[shammy davis jnr]

now here is the senario  say at  5 pound per house  guy on  7pound per hour what would you expect from him in a week
i recon i would need at least  over a hundred doors a week  say 600 a month ......
what would you lot consider worth while
there must be some other attila the huns out there  no but serious what would you say the minimum require ment is per guy per week ,,,

[Moderator David@stives]

depends how much you want to make off him

[Trevor Knight]

Hi Shammy,

A guy earning £7 per hour over a 45 hour week = £315 with a further £11 employers NI contributions.

His return to the business should be 3 houses an hour, 8 hour day, 5 day week = £600

This is the normal return that you could expect, bear in mind you also have to account for his sick pay, holiday pay, collecting in the money that is owed from his cleaning. His equipment and his running costs, vehicle etc....

However, on a positive side, once you have a vehicle set up for 1 guy you can easily add another guy to the vehicle with minimal expenditure but double the income. This is when you start to make your return on your investment.

Its not an easy win situation but one that long term can provide numerous benefits, including financial gain!

Good luck

Trev

[shammy davis jnr]

thanks trevor you  think the same as i do as long as they do three our four an hour  you should be ok and the run can wash its own face

[jinky230]

Shammy are you £5 plus vat or £5 vat incl


jinky

[marc]

3 houses an hour 8 hours a day  5 days a week sounds great what when it rains for 3 hours on day 1 , 4hours on day 2 , 5 houurs on day 3 , so two full days and 2 or 3 part days i would like to take my nephew on to work for me what would be the best way if any to do this any help advise on this matter would be great thanks

[ducky]

pay him per house that is done say like the house is £15 give him £5

[marc]

no one wants to only earn £10 or £15 per day     he wants to earn £300 per week how do i make sure he can earn that whilst still making a profit myself im wfp and have spare van for him to use should he be bringing in say £600 per week to my company then minus 20% water replacement poles tools etc etc =£600 - 20%=£120 which leaves £480 -60% wages =£288 which leaves a profit of £192 for me or 65%wages paying £312 which then leaves £168 profit ??this all does my head in is he now self employed or is he a worker on my books then that £168 profit will have to pay insurances etc any help from you guys that have workers would be great thanks in advance

[marc]

or do i just say no to new customers unless they pay really well keep the cream put any prices im not happy with up or they lose me and get rid of the odd crapie job i have big part of me thinks this is right but i would like a new chalenge like building a new round for my nephew to work with me only working a day and a half a week then i could play golf most weeks or is that just a pipe dream have not picked my clubs up this year HELPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP.....

[Trevor Knight]

Hi Marc,

Welcome to the world of employment 

It appears that your very worried. My advice to you is this.

Yes there are times when we have rain, but when it rains use this time to your advantage. Get wet weather work, send him out canvassing with you. Then when the weather dries up work a bit longer in the day to catch up.

In business you have to speculate to accumulate.

Oh, and yes he is employed if he ONLY works for you.

Best wishes,

Trev

[marc]

thanks trev how do my figures on prevous post look ?re £600 worth of work £312 wages etc etc.

[Trevor Knight]

no one wants to only earn £10 or £15 per day     he wants to earn £300 per week how do i make sure he can earn that whilst still making a profit myself im wfp and have spare van for him to use should he be bringing in say

£600 per week to my company then minus 20% water replacement poles tools etc etc =£600 - 20%=£120

This is a very high running cost at 20%, you are more likely to operate at around 8%

which leaves £480 -60% wages =£288 which leaves a profit of £192 for me or 65%wages paying £312 which then leaves £168 profit ??this all does my head
 in.

Remember, this is your first step towards employing people, don't be too greedy too soon. I pay all my guy's far more than the norm and in return I achieve 100% loyalty, trust and reliability. This is worth its weight in gold, believe me!

My attitude, earn a little from a lot rather than a lot from a little. Remember, these guy's need to earn a decent living too otherwise they may as well work for themselves?
 is he now self employed or is he a worker on my books then that £168 profit will have to pay insurances etc any help from you guys that have workers would be great thanks in advance

Yep, you got it, he is an employee if you give him all his work!!

