New cleaning co not sure what's best for me ....

[Koochiemama]

Hi

I am in the process of starting a cleaning company, I'm not sure which is the best way forward with regards to employing staff. I will initially do everything myself but if business takes off I want to bring in staff on an ad hoc basis to see how things go, I intend to train everyone with me until I feel they're ready so as to ensure quality control. I have been advised to employ them on a self employed basis due to not being able to guarantee hours etc and to simplify things.

Is this the best way forward? If so how do I go about this I.e legally, adverts etc

I have read some if the forums but I'm not sure if things differ for different industries ie, restaurant , cleaning co etc.

I'm not sure if this is relevant but I want to concentrate on end of tenancy cleans, builders cleans but if there's not enough work I may move into residential - does this make a difference I.e commercial, domestic etc

Any advice or links are welcome...

Thank you

Mandy

 

[Newchodge]

You cannot 'employ' people on a self employed basis.

You can take on sub-contractors who are self employed, but that means you lose control over what they do. For example, if they are sub=contractors they could send someone else to do the work, their rate of pay would need to include an element of profit (or loss) for them.

If you take people on as self employed and HMRC find that they are really employees you can end up with a big bill.

There is nothing wrong with employing people on an ad hoc basis, no guaranteed hours etc. But you will have to pay them at least national minimum wage and holiday pay.

 

[Koochiemama]

Thank you cyndy, I shall do some research on this

 

[sjbeale]

If you have some dedicated contracts you could issue employment contracts with guaranteed hours. You could slso have bank staff on zero hours contracts to sdd flexibility. If you need H R support I would be happy to provide this as I have a number of clients who are cleaning companies.

 

[Koochiemama]

Thanks for your comment Sandra, I like the sound of bank staff on zero hours with a contract - would they be classed as employed? I guess they would. As for H R support sounds perfect but expensive - pm me your rates anyway and I'll definitely keep it in mind

 

[Newchodge]

They would be classed as employed. Have you sorted out how you will do payroll, please dropme a PM if you would like a quote for that.

 

[hcscheshire]

We use mostly self employed cleaners. They don't actually work for you but they work on behalf of themselves for your company. its a hard one to get your head around. But what I would say it get your self employed cleanes to invoice you each month with their required wages. I have never had an issue if you need any help feel free to give me a call

 

[Newchodge]

If your self employed cleaners are expecting wages they are not self employed. You really need to get your head round what you are doing, as it may well be illegal, before HMRC catch up with you.

 

[hcscheshire]

Newchodge makes some valid points but self employed cleaners do get paid wages as they set their own wage. When ever I use self employed cleaned you sit down with them and find out what sort of income they are looking at getting and so on. They obviously work for themselves on behalf of your company. You are subcontracting work to them. Many of the UKs biggest cleaning companies use self-employed cleaners and they wear that companies uniform and so on

 

[Payments Guy]

Newchodge makes some valid points but self employed cleaners do get paid wages as they set their own wage. When ever I use self employed cleaned you sit down with them and find out what sort of income they are looking at getting and so on. They obviously work for themselves on behalf of your company. You are subcontracting work to them. Many of the UKs biggest cleaning companies use self-employed cleaners and they wear that companies uniform and so on

It's still not called a wage. @Newchodge is right. You need to be wary of this as HMRC may classify your contractors as employees and then come to you for National Insurance contributions etc.

 

[hcscheshire]

And I don't disagree with anything you both are saying. The contracts I have with any self employed person/contractor states everything that covers me.

 

[TradeSmart]

I work exactly the same way as hcscheshire sub-contracting cleaning work out to self employed cleaners, except I get the cleaners to invoice me weekly and they are paid their fee for carrying out the work.

 

[hcscheshire]

I work exactly the same way as hcscheshire sub-contracting cleaning work out to self employed cleaners, except I get the cleaners to invoice me weekly and they are paid their fee for carrying out the work.

and im pretty sure your not doing anything illegal just like our company. We choose to pay people on a monthly basis but its exactly the same thing. Thank you tradesmart

 

[TradeSmart]

It's not illegal, I can guarantee it.

I think the other posters were just put off by the word 'wages'. We use exactly the same term though, as essentially, that's what it is whether they're employed or self employed

 

[hcscheshire]

Exactly. I think people are too quick to jump to conclusions.

 

[Payments Guy]

Guys

Nobody is saying anything is illegal. Nobody is jumping to any conclusions. My observations are based on running both a courier company with 125 self-employed drivers, and a cleaning company for 5 years.

You are not doing anything wrong in the slightest. I'm just suggesting that you should be aware of the legal situation surrounding self employed workers.

 

[max_talk_cleaners]

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