[Tom-01]

Hi guys

For those who employ, what are the pro's and cons?

What demographic of person is best suited?  I'm thinking someone who needs the stability, who has a bit of responsibility, mortgage or rent to pay etc.

Do you pay a straight salary? Or a lower salary with targeted earnings, building in quality control related bonuses?

Do you have set start times and finish times each day? Scheduled breaks etc?

Thanks
Tom

[wayne m]

I’ve had two blokes work for me at the same time and nothing but hassle and letting me down, that’s after I had numerous blokes before but it’s hard to find a decent reliable hardworking  and trusting bloke. I was paying £10 an hour doing 8 hour days so ok not huge amounts but definitely more than a factory job. I have now gone full circle and downsized and sold work and work alone again with very little stress. You might be lucky and find one of the few decent workers out there and be all good and reliable but I’ve learnt for me staying on my own is much better albeit a little boring but that’s what AirPods and podcasts are for.

[Stoots]

Pro

Earn more money and/or work less

Con

Ballache

[Dry Clean]

Pro's able to take on commercial work and other bigger jobs that one man would find too much to handle.
Pro's, having an employee can give you extra motivation if needed.
Con's,  by the time you pay a decent wage which in my opinion is needed in order to get a decent employee, plus expenses there's not a lot of profit left on the labour alone.

[Ooooooog]

Ask yourself where your business wants to be in a few years.
If you can earn £300 a day cleaning windows on your own and that’s enough for you, stick to it.
If you want to build something that will bring in a wage in retirement, then start employing.
Be prepared to learn as you grow.
It’s very stressful.

[Arnold Palmer]

I've employed many people over the last 20 years. Unfortunately I can't facilitate you with a magic formula for how to make it work.

People say: don't employ friends and family. My old man and me have been partners for nearly 30 years (our first business was a video shop when I was 13 (glad I got out of that game)) and my best friend since I was 5; was my highest earner and is now my general manager, he's worked for the company longer than I have ( 21 years for him, 20 for me ).

I currently have 16 employees, ages 18 - 50 some married with kids, some still at home with mum, some still at home with mum when they started and now married with kids.

A planned and robust recruitment process helps. I've got pretty good at interviews which I used to detest. Our newest employee is a guy I knew at school, he got the job because in the interview he said: I'm sick of driving jobs, who piss you off as soon as there's any shortage of work and I see lads working for you year after year....

I pay minimum wage 37.5 hours per week. Every week, then a monthly performance bonus.  I try to be as laid back and flexible as possible. I keep an eye on targets and timesheets, if someone is not pulling their weight it's discussed in our weekly meeting, where everyone is given a chance to voice their opinion.

I don't earn huge amounts of money (yet), I'll bet many of you walk away with more money in your pocket than I do at the end of the month. What I do have is a long term plan and the security of knowing that if there's something that happens I'm financially stable, the business is not reliant on me.

[AuRavelling79]

I have only ever employed one person - my son -in law from 2011 until 2015 when we came to an agreement where he bought about 2K of work off of me and we went separately. We had and have an amicable relationship.

I paid him for 32 guaranteed hours per week at £10 per hour, let him use the old van from 2012 until he finished but he worked with me out of my van and his van was used for gutter vac gear and generator.

I also paid him bonuses of £100 per month for getting all the work done on schedule and a further quarterly bonus of an extra £100 if the quarter's work got completed on schedule.

He got paid holidays and had private use of the van.

If I was doing it now I would do similar but probably pay £12.50 per hour with slightly higher targets and bonuses.

[Arnold Palmer]

I have only ever employed one person - my son -in law from 2011 until 2015 when we came to an agreement where he bought about 2K of work off of me and we went separately. We had and have an amicable relationship.

I paid him for 32 guaranteed hours per week at £10 per hour, let him use the old van from 2012 until he finished but he worked with me out of my van and his van was used for gutter vac gear and generator.

I also paid him bonuses of £100 per month for getting all the work done on schedule and a further quarterly bonus of an extra £100 if the quarter's work got completed on schedule.

He got paid holidays and had private use of the van.

If I was doing it now I would do similar but probably pay £12.50 per hour with slightly higher targets and bonuses.

Tightwad.

[dazmond]

I've employed many people over the last 20 years. Unfortunately I can't facilitate you with a magic formula for how to make it work.

People say: don't employ friends and family. My old man and me have been partners for nearly 30 years (our first business was a video shop when I was 13 (glad I got out of that game)) and my best friend since I was 5; was my highest earner and is now my general manager, he's worked for the company longer than I have ( 21 years for him, 20 for me ).

