Do you employ people?

[Matthew Phillips]

Hi, I've got to start off by saying that I'm nowhere near big enough to be able to employ men to do the cleaning for me, but it's a question I keep asking myself about the future.

How do you do it?

I know a lot of window cleaners around my way have a few vans on the road and I wonder what they pay the men? How much work they do for that money? and basically how much the business owner makes out of them a day?

I guess we all live in different parts of the country so please feel free to answer in percentages.

All I know is what I see. This is an example, 2 grown men driving around doing windows under someones else's name, insurance etc. They must be doing some work per day to be able to get paid well enough themselves to not go out and take on their own work.

Also it interests me how they manage rain / snow days etc

Many Thanks for any input, Matt

 

[Tuffers]

Interesting thread! I had a mate who had fallen on hard times help me a few years ago, we worked together on each house. Put it like this, I was well chuffed when he finally got a proper job! I personally am a bit passed it to start sending people out and doing my work as I struggle keeping tabs on myself let alone other people /emoticons/biggrin.png

 

[boarcity]

iv employed 3 fulltimers a few years now . how i did it was i started with 1 part timer, then 2 part timers ,then 3 parttimers ,then 1 became fulltime etc

at the same time i started a regular leafletting campaign,this "fuelled the fire"

if you take marketing seriously [leaflets/doorknocking/online marketing etc ] by serious i mean doing it REGULARLY -several times each week-week on week and NO slacking, you will then have so much work coming in that itll overtake you and you will be forced to employ.

iv never regretted employing

 

[Matthew Phillips]

iv employed 3 fulltimers a few years now . how i did it was i started with 1 part timer, then 2 part timers ,then 3 parttimers ,then 1 became fulltime etc
at the same time i started a regular leafletting campaign,this "fuelled the fire"

if you take marketing seriously [leaflets/doorknocking/online marketing etc ] by serious i mean doing it REGULARLY -several times each week-week on week and NO slacking, you will then have so much work coming in that itll overtake you and you will be forced to employ.

iv never regretted employing

Thank you for your reply, thats really helpful, but if you don't mind telling. What sort of percentage of the days take do you pay them?

 

[boarcity]

i dont work on percentages . i pay my workers an hourly rate and the bare minimum that has to come in to keep me smiling is double what their wages is

my goal is to get in treble what each worker is paid and some days we get over that. i expect i will get there,in a few years time

 

[Matthew Phillips]

i dont work on percentages . i pay my workers an hourly rate and the bare minimum that has to come in to keep me smiling is double what their wages is

Thank you, so you make at least double there wages, great stuff. I only ask because I see 2 men in a van and they must be getting £130 a day each so I've always wondered how much work they must cover for their boss.

 

[boarcity]

depends on the area but id be surprised if the 2 men you see are getting 130 a day each ,unless their surname is Rothschilds! i pay around 50 quid a day per lad which is the going rate in my area for employed window cleaners on the books [rather than self employed which is always paid higher of course]

every firm has its own way of doing things,the biggest firm in my area sets a daily target ,if its not met , the difference is deducted from their wages! they send out 2 lads per van and the target is [or was,im out of touch] £250 . not an easy target,so short cuts must be taken!!!

 

[Jacob]

I dont have employees but my brother with me on big jobs, his payed by the half of what i get pr hour. Regarding the real employees i think its a matter of where you want your business to be in the future. Personally i would prefer being myself maybe a partner that works with me all day.

 

[Matthew Phillips]

depends on the area but id be surprised if the 2 men you see are getting 130 a day each ,unless their surname is Rothschilds! i pay around 50 quid a day per lad which is the going rate in my area for employed window cleaners on the books [rather than self employed which is always paid higher of course]
every firm has its own way of doing things,the biggest firm in my area sets a daily target ,if its not met , the difference is deducted from their wages! they send out 2 lads per van and the target is [or was,im out of touch] £250 . not an easy target,so short cuts must be taken!!!

Cheers mate that is all really helpful stuff. Thank you.

 

[Matthew Phillips]

I dont have employees but my brother with me on big jobs, his payed by the half of what i get pr hour. Regarding the real employees i think its a matter of where you want your business to be in the future. Personally i would prefer being myself maybe a partner that works with me all day.

Thank you

 

[steele]

I currently use subbys. They are paid aa percentage of the work that is complete. I have one part time subby that does about £300 per week for me but I am just about to take on a full time sub that will do a minimum of £150 a day split 50/50. I provide tools and he hires my van from me.

I have enough work now that I can focus on running the business and not on cleaning. I'll take a small paycut in the short term but if I focus on marketing my wages will stay the same and I will be off the tools and with the family more.

 

[Matthew Phillips]

I currently use subbys. They are paid aa percentage of the work that is complete. I have one part time subby that does about £300 per week for me but I am just about to take on a full time sub that will do a minimum of £150 a day split 50/50. I provide tools and he hires my van from me.
I have enough work now that I can focus on running the business and not on cleaning. I'll take a small paycut in the short term but if I focus on marketing my wages will stay the same and I will be off the tools and with the family more.

Thank you for your reply, really helpful for me to know this stuff. Many Thanks

 

[peter rogers]

i would not send to older ones out together maybe a older person and a younger one together telll them they have targets to hit and if not hit there gone etc give them bonus for finishing work well and that

 

[jsmc]

it is a minefield i reckon lol. I would love to employ but lots of things to look at. Payroll costs, van insurance for carrying passenger/worker, employer liability, contracts, H&S documentation.

up in scotland the prices are poor but folks are wanting min £8 going into £12 i hear.

 

[Martin Holden]

One further thing to remember, if you employ anyone (other than direct family members) then you LEGALLY need to have Employers Liability insurance in place. And that includes sub-contractors too (the ones that provide just their labour and help) ... even if they are helping you for one day a week or less ...

This is something that can catch you out, so don't make sure that you have it all sorted first. :thumbsup:

 

[Green Pro Clean Ltd]

My ex -right hand just came off his ladder whilst working for another crew.

20ft drop, broken left radius. Has to have surgery Monday to try to sort it.

Here's the kicker, firm he's working for have no insurance.

Going to be interesting to watch this develop.

 

[simon]

One further thing to remember, if you employ anyone (other than direct family members) then you LEGALLY need to have Employers Liability insurance in place. And that includes sub-contractors too (the ones that provide just their labour and help) ... even if they are helping you for one day a week or less ...
This is something that can catch you out, so don't make sure that you have it all sorted first. :thumbsup:

is it easier with family then, im thinking of my son ??

 

[jsmc]

is it easier with family then, im thinking of my son ??

whether it is family or not i'd have employers liability just to cover all angles.