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Hi Nathan
one thing to remember is you do not get twice the work done with two. Have you considered keeping the best earning customers and replacing the others with better paid work.
I find some people just want to talk and in that time you can easily have been more productive.
Having said that after twenty years of working on my own I now employ my daughter she is like a whirlwind and this is the best thing I have done in a long while. She has her own vehicle so can do jobs on her own and is proving to be a great asset.
Best of luck
Nathan it is a leap of faith the main thing is finding someone that is reliable that will turn up every morning because if you have 16 hrs work booked in and they do not show you are up the creek without a paddle also are you going to employ them all year round or just the season, the extra costs involved employing someone, employers NI payment, insurance, payroll, holidays etc. I am not trying to put you off it can be a good thing but you have to be aware of the costs every week even in inclement wether
You can have all the plans and strategies you want etc, part time, full time, employed, self employed. BUT the really hard part is finding a good reliable hard working honest person. That will take time, and from experience, possibly a few failed attempts.
I would suggest an advert hinting at a friendly environment with flexible hours from part-time to full time and see what applications you get. Stress you really want someone that will grow as the business grows.
Some customers will react - but don't worry, just push through. New customers no problem.
Some great points here already. My business is slightly further down the line with one FT employee and will need further help in the near future.
Sticking as you are, increasing prices is a very solid option. You would lose very few if any at all for a 5-10% increase in price. The loyalty factor of our business models leads to an elastic demand - it's weighted in our favour, needs to be used. Things go up.
My thoughts from experience:
Invest both time and money into the job advert. You want the best employee for your customers to be happy, and for your own piece of mind showing up. To get the best, your offering needs to appeal. Full-time employment, a decent pay packet and any other add ons is appealing for the best.
Assuming you're looking for part time to start with (I did) this needs to be smart looking too. Be prepared to throw out plenty of junk CV's. I think your timing is poor to be honest with you. Many of the good ones are surely going to be tied up / end up with applicants that have walked out of a place this year already. This doesn't mean it can't work however.
Consider your recruitment processes - make them work for it. Weed out the ones that are going to quit anyway now. Be tough. Consider what guidelines / standards you expect and get them in writing. Will there be a trial period?
Two years ago I had a bloke for three days who disappeared after a couple of months, likely due to his other part-time employment putting their foot down and replaced with a bloke who worked four days. Did ok but did my head in. Let him go in mid-Sept when I could cope and felt great.
Went to two vans last year - could then actually almost double the workload and not have someone caving my head in. In hindsight it was a very average appointment. Lost a few, picked up more. Did just well enough to say it was the right thing to do.
Another new face this year - a very good appointment. A well experienced, qualified chap my own age who is buying into the business. The only moaners are in an extreme minority.
Next stage for us is likely to be a further full-time employee to work with either one of us. If they have any sense they'll buy into the business also and see that their own vehicle isn't far away.
There's so much to consider, and a lot for me to learn at 23! It's an exciting time if you can get the right people in the right places. If your customers aren't willing to see two people on the job, someone along with yourself then they're naff customers simply. Many of mine want to see me do well. VAT will be my next hurdle.
Jack makes a good point about relationships - you'll be spending all day with this person for quite a while. Rate them most highly on your personal compatibility - you can train them on technical things. It's harder to train them on getting on with you and others.
People that take instruction, and take on board what you're telling them with a smile are great to have about. Someone that's not landing you with the next negative chapter of their life story every day is preferable!
In my head, if you couldn't stand the idea of getting them a pint after work on a Friday they're likely not the right fit for you and your business.
I have also looked at an apprentice. I have found a good training provider that only selects people with an interest in horticulture. I understand that you might have to go through a few young lads to find a decent one. But also the salary would be a lot less of a stress to cope with as they are on a apprentice wage.
Anyone taken on an apprentice?
Yes two, and both didn't work out. (a) 1 was work shy and only lasted a few months and the other (b) almost worked out, but wasn't quite ready for the academic side - good lad though and I'm still in touch and things are starting to work out for him, for which I'm pleased.
You're getting cheap labour with a lot of baggage. One of my older chaps was on the same course as (b) above, and the general attitude of most of them was shocking, as was the dropout rate. I think only 25% completed the course.
Nathan, how old are you?
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