Working Alone .

[Acenas]

I agree that most businesses to be succesfull require employees. But what I find difficult is finding someone that will do the same quality work without babysitting them. Also another concern of mine is training someone or hiring someone that will later take your clients away from you by undercutting you or similar.

[bucketsandbubbles]

that is a valid fear, investing time and training; to then see them go either on their own or to a competitor and possibly taking some of your clients with them, It's part of the business, but if treated with respect and faced with growth opportunity within your business they might not feel the need. none of this will insure retention,but reduces the chances.

[TKDDAD]

Originally posted by Acenas
I agree that most businesses to be succesfull require employees. But what I find difficult is finding someone that will do the same quality work without babysitting them. Also another concern of mine is training someone or hiring someone that will later take your clients away from you by undercutting you or similar.

I'll chime in and give my 2 cents worth here: A "business" is different than a paying hobby...Joe from Superior obviously has a very successful "business" and has been able to find employees with the same passion as he has...I'm sure he's trained all of them to do what he does and then manages it...

I have a paying "hobby"...friends, neighbors, etc see my work, ask questions, and ultimately they want me to do their car...I do one a weekend, I could do two but that would kill me for the remainder of the weekend...so in my case, it's pocket money and a way for me to stay close to what I love to do but not so close that it consumes all of my time (family is most important to me)...

Simple math says that if you charge $150 (just for example) for a detail job and you can do 20-25 per season (can't do it here between October and April ), that's between $3000 and $4000 dollars gross...not a bad paying hobby...all depends on what you want to get out of it.

Yesterday I detailed my neighbors candy apple red Escape and she was thrilled with the results...the reason I got the job was because she sees me working on my cars and takes hers all the way downtown to a detail shop...much more convenient for her and she stated "and you did a superior job !"...I get a thrill out of seeing what can be done with a car and watching the owners face when they see if for the first time after the detail job...

Anyway, it's a great hobby for me and a great business for others....