[stephen d]

trev, your figures dont look to far out.you can pay him a daily wage or hourly-the choice is yours and remember although there are costs when you start employing someone,there are also benefits as well ie he will be earning you money when your off sick/holiday/saturdays etc as long as over the course of a week you make more than your paying out.the inland revenue have a free employers pack that has a cd in it which is dead easy to do wages etc.on the subject of wet weather/rain unless its chucking it down we still clean windows. if you have any commercials you can jump on them and when i give quotes for gutters/fascias patios etc i usually just say to the customer that i will just turn up sometime in the next week or so-and when the heavens open these jobs get done,that way you dont have to waste dry days.good luck,steve

[windows_chepstow]

I pay all my guy's far more than the norm and in return I achieve 100% loyalty, trust and reliability. This is worth its weight in gold, believe me!

Trev,

I have to disagree with this statement; but for positive reasons.

I doubt you've undertaken any sort of formal management training; so I guess you must be a natural leader/manager (leadership and management are different ends of the same cat; according to a wise Chinese proverb).

Money does not buy loyalty, trust and reliability.

Loyalty and trust are earned not paid for, and once you have that, you can demand reliability.  So what-ever you're doing; just keep doing it.  It's obviously working and it's not much to do with what you're paying 'em.

Running a 'happy ship' and getting the best out of my junior soldiers was always my forte and what I enjoyed. 

Mind you, another word for it could be 'manipulation'.  I always knew that if my subordinates performed well; I would get promoted.

But just out of interest, if you have the time, try doing some reading on leadership and management theory.  It's interesting.  I've been lucky enough to attend three courses, each of them at least a month long, and each concentrating on leadership and management techniques.  Everthing from what motivates an individual (and it definately isn't just money), to communication, interview techniques, disciplining an individual (or a group of them) and lots of other stuff.

Start with Maslow's theory.  That's a good start point.

[Trevor Knight]

Hi Tosh,

Thanks for your reply on my posting, I have to say I find your comments interesting.

I spent 6 years in the army as a full screw. I knew that whatever I said, the lads had to do it just as I did to my superiors. Granted the way in which you approach the task in hand will reflect in your response and delivery in return, but unfortunately or fortunately, whichever way you look at it, it had to be done regardless 

In civi life as we now know it, things are very different indeed.

I have spent many hours investing in people, cultivating my crop of workers to flourish into a pot of gold to be left high and dry many times. I have had everything from 1 day wonders to people who have dropped my job at the drop of a hat. This was all when I was paying the norm, so to speak.

I paid for driving lessons, sent them on courses, basically gave them whatever they wanted within reason, but in the end it all boils down to what is in it for them. Money talks in this world we live in, I could be the nicest, most sincere boss in the world, but if jo bloggs offers them more money, chances are they will leave if not consider it.

Since I increased my wages to above and beyond the normal wage (if there is one?) I have maintained a stable work crew, a great moral amongst the troops and they are always prepared to go that extra little bit for me as they know in the end I will look after them.

I know it is not perhaps the most morally correct way to maintain your work force but that is the world we live in. I pay my guys money that they just could not get elsewhere, this in turn allows me to relax and sit back knowing tomorrow I will have all 6 turn up like clockwork, do what I ask and in turn be rewarded for their hard work.

The phrase "you pay for what you get" springs to mind.

I have to admit my managerial and leadership skills have only been nurtured from my time in the army and my life as a boss and I guess to some degree my envolvement with sport. My man management skills are truely tested when I have 1000's of people watching my game as well as 22 players, managers, sponsors, directors etc... baying for my blood.

I once read Dale Carnegie's book, "how to win friends and influence people" as well as Antony Robbins "power selling" , to be honest, most of it was common sense.

I guess we all take whatever path we choose, all I know is I got sick and tired of people letting me down, now, I dont have that anymore, totally the opposite. I have just been away for the week, the work was completed, the money balanced and my holiday was great.

Happy days 

[DASERVICES]

  Trevor,

  You seem to have built up a reputable company, how did you first start. Did
  you take one person at a time and then progressed further into office cleans.

  What pitfalls did you encounter in the beginning, has it been worth it in the
  long run. I have a young lad with me at the moment but he is going back into
  the army ( brave lad ). With all the red tape in employing someone I do not
  know if it is worth it. I have 2 options , start turning work away or take staff
  on.

  Would like to know your wise words on how you built your company.

  Cheers

  Doug