Extra odd jobs with an employee.

[Mr and Mrs window cleaner]

hi there,

This is one of my first posts after reading loads on the forum - you guys know your stuff! I'll be posting more Qs in the weeks to come.

We've been running our window cleaning biz for a year now and it's going brilliantly. My husband runs it day to day and we're keen to expand, buy another round and employ a lad to work on our existing round.

From reading the threads it seems most of you prefer the employee route over the self-employed route, which makes sense to me.

I want to know how you business owners with employees manage the lucrative odd jobs that come in off the back of the round. At the moment we get a lot of patio, conservatory, fascia, gutter cleaning requests. How do you make sure these jobs stay within the biz and the employee doesn't take them on the side as extra earners?

A lot of our custies are retired so would see the window cleaner when they came.

Is it just a case of waving goodbye to some of these jobs as a natural consequence of expanding?

Thanks in advance,

Jo

 

[Mr and Mrs window cleaner]

Sorry, put wrong title! If anyone knows how to change it to "extra odd jobs with an employee" I'd be grateful.:thumbsup: I've tried but can't work out how to...

 

[Markyboy 50]

Hi. U can never trust anyone 100%. It's human nature to take what's there. Lot of hassle employing someone. I used to run 3 vans n have 2 people working for me. One left and in the end I sold the other bloke all my rubbish work. I'm a sole trader now and only work 3 days a week for just a little less than I was getting with all the hassle! Hope that helps a little

 

[peter rogers]

I get no odd jobs at all :rofl::rofl:

 

[peter rogers]

Ur best splitting ur selfs one Of u in each van then wen odds come in get. Them done yourselfs.

 

[David K]

I was under the impression that most of us run as solo windy-cowboys ... I am and that suits me fine ! /emoticons/wink.png

 

[mark]

i know of two cleaners who worked for mitie cleaning services,they would get people asking them to clean there windows while cleaning commercial etc.they built up a lot of work on the side.they got found out and sacked.they probably didn't think they were doing any harm.honesty is very important!!! get a tracker

 

[Markyboy 50]

I spent a bit of time delivering garden sheds to private houses years ago. Often had people ask if we could put em up for a bit of cash. We didn't like to let those nice folk down..... Or pass by the £30 they were about to part with

 

[Simply Business]

Hi @Mr and Mrs window cleaner, also keep in mind if you hire an employee, you'll need to update your insurance as it's a legal requirement to have employers' liability insurance.

Fines can be astronomical (up to £2.5k per day) if you're found to not have it :thumbsup: Realise this wasn't the question but thought I'd give you the heads up either way /emoticons/smile.png

 

[Mr and Mrs window cleaner]

Thanks a lot Simply Business (do you know how I hyperlink you so you turn green like you did with me?...I'm new and still learning things)

Thanks!

 

[peter rogers]

Put @ befored

 

[peter rogers]

Put @ before the nam. @Mr and Mrs window cleaner

 

[Simply Business]

What @peter rogers said @Mr and Mrs window cleaner /emoticons/smile.png

 

[Green Pro Clean Ltd]

@Mr and Mrs window cleaner your husband will know from experience how long each round day takes him. Also once he has spent a month training a lad he will know how long it takes the lad.

Say a round takes six hours. Your employee does not cone back for 8 hours well where was he for 2 hours?

One of the best ways is to pay them for leads. I used to pay the first clean for windows as a bonus to the lads for signing new monthly customers and a £25 bonus for leads for gutters and conservatories that turned into signed jobs.

Treat them well and they will respect you. Treat them as minimum wage serfs and they will look to 'earn on the side'

 

[Mr and Mrs window cleaner]

Thanks @Green Pro Clean Ltd, that's very good advice:thumbsup: it definitely pays to treat them well.

Jo