Is the work picking up? Are you busy?

[aphilp]

All existing contacts, I'm losing any new customers because I can't get to them quickly enough. I know it's a nice position to be in but, I hate losing work.

You surely have the decision to take now. You are well established with a good customer base and you should be taking on tilers to work for you on a sub-contract basis. It is not such a big step.

Best Wishes

Anne

 

[Ian]

You surely have the decision to take now. You are well established with a good customer base and you should be taking on tilers to work for you on a sub-contract basis. It is not such a big step.

Best Wishes

Anne

It doesn't interest me at all, I don't want to have to deal with the responsibility of making sure other tilers work is up to scratch just for an extra couple of grand a year. Then there's the VAT, another van, more tools.

 

[Dougs Third Go]

You surely have the decision to take now. You are well established with a good customer base and you should be taking on tilers to work for you on a sub-contract basis. It is not such a big step.

Best Wishes

Anne

I'm happy to turn work down rather than bring in subby's Anne, reason being that customers contact me, and want/expect me ​to do the work for them, plus I'm happy with the flexibility of being a sole-trader without all the vat, cis etc issues that come with subbying work out.

 

[Ian]

Spot on Doug, most of my customers want me, not a stubby I've sorted for them.

 

[Andy Allen]

Most customers always make sure it will be you doing the jobs especially if it's recommendation as its your work they have seen not a subbys..
I'm quite happy picking the cream of the work now.like it wss 5 years ago..

 

[Andy Allen]

very busy at the moment, might have to consider coming out of semi retirement :yikes:

Me too. I'm having to work on Friday's now...lol

 

[aphilp]

I'm happy to turn work down rather than bring in subby's Anne, reason being that customers contact me, and want/expect me ​to do the work for them, plus I'm happy with the flexibility of being a sole-trader without all the vat, cis etc issues that come with subbying work out.

I feel put down again for what I felt was a helpful suggestion for Brian. After 20 years as a sole trader, our company was formed and I decided to work full time in the business and deal with all the VAT, CIS issues etc. Our work is mainly high end and if customers want Greig, then they get Greig. However, when we have a job that needs additional tilers, then we use sole traders, on a sub-contract basis, who can carry out work to our high standards. Where our men have done work for new customers, repeat work can be for a tiler, who is not Greig. After 8 years, we are now undertaking high end contract work and are well established as a company. We are fortunate that there are so many good tilers in London, who choose to be sole traders, but want to work for us.

Best Wishes

Anne

 

[Dougs Third Go]

I feel put down again for what I felt was a helpful suggestion for Brian. After 20 years as a sole trader, our company was formed and I decided to work full time in the business and deal with all the VAT, CIS issues etc. Our work is mainly high end and if customers want Greig, then they get Greig. However, when we have a job that needs additional tilers, then we use sole traders, on a sub-contract basis, who can carry out work to our high standards. Where our men have done work for new customers, repeat work can be for a tiler, who is not Greig. After 8 years, we are now undertaking high end contract work and are well established as a company. We are fortunate that there are so many good tilers in London, who choose to be sole traders, but want to work for us.

Best Wishes

Anne

Anne, I certainly didn't mean to put you down, please don't think that I did.

 

[Ian]

There was no intention from me to put you down either Anne, I just believe that the reason my small business has become so successful is because of me and the work I do. To sub it out because there's too much of it, wouldn't be giving my customers what they want.

 

[aphilp]

There was no intention from me to put you down either Anne, I just believe that the reason my small business has become so successful is because of me and the work I do. To sub it out because there's too much of it, wouldn't be giving my customers what they want.

My suggestion was to help you grow from a small business into one, where you had another tiler working with you on site, in the first instance. If you can complete a six week job in three weeks, then you do not lose customers. It would also mean that you would have more time to spend with the family.

Anne