Employing Staff........

At what stage do you risk the employing staff bit.......

I had a guy working for me last year, but after a year he tried to get his own tint etc and start up, but never happenend in the end. I got rid of him.

So I continued to be on my own to the present day.

It has put me off employing due to having to train someone who may just go off and start up on his/her own as I have no competition in my area.

I can get help on flat glass installs where required but it just trying to ease the pressure from being really busy from auto jobs on a day to day basis.

Its difficult to slow things down as you dont wanna turn people away or make them wait over 4 weeks plus for an install. I could do more flat jobs if i pushed it but aint got the time.

Ensuring quality would also be an issue I presume and what if they fk up a peice of film, it comes out of my pocket.

Is it better to be a lone ranger or do I employ some indians (or squaws?)

After all tinting aint like selling cans of beans

Thoughts appreciated

I opened three years ago, first year it was myself and another installer. I made great money and all was good, we moved to a new location on a busy corner two years ago. I now have a salesman, four installers and myself, we sell car audio and Window Tinting with monthly volume in the 35-40k range.

When we moved I had a larger building and much more foot traffic, so I thought I needed a larger staff. True I have better volume now and
so many more headaches dealing with five employess.

Sorry Im just blabbing, my point is if I ever open another shop, it would be no more than one employee...chances are just me.

Well said MMang!

well said!

BIG YES HERE! I average 12 workers and it's not worth it man....................... I might sell and start over and just tint with my wife as a helper, that way I keep all the money too!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Why are tinters so arrogant? We glue plastic on windows......................... the exceptions are tinters who do art in the window but still why the arrogance? Just tinting is not art, it's like being a electriction or other tradesman. remember just IMO!!!! I don't have time to argue th point............. I have to go to work and get the drama lined out.

Nobody wants to work for anybody everybody wants to be their own boss!! In any job/trade!!

Firem all and get you a plotter!!!!!

Have a plotter, and yesterday hired two more employees. 1 car audio installer and another tinter...WTH someone slap me and bring me to my senses!!!

You could always do the side window certified thing

wish i could employ someone with experience that easily.... in the uk its very hard to find a tint shop let alone a experienced tinter!

I can be tough. If you are looking for good ones then we have the same problem here in the states, Few and far between...

I reached a point where the schedule was overwhelming my capabilities to keep up so was faced with three options, hire, raise prices to slow the volume or go work elsewhere.

Good tinters are hard to find and has been this way for years. Find a good one and bam they're gone out to do for themselves. Train 'em from scratch and bam their out doing for themselves.

Tinter shortage is as desparate as finding good nurses for hospital work.

Tough one, but life's full of risks but no longer is full of risk takers.

World over it's always the same.
If the employee is any good, he should be working for himself and that's invariably what happens.

The cost in time and money invested to train up someone to be completely proficient in tinting is enormous only to find them try it on their own.
A lot of shops are now employing young girls or new immigrants who are less likely to walk away.
Devil

Walesey

If you don't grow you die. There are five of us, three installers, one receptionist/admin and me jack of all trades with a broom sticking out me harris!

When your really busy its brilliant you cans see the ££$$ flowing in, when its quiet at Christmas you can see it all draining away again.

You have to do it, lots of eastern europeans looking for work - treat em well and they'll love you ... for a while.

My last head tinter made $800 per week and and probably did 2-$300 on side jobs . Now he open his own shop with more stress and he doing $99 jobs not making any more probably less. Go figure .