Page 1 of 4
Posted: Sun Mar 26, 2017 11:51 am
by Forestboy1978
So I tried getting my labourer to view a couple of jobs and take measurements this week to give me a break and keep him busy. Not to his discredit, it's just impossible. Even with videos and measurements, I need to view them myself.
So I'm basically stuck in a cycle of working 9-5, dealing with emails in the evenings, viewing jobs on a saturday and working out quotes and dealing with emails and material drops on a Sunday. If i don't do this, work stops. My jobs are all between 1 hours work to sometimes a month but that is quite rare.
Any ideas cos I am OK at the minute but my Mrs is moving in later this year and she and I I love the silly cow so would like to have time to give her attention. She is going to be doing some admin stuff for me and cooking meals and stuff so I'll be freed up a bit but I'd really like to get my hours down to 50 per week and have weekends free.
Would love feedback cos if I don't find a solution to this inside of the next year or 2 I'm gonna have to pack it in. Money isn't everything, not that I even earn that much anyhow...
Ta
Posted: Sun Mar 26, 2017 1:14 pm
by michaelthegardener
I have this problem myself im trying to charge more an not take on anything that's a pain in the ass 
going ok so far but it is only march lol
Posted: Sun Mar 26, 2017 1:41 pm
by lutonlagerlout
I thought this is normal for most of us?
obviously try to a little selective about customers
we worked till 2 yesterday then I had 2 appointments yesterday afternoon, every evening after work I try to get as much paperwork done as possible ,best to keep ahead of it if you get me,if it mounts up it becomes daunting
good luck
LLL 
Posted: Sun Mar 26, 2017 2:24 pm
by Forestboy1978
I think it probably is the norm but cos I do smaller jobs it's a massive PITA. Larger jobs you can drop the paperwork a bit more. Just wish I'd got into construction when I was younger cos you can do bigger stuff and I have a keen interest in it.
Yeah saturday I view quotes in the morning and usually chill sat afternoon but I don't chill I just stress about what I have to do Sunday. I'm turning into a miserable sod. Weeks just blending into each other with no me time.
Michael I am constantly taking on pain in the ass jobs. No more!!! NO MORE!!! lol
Posted: Sun Mar 26, 2017 2:41 pm
by lutonlagerlout
bigger jobs involve a lot more paperwork mate,
every week around 20 material invoices
sub contractor payments
sub contractor tax deductions and payments
working out schedules of work for subbies
ordering material sometimes 5 days in advance for the subbies
but that is just part of the job,otherwise I would go back housebashing and be pulling £240 a day on price like my pals are getting right now :;):
LLL
Posted: Sun Mar 26, 2017 4:08 pm
by jwill
If there's enough work then drop the tools and take on skilled bloke. Otherwise try and only be on kit 3/4 days a week with 2 spent quoting. Office work. Hopefully organise the jobs labourer can manage alone those days.
Posted: Sun Mar 26, 2017 7:24 pm
by dig dug dan
No way round things. I am running two businesses on my own, and have a chance to buy a third, but I cant cope with what I have to do now. I could easily if wasnt married with two little ones, but I have had to change how I work. No more quoting sundays, and I try not to work every saturday, but in the summer, thats hard. I have office work in the evenings, constant emails, but thankfully, no employees, so thats a headache gone!
Posted: Sun Mar 26, 2017 7:29 pm
by Tony McC
As businesses contracting to the residential market grow due to their success, they often follow one of two paths:
1 -The Yed Cod comes off the tools and becomes a full-time administrator/manager
2 - A full-time sales manager/admin is brought in and paid, at least in part, on a commission basis.
Neither is the ideal solution. They both have drawbacks and costs, but the only alternative is to do as others have suggested: take on less work.
And this is the eternal dilemma when you work for yourself. It's always feast or famine and we're all terrified of turning down work, but, after you've knocked back the first few less-than-promising enquiries, it gets easier. It's never a comfortable feeling, but when it gets to 9pm one evening, and you're getting an "early night" with your partner rather than pricing-up work or processing invoices, then you know it's been the right decision.
Posted: Sun Mar 26, 2017 8:46 pm
by Forestboy1978
Cheers for all feedback.
Tony those options are quite terrible lol. I had a day off last week during the week and left the guys to it. I viewed the job at 4 ish and was like ******. Is THAT acceptable to you. Perfect finish with one glaring obvious screw up. Just couldn't believe it was left and damn glad I viewed it. What annoyed me about it was that it was obvious so someone had saw it and either thought nothing, though it's ok, or though who cares. either of those thoughts/ lack of bother me greatly lol. I kept calm.... ish
Today for example.
Approx statistics
3 quotes written
5 calls made or received
8-10 text messages interchanged
15+ emails
last text 10 mins ago
Torn between getting the Mrs to be a proper wife type thing/ secretary and making me more efficient. She's a pharmacist though so earns good money..... dunno. She actually prefers the former cos she "thinks" it'll be an easier life so I'm leaning towards that.
Posted: Sun Mar 26, 2017 8:47 pm
by Forestboy1978
and then it dies in winter.....
Posted: Sun Mar 26, 2017 9:05 pm
by michaelthegardener
do you actually think you could work with her though ? there is no way I could work with my mrs :laugh: I hate when people text although one text last week with the address I drove past thought fook all those steps and text back saying sorry to busy :p
im determined not to work every Saturday this year but its not going well so far :rock:
Posted: Sun Mar 26, 2017 10:08 pm
by Forestboy1978
10pm another email....
Yes mate. I just do what she tells me and I have to think less...
Posted: Mon Mar 27, 2017 10:17 am
by GB_Groundworks
if you want a 9-5 and leave it at work then being self employed isnt really for you, answering emails and text isnt reall a big thing is it. the quotes are the time consuming bit, prioritise what you want to be doing and leave the little jobs or pass them on to someone smaller etc rather than wasting time on them.
at the moment my phones ringing every other day with bigish jobs, we dont do paving anymore except on our own work so im telling people currently itll be august before we can get to them if they want us theyll wait. fed up of always being rushed got routine maintenance that im doing on sunday evenings as im doing 6.5 days at work then vat returns quotes rams etec in the evening buts it the price we pay for being our own boss
Posted: Mon Mar 27, 2017 4:39 pm
by exoticpete
Turning away work because you are too busy or they are after a 'rush' job becomes quite satisfying in the end,the key to the winter is booking stuff in early I always try and book in two banker jobs in December and early January
Posted: Thu Apr 13, 2017 6:42 pm
by Forestboy1978
Back to the same issue. Sick of working 70 hours a week and not being able to keep on top of it all.
GOT to employ a really good multi talented landscaper or I'm going to go nuts. Had relatives over for 4 days this week from Spain. 6 of them. They're leaving tomorrow night and I haven't been able to spend more than the odd hour with them cos I have too much to sort out and can't not go into work cos I have no one that can do all that I can do or even 1/3 of what I can do unsupervised.