Thinking about hiring some help

[craz0boy]

Have a buddy of mine I used to work with always offering to help me if I need any help. He's a good candidate hustles and works hard.
Tomorrow I have 2 details but thinking about bringing him along to try him out and train him. Pay ideas? Hourly? Percentage? Would be interested in hearing how y'all pay your helpers. thanks in advance,
Rusty

 

[Tinwhiskers]

I can't offer much help in terms of pay ideas in the detailing business. I own a business that has nothing to do with detailing (I'm a hobbyist), but I employ over 50 hourly employees. An hourly rate seems like common sense to me since it gives you an actual cost that needs to be accounted for rather than a vague percentage.

The only reason I'm giving you my 2 cents (and take it at that) is I've had and know other business owners who've had nothing but nightmares when it comes to hiring friends and/or family.

There are some benefits and it can be very beneficial, but strange things happen when there is now a power dynamic between friends. Think about the worst case scenario if you would have to discipline or fire him. Would you still have a friend?

 

[Tinwhiskers]

On a side note, I'm not sure Rusty's Mobile Car Detailing is the greatest name for your business. I understand it's your name (which is cool), but the word "rusty" doesn't inspire a lot of confidence when I think of shiny cars.

 

[craz0boy]

I can't offer much help in terms of pay ideas in the detailing business. I own a business that has nothing to do with detailing (I'm a hobbyist), but I employ over 50 hourly employees. An hourly rate seems like common sense to me since it gives you an actual cost that needs to be accounted for rather than a vague percentage.

The only reason I'm giving you my 2 cents (and take it at that) is I've had and know other business owners who've had nothing but nightmares when it comes to hiring friends and/or family.

There are some benefits and it can be very beneficial, but strange things happen when there is now a power dynamic between friends. Think about the worst case scenario if you would have to discipline or fire him. Would you still have a friend?

Na my friend knows how I run things, I keep things strictly buisness when it comes to my work. The people that I have in mind all have jobs so they want to help me out to make some extra cash, which works perfect for me right now as I don't need full time help as of yet. Ended up taking my brother to help me out. Cut my work time in half. Gave him 20% of my profit. Well worth it for not having to be in the sun for another 2 hours.
As for the name I really haven't had any problems because of it. But I do know what you mean instead of Rusty's maybe something like extreme shine detailing may sound more appealing to someone. My biz is not set in stone yet and still room for changes. I will keep that in mind though. I appreciate your 2 cents!

 

[rustytruck]

I like Rusty.

I use a helper in the summer. There are a lot of kids out of school with nothing to do. I give my helper 30% of the total take. By paying him a % there is incentive to both of us to jet the job done. The faster we finish the more we make per hour.

If I paid him by the hour there would be incentive to make things last longer than they should. He makes more and I make less.

 

[Wheelzntoys]

Rusty is a cool name.

Microsoft and Apple.....I bet not really great names at the beginning.

You can pay hourly and a bonus if finished at a certain time.

 

[Agfan]

Never hire friends. No matter how good of a worker they may be. I made that mistake twice. Its not worth losing a friendship over it.

 

[gothamite302]

I had a friend who offered me a 30% cut if i would go help him, since he closed the client, his tools (mostly) and his product etc, 30% was perfect for me. It was also a great learning experience since he was/is much more knowledgeable than i am and gave me great advice and work tips for working on my own clients cars. Also agree with the rustys name thing, even though i havent come up with a name yet, my business is still new as well and word of mouth seems to have done well for me

 

[craz0boy]

I like Rusty.

I use a helper in the summer. There are a lot of kids out of school with nothing to do. I give my helper 30% of the total take. By paying him a % there is incentive to both of us to jet the job done. The faster we finish the more we make per hour.

If I paid him by the hour there would be incentive to make things last longer than they should. He makes more and I make less.

Yeah found out I was able to push my brother with the incentive you described, Faster we finish the more money we make. And I like Rusty too. +1. Even a funny story how I got that name lol

Rusty is a cool name.

Microsoft and Apple.....I bet not really great names at the beginning.

You can pay hourly and a bonus if finished at a certain time.

+1 for Rusty. Hourly and a bonus basically comes out to paying a percentage. So I think ill take that route. Plus I wont have to worry about someone riding the clock.

I had a friend who offered me a 30% cut if i would go help him, since he closed the client, his tools (mostly) and his product etc, 30% was perfect for me. It was also a great learning experience since he was/is much more knowledgeable than i am and gave me great advice and work tips for working on my own clients cars. Also agree with the rustys name thing, even though i havent come up with a name yet, my business is still new as well and word of mouth seems to have done well for me

+1 for percentage & Rusty :xyxthumbs:

 

[craz0boy]

Never hire friends. No matter how good of a worker they may be. I made that mistake twice. Its not worth losing a friendship over it.

Friends come and go. Real friends will be there no matter what.

 

[Tinwhiskers]

I never said Rusty wasn't a cool name and it there is some irony there. You just have to consider if the guy driving a Ferrari is going to find the humor in it.

