Any advice on how to be a successful employer?

3032 Views 17 Replies 11 Participants Last post by englishdave, Jul 2, 2008

englishdave

Discussion Starter · Jun 26, 2008

Hi, can anyone pass along good tips and advice re; How to be successful at being an employer?
I'm in a position where I have enough leads to employ a painter and a helper.

I'm dragging my heels a bit though as in the past I employed a couple of painters, one ended up with a crack cocaine habit and the other was ok.

I had a guy lined up a few weeks back, he called me the night before to confirm that we were still on for the next day and then didn't show up?

If I work on my own then there's less hasle, but of course less potential for earning more money.

I'm thinking that if I can get things off on a good footing, then the feeling would be a good one and success breeds success.

Where as if I get off to a bad start, then it becomes 'just another pain in the neck' I'll probably backtrack and end up working on my own again.

Please pass on your experiences and advice.

Thanks

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englishdave

Discussion Starter · #3 · Jun 26, 2008 (Edited)

Thanks TonyG,

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englishdave

Discussion Starter · #11 · Jun 27, 2008

PressurePros said:
Great advice from Tony. When you get a good one, be loyal to him and take care of him (or her). One thing that has worked great for me is to pay monthly bonuses based on performance. I accrue 5% from the labor of every job and give it to the crew leader as a bonus. If they get a callback, it comes out of his 5%. Gives him good incentive to do things right. The leader of my best crew got almost $1000 in May above and beyond his salary.

Thanks for the advice guys, I like the idea of a bonus, and make the bonus amount conditional on no call backs.

Anyone have any other ideas for 'incentive bonuses' I know one guy in a different trade who pays a bonus for being on time and showing up, he pays it at the end of each month. I think he gives an amount for dental to.

I'm all for paying bonuses and treating employees fairly, it does remind me that I'd have to have my game together though before I start to offer these things, you know if your on your own and you get your price wrong then you can somewhat suck it up. Not so with a crew though! seems like maybe your financial mistakes might be magnified?

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englishdave

Discussion Starter · #13 · Jun 30, 2008

Thanks paint to fish, It's not always easy is it to estimate. I looked at a job last week, it was painting 2 stairwells, 2 hallways and a front room, the front room has a ceiling that goes up through the 2nd floor, so its about 20 feet up. It also has a skylight in it so there's a bit of cutting in around the light etc...
The apartment is above another is theres no way to get a long ladder in, so I would have to bring in a sectional scaffold and put it up in the room.
I'm thinking that this would have to be time and materials or I'm not interested, maybe around 3 days for 1 man.

What do you think? does it sound like I'm on the right track?

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englishdave

Discussion Starter · #18 · Jul 2, 2008

CApainter said:
Concentrate on being the best manager of your business rather then proving to your employees that your the best technician in it.

Thanks CA, and live to fish I'll search the threads to find whats already been written

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