Replies to This Discussion

PRO MemberPermalink Reply by Phil Voice on May 25, 2012 at 21:14

Hi Mark

Welcome to LJN. You'll find some seriously helpful people here to help and I'm sure others will be interested in your story.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Mark Glew on May 25, 2012 at 21:19

Hi Phil
Thanks.

• ▶ Reply

PRO MemberPermalink Reply by Gary RK on May 25, 2012 at 21:21

Mark,

Clearly you've 'been there and got the tee-shirt", so what other controls are you looking to put into place?

It's not trick question, but a desire to learn what not to do.....and what to look out for..

Many of us could easily end up in similar positions at the moment.

I still stand by the old saying Turnover is Vanity, Profit is Sanity

Mark Glew said:

It was mainly residential about 10% of commercial. You're right about productivity with employees. Late payers became a massive problem. We were owed about £20k around July last year. Lack of control is a serious failiure on my part, how long can you spend chasing bad debtors and not being out working. Its a difficult situation that will never happen again. Now we are building extremely solid foundations and managing growth with focus completely on profit and customer satisfaction.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Mark Glew on May 25, 2012 at 21:32

That saying should be repeated everytime anyone quotes for work.
This sounds a little contradictory to my thoughts on not wanting to employ people anymore but just don't try to do everything on your own. It would be so hard for me without my wife in the office. Don't try to get loads of customers but up sell to the ones you've got already it costs a lot less.

• ▶ Reply

PRO MemberPermalink Reply by David Cox on May 25, 2012 at 22:15

Mark - I am assuming that you are liquidating the old company and forming a new company to continue trading with goodwill / customers etc to keep going?(Hence the Grounds maintenance company ltd?)

How did you get such a large amount owed to you from domestic customers as well, I would be currious to know what caused that? Was it just been so busy gaining new custom that you simply didnt chase? Or was it having staff meant customers were not paying at the end of the job, as would be normal, and instead were paying you after someone else had done it?

• ▶ Reply

PRO MemberPermalink Reply by Dan Frazer Gardening on May 26, 2012 at 8:32

Do you employ anyone at the minute then? How are you going to stay small this time? Or do you indeed want to grow again but keep a better control of the figures?

I am employing part time but do see a space for growth especially with the good quality commercial enquiries I have been getting. I don't want to get into the position of not knowing every penny that runs through the business though.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by John on May 26, 2012 at 9:10

I had a few months when I was extremely busy and the

computer broke, I had three employees at that time.

The new computer kept on crashing and took five weeks to

get sorted out -  It was an Acer, and they were not very helpful,

neither was Currys !!!

 Consequently all my invoicing got a few months behind, and after this

a few clients were not happy at having to pay such large amounts.

Sometimes these things are out of your control, but the scary thing

with having a few employees is just how quickly it can escalate.

• ▶ Reply

PRO MemberPermalink Reply by David Cox on May 26, 2012 at 9:53

We've all been there, a house move, coupled with a bounced cheque from a large job meant I got behind with everything - stressful and a very tight spot, but I will plan ahead now - a weekly back up of everything on USB pen - monthly to a CD, and all invoices drafted up at the start of each week helps alot.

Having a member of staff really does kick this into a different ball game though, as they need paying and a cash-flow-crunch can mean you have to wipe your-self out to keep your staff for the next month - no fat on the bone is a risky place to be!

John www.acegardenservices.co.uk said:

I had a few months when I was extremely busy and the

computer broke, I had three employees at that time.

The new computer kept on crashing and took five weeks to

get sorted out -  It was an Acer, and they were not very helpful,

neither was Currys !!!

 Consequently all my invoicing got a few months behind, and after this

a few clients were not happy at having to pay such large amounts.

Sometimes these things are out of your control, but the scary thing

with having a few employees is just how quickly it can escalate.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Colin Hunt on May 26, 2012 at 11:28

I remember a good time ago being given a bit of basic advice re. expanding.  1-4 employees you can work, keep control and keep on top of things.  5-12 employees you still need to work, but there's too much going on to keep control and it's very easy to lose control. 12 employees and over, you regain control by concentrating solely on running and managing the business.

• ▶ Reply

▶ Reply to Discussion

• ‹ Previous
• 1
• 2
• Next ›
• Page