Do i need to hire someone or is this just a seasonal thing?

[WAS]

Interesting. I do it very consciously...i'm very competitive when i work along side others. In a mobile situation, half a gig is pointess since we'd have to return and that's gas

The fact that you're conscious of it is part of what makes you a good business owner. Most people in the world don't see these kinds of things, and that's why most people in the world aren't running their own business.



Also remember, that as you have premanent help, you will also learn how to optimize processes, and the order you do them in. What works for just yourself right now could very well be improved upon when there's 2 or more people working on the vehicle.

 

[imported_dfazekas]

Kinda thinking the same thing...like a Mon/wed/fri person and I can double book gigs those days knowing I'll have help. However, i'm starting to wonder, lets say I average $200/gig. So $400 a day, less $10/hr for help AND the insurance coverage for him (not benefits, i'm talking liability coverage for a ts|s employee), does that equal out to me making the same amount alone on 1 car????

Don't know what the laws in your area are concerning this, but you could look into hiring someone as a part-time independent contractor.

 

[David Fermani]

This is my 2nd Spring/Summer as a company and I've been booked 2-3 weeks out since March. Is this just a seasonal thing, or should I hire some help? I'm so scared to hire someone who doesn't possess my work ethic, I'm a horrible teacher and always feel I can do it better myself. I have a bad habit of trying to be friends before being a leader too. But I feel like my customers shouldnt' have to wait until June to get their car cleaned!

Jaison - You're selling yourself and your future short by not bringing in someone to help you out. You will be pigeonheld into the current level you're at unless you focus on opening up your mind to expansion. Successful business owners are ones who are not afraid to take calculated risks. I say go all in and start putting your feelers out for the right helper. I will gaurantee you will not regret it.

 

[Envious Eric]

3 weeks booked out since March ? Hire someone. I'm always an advocate of hiring someone as soon as possible. What happens if you put your back out again like you did a few months ago ? What if something happens in your personal life and you have to drop everything and go somewhere on short notice ? Bottom line is, when it's JUST you, there's a lot of weight on your shoulders. Doing that for a while is fine, but you don't want to do it forever. It will get stressful eventually (if it hasn't already), you'll get tired of not being able to take a vacation, and you'll definitely lose out on more potential revenue.

long story short, Im in the same boat, and looking at doing things two ways...hire, or raise prices. Hiring someone will allow you to work less time / for a higher hourly rate, possibly get more jobs done in one day which can mean more money, allow you to take a much needed day off when there is just the simple stuff to take care of for the day and give the whole day to your employee while you make money doing "nothing".



raising prices will allow you to alleviate some of the long wait as some people will not want to spend that kind of money, but you will still make the same, or more in the end, while working less. Someone once told me, "if you are too busy and cant handle the workload, then raise your prices to make the same but work less." eventually, you will level off and figure out your price ceiling given your market and you should be able to stick there if you are pumping out quality work! (what would you rather do, 30 jobs at $200, or 12 jobs at $500? - me personally, I'd rather work 12 days and enjoy the time off, or work more and make more)



The other good point is the injury aspect if you are just working alone (and dont have a side business (non-manual labor) to bring in money). I am going through it right now as I injured my wrist detailing, and it was getting progressively worse, yet I kept detailing and doing other activities..its finally given out and now I am on the sidelines for a bit. I have a night job, but its just decent money, nothing spectacular. I am looking to start up two more businesses to bring in some money while I detail. Once I get them up and running, Ill be able to relax a bit and not worry about money and trying to slam myself with detail jobs, killing my body day in and day out like I am doing now. (just something else to think about)

 

[WAS]

The other good point is the injury aspect if you are just working alone (and dont have a side business (non-manual labor) to bring in money). I am going through it right now as I injured my wrist detailing, and it was getting progressively worse, yet I kept detailing and doing other activities..its finally given out and now I am on the sidelines for a bit. I have a night job, but its just decent money, nothing spectacular. I am looking to start up two more businesses to bring in some money while I detail. Once I get them up and running, Ill be able to relax a bit and not worry about money and trying to slam myself with detail jobs, killing my body day in and day out like I am doing now. (just something else to think about)

This is something that I think many sole owner / operators don't give any thought to. You have to be really careful when you're relying solely on yourself in your business. Even something completely outside the workplace (like Scott's bicycle accident) can affect your business drastically.

 

[David Fermani]

You're right WAS. Very important to train your people to be leaders in the event of management/ownership vacancy. Good to have several people that can keeps things under control in a productive manner when you're not able to be there.

 

[Barry Theal]

I remember when I considered bringing on one person! Several people Later, I now spend way to much time doing nothing while others earn me money. :becky: Its not easy at first, but once you do it right Jaison youwill not regret it. One of the hardest things for me now is deciding on how im gonna spend my 10 hour shift. Do I want to work or relax? lol all jokes aside. Its not that easy, but take the risk. It could be rewarding. Who know Maybe you could hire 2 guys to do washes and waxes while you work on the nicer stuff. If you would have told me two years ago where I would have been today. I would have laughed and said yea right. I took big risk's with big rewards! Your business will not move fowarding by thinking. You need act on your thoughts!

