bar.      this has  to be on most days all day.    been advised mt tap pressure is too low for a good 4040 RO setup   so I can produce more pure water for extra work load.

 

You’re on a 450gpd because your water pressure is too low...?

And you cant use a 4040 because of low tap pressure...?

Whoever is giving you this advice, sack them.

Your best scenario is 4040 with booster pump (in fact a 450gpd with a booster would be better than what you have) although I have no idea what this has to do with the OP’s thread..?

[֍Winp®oClean֍]

I find these threads intriguing, genuinely. There are "talkers" and then "walkers". It seems the talkers keep talking and the walkers keep walking!
My advice would be stop talking and get walking! Stop pondering, stop pretending and activate! I might not like how some people come accross on here but boy I respect the fact that they actually "do" things!!
You and Cleaniac have been wannabe millionaires for god knows how long now?

[robert mitchell]

atm  im on a 450 RO because of my low water pressure,  23psi / 1.5 bar.      this has  to be on most days all day.    been advised mt tap pressure is too low for a good 4040 RO setup   so I can produce more pure water for extra work load.

what would my best scenario be  if I took a part timer on  to make sure we have enough pure water to keep up a high work load.  atm  im out 5 days,   a week,     sometimes a sat.   to ease work load.
I do see this as a stumbling spot.
any ideas lee.

my son saw 2 logo d vans out and tells me I have to raise my game.    I rolled my eyes.    There is too much work in my areas now .   I just cannot cope with any more atm  until I get my water production up to a new level

Don kee is correct , my tap pressure is 20 psi and i run a 30 inch ionics ro and it fills my static tank very quickly with a booster pump , as long as you have at least 5/6 litres per minute of flow you will be able to run a decent sized ro system and easily keep up with your water needs. Its not rocket science.