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  Phil Voice June 12, 2008 at 8:38pm

  Hannah, the perennial problem with employing someone is the responsibilities that come in the form of holiday and sick pay.
  
  The Inland Revenue made it difficult to allow the employment of self employed people if you use them on a regular basis too.
  
  If you can enlist the help of a sub or an associate it may be better if you only need the odd day here or there but if you feel that there is the opportunity to secure a long term contract then it is worth starting to work out a plan and opting for the employee route.
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  Hannah Cooper June 12, 2008 at 9:57pm

  Cheers Philip, think i'll go down the sub or associate for now as its mainly the odd day I need some help. Is it the norm/ good business to contact other garden maintenance sole traders/companies locally to ask if they are interested in sub-contracting? If so any tips or risks with approaching other local garden maintenance businessess for help?
  
  Hannah
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  Sefton Paine June 12, 2008 at 10:47pm

  I employ two sub-contractors and one employee. I think that the inland revenue have a interesting view on sub-contractors, but as a garden maintenance company, you really have limited choice due the weather and seasonal factors. My accountant adviced me to limit my subs to specific jobs, locations, sites or jobs which maybe you do not want to do or are not specialised in and it is open to you how flexible you would like to be here. I also state to my subs that the position is completely flexible, the hours are flexible, etc. They must supply their own hand tools (although you may want to pay for these) and have their own public liability, which is up to you if you want to pay for it. They must, while sub contracting adhere to your terms and conditions though.
  The member of staff I employ, I know that I am not going to have any issues with, otherwise I would definately not employ, due the tight margins I need to operate and the potential for them destroying my bottom margin.
  I would only use another gardening business for help if you are absolutely desperate, and it has to be entirely by your terms as their charges maybe more expensive or similar to yours. If they are far cheaper, you will probably find that they are not insured, possibly poor technically and have a low knowledge base. On the upside, it is good to get friendly with lets say some of the more decent gardeners, you should spot them over time by the type of equipment they use, ie Stihl, CK, Honda etc. Machinery and tools that you would not commonly find in B&Q. I don't mean to sound snobbish but good tools are expensive tools, and if you use them often and take your work seriously, I am sure you are not going to be working with Yoeman or the like.
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  Andrew Fereday June 13, 2008 at 12:04am

  Hi Hannah,
  
  I have been thinking about this situation for a year or so, but have not had to be pushed into it as yet. I was wondering about the possibility of going to an agency to find someone who may be able to help out in the busy periods - for me Spring and Autumn. I'm not sure what the implications are in terms of employment law and how I lie as a sole trader but it may be workable as an interim solution. I have found that I don't want to offer a permanent position as I would only be able to offer work for maybe four months of the year and I can't guarantee anything outside of that.
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  Hannah Cooper June 18, 2008 at 9:27pm

  Hi Stephen & Andrew
  
  Thanks for your helpful replies hopefully i'll eventually have enough work to consider employing someone, maybe part-time to begin with.
  
  Also had a thought about using a apprentice from a horticultural college anyone any experience of this?
  
  Hannah
• PRO

  Phil Voice June 20, 2009 at 8:46am

  Hi Hannah
  
  Another year gone by - how have you fared with employing labour?
  I hope all is going well?
  
  Phil
• PRO

  Harry@VWGS July 30, 2015 at 6:12pm

  Bump... Found this in the archives thought it may be useful to some, can anyone explain to me what an "associate " is???
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    Paul McNulty > Harry@VWGS July 30, 2015 at 9:20pm

    It's a topic that just keeps coming back....
    
    My accountant explained all the tax and employment laws this way.

    "If you feel, in your heart, that you've pulled one over on the IR, then you are in trouble. If you resent what you are paying, and feel you're being ripped off, you are doing the right thing"
    
    It's getting tougher to work below the radar for those who choose to do so, and employment is where I'd be really wary. People now have the internet, and will be looking up their rights as employees.
    • PRO

      Harry@VWGS > Paul McNulty July 31, 2015 at 6:35am

      I think this topic must continue to keep reappearing, there is such a high rate of flow with gardeners that start up companies these days that how you take on staff and pay your taxes should be kept at the forefront of topics, this doesn't effect me as I don't have nor need staff, how ever I'm sure there are plenty of people using subbies on a full time basis thinking that they are doing nothing wrong... I do like your accountants explanation of tax and employment, that's pretty much how my accountant explained it to me.....:-) still not sure of what an associate is though ?????
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  Bespoke Lawncare August 2, 2015 at 10:40am

  My one full time employee as left me recently, so I am now trying to weight up the costs of taking a new person on or remaining as A one man company.

  Has anyone worked out the TRUE cost of employing a member of staff (skilled Labour within the lawn garden industry)

  Hourly rate

  Holiday pay

  Real time submission cost to HMRC

  Employers national insurance contribution

  New Pension costs coming in 

  Adding them to driving van insurance

  Adding them to business liability insurance

  Accountants cost for preparing wage slips costs involved via employee-accountant.

  Cost of bringing a 2nd person in to cover there work load when off

  How you cover the work they are employed to do when said employee throws a sick day, ducks, is in a cannot be arsed mood.

  The fact that if your business involves rounds (visiting a number of different property's in a single day) you are effectively paying them for sitting at the side of you.

  I have since this employee parted company dropped a few contracts I was not enjoying doing, out the way, bad payers, always wanting that bit more doing etc

  I am working around  2 hours a day more and am what was that persons wage every week better of within the company.

  I would rather employ someone so I can expand  and work at building up my business more however there is only so much we can charge/turn over/make per hour or day I am not the cheapest by far however only so much is left in the pot after costs it will be bordering £15-00  a hour true cost of employing a assistant when all is totaled together.

  Work it out taking all costs into account if it was rate per hour paid it would be very affordable it when you put all the under lying costs into the equation.