I currently have 16 employees, ages 18 - 50 some married with kids, some still at home with mum, some still at home with mum when they started and now married with kids.

A planned and robust recruitment process helps. I've got pretty good at interviews which I used to detest. Our newest employee is a guy I knew at school, he got the job because in the interview he said: I'm sick of driving jobs, who piss you off as soon as there's any shortage of work and I see lads working for you year after year....

I pay minimum wage 37.5 hours per week. Every week, then a monthly performance bonus.  I try to be as laid back and flexible as possible. I keep an eye on targets and timesheets, if someone is not pulling their weight it's discussed in our weekly meeting, where everyone is given a chance to voice their opinion.

I don't earn huge amounts of money (yet), I'll bet many of you walk away with more money in your pocket than I do at the end of the month. What I do have is a long term plan and the security of knowing that if there's something that happens I'm financially stable, the business is not reliant on me.

Really? 

You ve got 16 people working for you and you don't have as much profit left over as a one man band?I think you must be pulling our leg mate.......

Something does add up.....literally!

[Dry Clean]

I've employed many people over the last 20 years. Unfortunately I can't facilitate you with a magic formula for how to make it work.

People say: don't employ friends and family. My old man and me have been partners for nearly 30 years (our first business was a video shop when I was 13 (glad I got out of that game)) and my best friend since I was 5; was my highest earner and is now my general manager, he's worked for the company longer than I have ( 21 years for him, 20 for me ).

I currently have 16 employees, ages 18 - 50 some married with kids, some still at home with mum, some still at home with mum when they started and now married with kids.

A planned and robust recruitment process helps. I've got pretty good at interviews which I used to detest. Our newest employee is a guy I knew at school, he got the job because in the interview he said: I'm sick of driving jobs, who piss you off as soon as there's any shortage of work and I see lads working for you year after year....

I pay minimum wage 37.5 hours per week. Every week, then a monthly performance bonus.  I try to be as laid back and flexible as possible. I keep an eye on targets and timesheets, if someone is not pulling their weight it's discussed in our weekly meeting, where everyone is given a chance to voice their opinion.

I don't earn huge amounts of money (yet), I'll bet many of you walk away with more money in your pocket than I do at the end of the month. What I do have is a long term plan and the security of knowing that if there's something that happens I'm financially stable, the business is not reliant on me.

Really? 

You ve got 16 people working for you and you don't have as much profit left over as a one man band?I think you must be pulling our leg mate.......

Something does add up.....literally!

That's because you listen to too much BS on here, think how much you would have left from your turnover if you had to pay an employee a decent wage plus costs, you would be lucky to have between £5k and £10k left over, remember there are one man bands on here turning over £100k a year.

[Shrek]

I've employed many people over the last 20 years. Unfortunately I can't facilitate you with a magic formula for how to make it work.

People say: don't employ friends and family. My old man and me have been partners for nearly 30 years (our first business was a video shop when I was 13 (glad I got out of that game)) and my best friend since I was 5; was my highest earner and is now my general manager, he's worked for the company longer than I have ( 21 years for him, 20 for me ).

I currently have 16 employees, ages 18 - 50 some married with kids, some still at home with mum, some still at home with mum when they started and now married with kids.

A planned and robust recruitment process helps. I've got pretty good at interviews which I used to detest. Our newest employee is a guy I knew at school, he got the job because in the interview he said: I'm sick of driving jobs, who piss you off as soon as there's any shortage of work and I see lads working for you year after year....

I pay minimum wage 37.5 hours per week. Every week, then a monthly performance bonus.  I try to be as laid back and flexible as possible. I keep an eye on targets and timesheets, if someone is not pulling their weight it's discussed in our weekly meeting, where everyone is given a chance to voice their opinion.

I don't earn huge amounts of money (yet), I'll bet many of you walk away with more money in your pocket than I do at the end of the month. What I do have is a long term plan and the security of knowing that if there's something that happens I'm financially stable, the business is not reliant on me.

Really? 

You ve got 16 people working for you and you don't have as much profit left over as a one man band?I think you must be pulling our leg mate.......

Something does add up.....literally!

That's because you listen to too much BS on here, think how much you would have left from your turnover if you had to pay an employee a decent wage plus costs, you would be lucky to have between £5k and £10k left over, remember there are one man bands on here turning over £100k a year.

....16 x £5k.... sounds like more money than most 1 man bands 🤔

[Arnold Palmer]

Profit isn't always money in your pocket. Like I said, it's long term thinking. How many one man bands have mortgage payments effecting their bottom line? Also, I don't have 16 window cleaners, I have 16 employees. Some of them are a straight up overhead.