Just thank god your parents didn't name you swirly!

 

[craz0boy]

I never said Rusty wasn't a cool name and it there is some irony there. You just have to consider if the guy driving a Ferrari is going to find the humor in it.

Just thank god your parents didn't name you swirly!

Haha yes i know what you mean, and actually my real name is Abel. Rusty is a nickname I acquired

 

[Robert8194]

Good problem to have that you have enough business to need help. I too am a hobbyist but in my other life, I do have a business. I add my vote for flat fee or %age. It's hard to get anyone to put their best effort for an hourly rate.

 

[Tinwhiskers]

Good problem to have that you have enough business to need help. I too am a hobbyist but in my other life, I do have a business. I add my vote for flat fee or %age. It's hard to get anyone to put their best effort for an hourly rate.

I'm on the fence about the hourly fee or percentage. You guys make some decent points about productivity and best effort but you're forgetting that some employees may cut corners or reduce quality just to get the job done faster.

At the end of the day you have to be the "boss" and know exactly how many hours your employee should spend on a job or the quality level they were expected to produce.

Rusty's right when he says it probably comes out to be the same. However, when too many hours were spent or the quality wasn't up to your standards then you have to have a chat with your employees and that's where friendships can hurt.

Some friends are cool and will understand but others will take offense and argue like you're not the "boss". It really comes down to the individual and if you really want to take the chance and put your friendship in that situation.

 

[Robert8194]

I'm on the fence about the hourly fee or percentage. You guys make some decent points about productivity and best effort but you're forgetting that some employees may cut corners or reduce quality just to get the job done faster.

At the end of the day you have to be the "boss" and know exactly how many hours your employee should spend on a job or the quality level they were expected to produce.

Rusty's right when he says it probably comes out to be the same. However, when too many hours were spent or the quality wasn't up to your standards then you have to have a chat with your employees and that's where friendships can hurt.

Some friends are cool and will understand but others will take offense and argue like you're not the "boss". It really comes down to the individual and if you really want to take the chance and put your friendship in that situation.

Sounds like you have a good handle on the issues. There are certainly advantages to all options. Good luck.

 

[Agfan]

You are right. I unfortionutly hired one of my best friends from high school. He started taking advantage of me at work. Partially my fault an his. Long story short I ended up letting him go and he didn't talk to me for almost two years. Just sucks it came down to that when it could of been avoided by not offering a job to him. Just wish I had those 2 years back. I learned my lesson hiring "true friends". It's not worth goin through that again. Good luck to you though. Hope things work for you

 

[craz0boy]

Appreciate all the input fellas. Always interested in hearing people opinions and now I feel confident moving forward and hiring my part time help.

 

[statusdetailing]

Na my friend knows how I run things, I keep things strictly buisness when it comes to my work. The people that I have in mind all have jobs so they want to help me out to make some extra cash, which works perfect for me right now as I don't need full time help as of yet. Ended up taking my brother to help me out. Cut my work time in half. Gave him 20% of my profit. Well worth it for not having to be in the sun for another 2 hours.
As for the name I really haven't had any problems because of it. But I do know what you mean instead of Rusty's maybe something like extreme shine detailing may sound more appealing to someone. My biz is not set in stone yet and still room for changes. I will keep that in mind though. I appreciate your 2 cents!

You really have to be getting a ton of business to warrant hiring someone. It's a huge expense. You really need to be doing at least 10 cars per week at the very minimum.

I'm pretty young, but I can't seem to physically handle doing more than about 7 or 8 full details per week. Every once in a while I'll do 10 details, but it absolutely kills me. My whole body aches, hands and wrist hurt, very minimal sleep. If I schedule more than 8 I call a good friend of mine to help, but I just pay him cash under the table...even then the profit is slim.

Employees work best in big production express detail shops imo.

 

[craz0boy]

You really have to be getting a ton of business to warrant hiring someone. It's a huge expense. You really need to be doing at least 10 cars per week at the very minimum.

I'm pretty young, but I can't seem to physically handle doing more than about 7 or 8 full details per week. Every once in a while I'll do 10 details, but it absolutely kills me. My whole body aches, hands and wrist hurt, very minimal sleep. If I schedule more than 8 I call a good friend of mine to help, but I just pay him cash under the table...even then the profit is slim.

Employees work best in big production express detail shops imo.

For me personally I can do 2 full complete details in one day by myself. Usually takes 3-4 hrs per detail. I have a pretty good work ethic work. Fast effiect pace and while still providing quality work. I think I have a pretty good method down on how to efficiently detail a vehicle without over working myself to death.
Only reason I want to hire help (part time help) is when those busy days come I'll have someone I can rely on. I rather train someone now when bussiness is not as busy versus being swamped. Again the help im hiring would only be for when I need the help. At 20% that's $20 for every $100 I make and cutting my detail time in half. For every hour, I save 30mins with a helper. And the stats are based that's off of me bringing my brother along today for the first time. I have 3 brothers I'll never be short on good help.