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  Gareth Main @ Newick Landscapes March 15, 2013 at 7:09pm

  I employ someone on PAYE and running a payroll system can be a pain in the bum but something I have to do. I've employed various people in the past and yes they are often a tad slower on most things we do and less experienced but I would have to expect this from an employed assistant rather than a highly qualified and experienced tradesman.

  Try employing someone part-time to start with (maybe recent college graduate), this should reduce your risk of not having enough work and keep your employers NI contributions low. I could employ more staff at this time of year if I wanted to as have lots of demand locally but feel it would be too much hassle and probably not much more profit.
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  Simon Smith March 15, 2013 at 7:09pm

  A motivated keen person will not want a flexible if and when type arrangement or part time. Regarding hours and availability, these must equally suit the employee as much as it suits you the employer.

  Anyone with a bit of experience and any nouce will be working for themselves so you either need to stump up a decent wage or live with a few knuckle-heads.

  That said there are many good employees who prefer to be employed for a whole host of valid reasons. They are out there i'm sure its just a case of finding one.
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  Andrew Knight March 15, 2013 at 7:41pm

  I have employed 2 staff PAYE, my Accountant sees to everything, even printing the Pay Slips. all I have to do is transfer the funds on the correct date. Takes about 3 months to train someone up into "your way" of doing things, get them used to the clients and there gardens.
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  Thermo March 15, 2013 at 7:58pm

  i have two staff who have been with me for 7 years asince they left school. They started off as labourers and i have taught them as we have gone along. they are capable of doing most jobs and in some cases better. Ithas been a long road with a lot of time invested in them and also a lot of effort when things go wrong, mainly in their personal lives! However i can walk into a garden where they have been working and it looks exactly how i would have done it. You can tell when they get better as the number of phone calls you get asking questions grows less and less.

  Youre never going to find another person who does things exactly as you, but there are plenty of good ones out there, unfortunatley you sometimes have to go through a few to find the right ones.
  Once you do find decent ones look after them, learn to be tolerant of their mistakes, but know when to be a boss and let them know it.
  I get an immense feeling of satisfaction watching two guys who i have taught from school doing a job to a high standard and getting compliments from the customers
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  Gary RK March 15, 2013 at 8:34pm

  Thermo so true :
  
  "Youre never going to find another person who does things exactly as you, but there are plenty of good ones out there, unfortunatley you sometimes have to go through a few to find the right ones."
  
  The other mind set change is 'Do not micro manage' - once they are at a suitable level you must, must let go.
  
  You are then freed up to help manage/grow the business...
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  Stuart @ Eco Garden Maintenance March 15, 2013 at 9:55pm

  To be honest, employing someone scares the hell out of me. But as i get older i am starting to enjoy working "on" the business more than working "in" it. Sometime soon i am going to have to man up. Also doing the physical work becomes less appealing as time goes by.
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  Thermo March 15, 2013 at 9:56pm

  
  
  Gary RK said:

  Thermo so true :
  
  "Youre never going to find another person who does things exactly as you, but there are plenty of good ones out there, unfortunatley you sometimes have to go through a few to find the right ones."
  
  The other mind set change is 'Do not micro manage' - once they are at a suitable level you must, must let go.
  
  You are then freed up to help manage/grow the business...

  that is the hardest thing, because in most cases they can do it, with perhaps a little nod or pointy finger to guide them. The hardest thing is stepping back and letting them do it. I was forced into that position due to illness and if it wasnt for them, we probably would have ground to a halt. Sometmes its best to set them up for a day and leave them totally alone, that way you cant interfere.
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  Lawncare-4u.co.uk March 15, 2013 at 10:39pm

  10 years , its taken me to realise (and a few injuries) - you have to 'delegate' and let go a bit eventually . im slowly in a stage of transgression i feel - hence my post and advice required.

  i dont 'leap' into anything especially growth. i was about to take a lad on and put him in my spare cheap van 4? years ago as recession hit. - i was lucky, or blessed by not jumping in.

  maybe im ready to 'up the game' now and build business very slowly
  now ive learn a bit.

  :) thanks
  Stuart @ Eco Garden Maintenance said:

  To be honest, employing someone scares the hell out of me. But as i get older i am starting to enjoy working "on" the business more than working "in" it. Sometime soon i am going to have to man up. Also doing the physical work becomes less appealing as time goes by.
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  phil@gardenchief.co.uk March 16, 2013 at 7:48am

  I'm taking someone on this year, I was going to have an apprentice, but its a big commitment as ive got to guarantee 30 hrs a week all year , , now i think I'm going to employ a lad 2 days a week to start.
  
  Indeed scary, but I know it's the only way forward.
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  Darren Walters March 16, 2013 at 9:21am

  I too am in the same position. I had to turn work away last year despite physically working 60-70hrs a week (and goodness knows how many hours on an evening, in front of the pc). Obviously this is not every week of the year so I am concerned what I do with someone during the quiter periods?
  
  Someone self-employed seems the easiest option but that is a grey area that has been discussed before.