Maybe I do have more money than some but it isn't as much as you might think.

[Arnold Palmer]

Anyway, the money is irrelevant. The thread is about employing people.

[Dry Clean]

I've employed many people over the last 20 years. Unfortunately I can't facilitate you with a magic formula for how to make it work.

People say: don't employ friends and family. My old man and me have been partners for nearly 30 years (our first business was a video shop when I was 13 (glad I got out of that game)) and my best friend since I was 5; was my highest earner and is now my general manager, he's worked for the company longer than I have ( 21 years for him, 20 for me ).

I currently have 16 employees, ages 18 - 50 some married with kids, some still at home with mum, some still at home with mum when they started and now married with kids.

A planned and robust recruitment process helps. I've got pretty good at interviews which I used to detest. Our newest employee is a guy I knew at school, he got the job because in the interview he said: I'm sick of driving jobs, who piss you off as soon as there's any shortage of work and I see lads working for you year after year....

I pay minimum wage 37.5 hours per week. Every week, then a monthly performance bonus.  I try to be as laid back and flexible as possible. I keep an eye on targets and timesheets, if someone is not pulling their weight it's discussed in our weekly meeting, where everyone is given a chance to voice their opinion.

I don't earn huge amounts of money (yet), I'll bet many of you walk away with more money in your pocket than I do at the end of the month. What I do have is a long term plan and the security of knowing that if there's something that happens I'm financially stable, the business is not reliant on me.

Really? 

You ve got 16 people working for you and you don't have as much profit left over as a one man band?I think you must be pulling our leg mate.......

Something does add up.....literally!

That's because you listen to too much BS on here, think how much you would have left from your turnover if you had to pay an employee a decent wage plus costs, you would be lucky to have between £5k and £10k left over, remember there are one man bands on here turning over £100k a year.

....16 x £5k.... sounds like more money than most 1 man bands 🤔

Its only £80k (I say only lol) when you think of what some on here claim to be earning on their own its not a lot, that said I suspect Soupy would be getting more than that but as he said not as much a some would think.

[Smudger]

Well said Boris ( Soupy ) - very relevant posts !

One of the best questions to ask - Am I the right sort of person to employ.

Some people are, many are not

employing brings different problems and challenges - no more so than sone of the days working on the glass, if your employing then you need to move away from the tools

like myself I was taken ill last year - and still can not to physical work - but with employees the biz chugs on

I built up the biz as I have no decent pension =, so when ready I can still have an income or sell off for something (hopefully) obscenely large amount of dosh 

as already mentioned - its not all about cash

Darran

[Stoots]

Sell said Boris ( Soupy ) - very relevant posts !

One of the best questions to ask - Am I the right sort of person to employ.

Some people are, many are not

employing brings different problems and challenges - no more so than sone of the days working on the glass, if your employing then you need to move away from the tools

like myself I was taken ill last year - and still can not to physical work - but with employees the biz chugs on

I built up the biz as I have no decent pension =, so when ready I can still have an income or sell off for something (hopefully) obscenely large amount of dosh 

as already mentioned - its not all about cash

Darran

This is the type of information that makes me what to keep pushing on and trying to grow/employ.

It has/does drive me nuts trying to find staff etc but you have to think long term

Its easy to think (at 37) I'll just stay on my own and just keep ticking along with no stress and just work forever.

BUT the though of being 57 in the same position, still working, no pension etc fills me with dread which is why it is absolutely imperative that I make it work.

Or at least have a plan, if it's not growing a window cleaning business then maybe property or something else entirely.

[Klean07]

I've recently taken my first employee on who is a family member by marriage and a former long distance lorry driver aged 39! So far so good he's taken to it like a duck to water and has already bought in some new business. The big test though is from tomorrow whilst I'm away on holiday. It'll be nice to have an income coming in whilst I'm not there.
Happy days hopefully!

[dazmond]

I've recently taken my first employee on who is a family member by marriage and a former long distance lorry driver aged 39! So far so good he's taken to it like a duck to water and has already bought in some new business. The big test though is from tomorrow whilst I'm away on holiday. It'll be nice to have an income coming in whilst I'm not there.
Happy days hopefully!

You ll have no round left after 6 months.......he ll take the lot.......

[Klean07]

I'll take my chances

[nathankaye]

I've tried in the past to employ, but I'm not the right person to do so, it drives me nuts!
I also wouldn't trust them to work alone and not to declare new work and they would eventually build their own work up whilst I pay them a wage.  So nope, I don't wish for the hassle n stress of employing, nor the fact of building work up, only to pay the needed expense of employing someone.