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I find with new customers when it gets above 6 weeks people start to hesitate. exisint clients will be much more tolerant. If you have that much ahead of you i would certainly consider taking someone on if you want to.
That said there is nothing wrong with staying a one man/ two man band if you are happy with that. You can then be picky and chose the jobs you want to do and those that are the most profitable
always a difficult one, but kind of inevitable. we normally work booked on large jobs for 8-10 weeks in advance, but take on smaller stuff that I know can be done by my guys as overtime. I tend to fin its the smaller projects that people are impatient for, so it works quite well, boosts the cashflow and keeps a new customer with you. Some stuff will inevitably go through the door due to timescales, but hey ho, not a bad thing to be booked so far ahead is it!
you cant win them all. if they like you for a big project people will wait as your reputation wins them. but many want it done for june to enjoy pateos etc..
but im in a dilema if to have a holiday for 2 weeks due to the very same scenario - people want things pruning before birds nest / spring starts & theres lots of people available.
if i do get slow/ busy i pull someone in to help get things done..
Im thinking i am going to ride it out until at least the summer,doubling up jobs if i need to and Bringing temps i know in from the trade to complete the work.. and then when summer rolls round bring some full timers in over that period if really needed