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Similar situation for me. The problem is staff and cash flow. Staff don't care as much as you do, and you need a lump of money behind you to run all the jobs.
i too am in the same situation.. I have a young lad with me (Apprentice), however i took the plunge and employed a "semi skilled labourer" to try and lighten the work load and take on more work.. this back fired and cost me a lot of money. IM now back to the too of us with a back log of work.
i will employ someone again soon.. once I've righted the list of small wrongs that became of hiring someone based on his self proclaimed skill base!
I was incredibly lucky with my apprentice, not so with my next employee! tread carefully and it could be the greatest move you have ever made!
I think a year is a bit early to be taking on extra staff and expanding. Edge your prices up(please don't 'hike')and you will find a level and gain experience of being 'a businessman'. Take a view next spring when you have an idea of profitability and what you can afford. We eventually edged up to 5 including me - that's plenty big enough for me!
You will get lots of conflicting views here so you pays your money and takes your chance.
after my experience this year i agree with colin.
I agree, take it easy, we have recently expanded and could still take on more staff but its amazing how stressful rapid expansion is, my plan is to work through this year and expand again next year rather then at one go
Thanks for your comments which I take on board but it is sickening to turn work away. I've lost two important contacts this year already due to my inability to get their work done. I think the way forward at the moment may be to get another cheap lad to do some of the laborious tasks and speed jobs up a bit. Then see how this winter goes.
It might not sit right however you are now a business man
If you need someone short term hire them, telling them you are not guaranteeing work over the winter but you will keep them going if you can, even if its basic hours for basic wage in winter.
If you are being overrun with offers of work now, queue them up if they want you they will wait, you can also offer people a slight discount if they will let you do the landscaping in winter time
However you are proving to be good at what you do so whilst the word is spreading you might well find people will want your services all year round
grow slow - organically,
i nearly set up a van/worker just before the recession hit - would have been the worst thing i have done, luckily i waited and kept in control.
the weather will soon stop people spending when it rain / in winter.. 5 mths where work may be minimal.
are you working 6 days a week? labourer is all you will ever get as an employee or they work for themselves & you pay there rate. increase prices and it could add up to more over a month.
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