 

[MichaelM]

You should hire because it is a seasonal thing. Can't make hay in the dark, or the winter.

 

[HighlandDetail]

next time you're at the bookstore, pick up "The E-Myth" it covers this very issue in depth.



good luck!

 

[buda]

This is my 2nd Spring/Summer as a company and I've been booked 2-3 weeks out since March. Is this just a seasonal thing, or should I hire some help? I'm so scared to hire someone who doesn't possess my work ethic, I'm a horrible teacher and always feel I can do it better myself. I have a bad habit of trying to be friends before being a leader too. But I feel like my customers shouldnt' have to wait until June to get their car cleaned!

Jason



Just saw your post or would have posted long ago.



You and a great many of those who have already posted will not like what I have to say, but it is a reality in business.



Let me ask you some questions that you can either answer here or to yourself:



a. Why are you in business?

b. What do expect to gain from your detailing business?

c. Do you want to grow?



It is very difficult to grow a business and make a lot of money unless you are getting consistently $500 a car, 2 cars a day, 5 days a week.



If you want to grow you cannot put people off for 2 weeks, you need to take them the day they call.



I have known far too many "one-man" detail operations who finally "give up the ghost" because they are working their arses off, working 10 hours day and figuring out their hourly wage making less than $10 an hour with no benefits.



Businesses hire employees and get the employees to do the grunt work while they grow the business.



Makes more sense to me to have 3 or 4 sets of hands doing the detail work at a reasonable wage and the owner growing the business than it does having one set of hands doing the work, answering the phone; doing the books; doing the advertising and sales.



And, by the way, the IRS and the Labor Commissioners in every state do not recognize what most detail business call "independent contractors" as such.



To be an independent contractor you can have absolutely no control over what the person does, when they come in, etc.



The IRS is bad enough, but you do not want to mess with the Labor Commissioner's office when it comes to not providing Worker's Compensation Insuance. There are huge fines and penalties that can literally destory you financially.



Just some well intentioned thoughts.



Bud Abraham

 

[fergnation]

Hire!! Still in the midst of a five week, 7 day, 12 hour days stretch. Im freaken tired, back hurts and burnt out. Plus I miss my kids!! I have a rule. No customer waits more than six days. But I am going to have to bring on someone soon because I aint gonna make it!!! Doesn't that Im not 25 anymore.

 

[Kolokefalo]

The key to being a good manager is first and foremost be honest and upfront with your employees. If you explain why what their doing is wrong or not "your way" and why your way is important people understand it. If you let out a sigh of frustration and just say "just let me do it" or other negative phrases it disrespectd them and you.



Attitude reflects leadership.



It is YOUR company and YOUR name on the quality of work. Thenonly bad bosses I have ever had are those who complained about what I did AFTER I did it. Some of the best bosses I ever had were the most demanding but made you understand their thinking process and why.

 

[Kolokefalo]

And above all shout praise and whisper criticism.

 

[602rwtq]

This is my 2nd Spring/Summer as a company and I've been booked 2-3 weeks out since March. Is this just a seasonal thing, or should I hire some help? I'm so scared to hire someone who doesn't possess my work ethic, I'm a horrible teacher and always feel I can do it better myself. I have a bad habit of trying to be friends before being a leader too. But I feel like my customers shouldnt' have to wait until June to get their car cleaned!

Hire! He doesn't need to do the most technical things, nor be there year-round. Think of all the time consuming tasks you can hand off: vacuuming, washing, equipment set up, equipment break down, windows, wax removal...hard to get those things wrong even on your first day.



Just spend 5-10 minutes reviewing everything on the car top to bottom and you'll be fine.

 

[tssdetailing]

Thanks everyone. I posted an ad on CL and received one applicant, college dude taking automotive tech classes, can only work till september though. Should I bring him on or keep looking?

 

[Jpostal]

Thanks everyone. I posted an ad on CL and received one applicant, college dude taking automotive tech classes, can only work till september though. Should I bring him on or keep looking?

Sounds perfect to me if you expect to slow down after the summer season.

 

[tssdetailing]

last year i stayed busy until thanksgiving-i'm expecting the same this year (pending the weather is just as nice through fall)

 

[Jpostal]

last year i stayed busy until thanksgiving-i'm expecting the same this year (pending the weather is just as nice through fall)

What did you decide? Have you hired someone or are you working double time to try keep up?

 

[tssdetailing]

i attempted to hire someone and was going to have 2 guys work with me on 2 different days like a paid trial run and neither of them showed up. Awesome, thanks craiglist!? Anyway. My wife is stepping up and took the position. It costs less to send our kid to day care for a week than to pay an employee so it works out better that way!