[Roland S]

hi

i currently work alone and but desperately need to take someone on as i'm far too busy to cope any longer. it's mainly gutters and pressure washing. it seems like a big step employing someone what with pensions etc.

what has anyone else done when they were small but needed expand and take on staff - self employed basis, franchise or full employed? and do you do basic pay or profit share? And do you supply van and tools etc?

any advice appreciated

[Rizwan Mo]

Ever thought about outsourcing the work and getting paid partial profits. Saves you investing in all equipment and machinery and I'm sure someone who has less work on would be happy to work it and sort some kind of payment to yourself.

I have outsourced gutter cleans to others and still recieved payment for it.

[Smudger]

its a big step - and its also a two way thing  (IMO) you need to be able to manage, lead and set n example for quality of work - speed - customer service - attitude etc...

before employing I got the work to a good level every day - then add ons for the early evenings ( summer time ). the I employed full time on the books - after a few weeks we were finishing early afternoon - so I could canvass more and bring in new work while the lad went out for soffit, fascia gutter work etc..   six months later I had to do the whole thing again for the next new guy - with the added complication of another van  - 6 years later I have 5 full timers - one part timer and an ad hoc guy for emergencies

start by giving them a 2 week trial (paid). then a zero hours contract for six months then if all is well 30 hr a week contract

Darran

[Kev Martin]

its a big step - and its also a two way thing  (IMO) you need to be able to manage, lead and set n example for quality of work - speed - customer service - attitude etc...

before employing I got the work to a good level every day - then add ons for the early evenings ( summer time ). the I employed full time on the books - after a few weeks we were finishing early afternoon - so I could canvass more and bring in new work while the lad went out for soffit, fascia gutter work etc..   six months later I had to do the whole thing again for the next new guy - with the added complication of another van  - 6 years later I have 5 full timers - one part timer and an ad hoc guy for emergencies

start by giving them a 2 week trial (paid). then a zero hours contract for six months then if all is well 30 hr a week contract

Darran

Great advice

[Roland S]

Ever thought about outsourcing the work and getting paid partial profits. Saves you investing in all equipment and machinery and I'm sure someone who has less work on would be happy to work it and sort some kind of payment to yourself.

I have outsourced gutter cleans to others and still recieved payment for it.

thanks for the advice. yes i had thought of that, i may ask around, it needs someone reliable, with a van that isn't sign writted and who won't poach my customers. i may do that with washing fascias and conny's initially just to get me out of trouble as i don't particularly like doing them and my time is better spent elsewhere. cheers!

[Roland S]

its a big step - and its also a two way thing  (IMO) you need to be able to manage, lead and set n example for quality of work - speed - customer service - attitude etc...

before employing I got the work to a good level every day - then add ons for the early evenings ( summer time ). the I employed full time on the books - after a few weeks we were finishing early afternoon - so I could canvass more and bring in new work while the lad went out for soffit, fascia gutter work etc..   six months later I had to do the whole thing again for the next new guy - with the added complication of another van  - 6 years later I have 5 full timers - one part timer and an ad hoc guy for emergencies

start by giving them a 2 week trial (paid). then a zero hours contract for six months then if all is well 30 hr a week contract

Darran

Hi Darran

Thanks for the advice, very helpful and encouraging! yes the quality of work, customer serviceetc is no problem, that's why i'm so busy lol. but yes I totally get what you're saying on that front. 

yes that sounds like a good plan, the next challenge is finding someone that's keen to learn, reliable and doesn't mind a bit of hard work.

thanks again

[Smudger]

and there in lies the rub....

getting the right person ! - it can be done but just don't expect it all to be plain sailing

Darran

[dmckellar]

I employ 6 people full time but it's a ball ache.

I'm getting more and more tempted to just keep myself busy than pay guys.  I don't really do much of the overall work now but you need to learn to be thick skinned.  I have guys who have been here a while and they'll still try and nip home early etc.

If they are working alongside you then thats half the battle but you'll need to remember when you take someone on it's like bringing a kid on board, you need to keep them on the straight and narrow, check their work, listen to what they're saying to clients.

Just remember you'll need to add pension, tax and employers national insurance onto their wages (our employers NI bill last year was well over £10,000)

Sounds bad, but i have a good life, never work late unless it's essential. If we could all get the correct staff we'd be millionaires because the work is there, the quality of staff, sadly at the moment, is very grim.

People expect the world and want to spend half of it on their phones

[Roland S]

I employ 6 people full time but it's a ball ache.

I'm getting more and more tempted to just keep myself busy than pay guys.  I don't really do much of the overall work now but you need to learn to be thick skinned.  I have guys who have been here a while and they'll still try and nip home early etc.

If they are working alongside you then thats half the battle but you'll need to remember when you take someone on it's like bringing a kid on board, you need to keep them on the straight and narrow, check their work, listen to what they're saying to clients.

Just remember you'll need to add pension, tax and employers national insurance onto their wages (our employers NI bill last year was well over £10,000)

Sounds bad, but i have a good life, never work late unless it's essential. If we could all get the correct staff we'd be millionaires because the work is there, the quality of staff, sadly at the moment, is very grim.

People expect the world and want to spend half of it on their phones

thanks for replying that's really helpful. yeah i can imagine it can have it's headaches and gives me something else to think on. it would be nicer taking a back seat a bit more on the physical side when i get a bit older and the works there and i know i could continue to grow it further, but could to hear about some of the negatives too, cheers!

[Paul Clapham]

Just put your prices up to a point where you get more No's than Yes,

 Employing staff is a pain in the backside , they want things like holiday and sick pay !! , and they are always ill at the "wrong" time , they have kids, or a partner or parents who are always ill as well ……….. they are never at work, I had 17 staff at one time never ever again!