SPF part 2!
After doing an all nighter and a Server down/restore from first thing this morning plus a 6.45am BNI meeting where I did my 10 minute presentation, usual networking, quotes, quotes, qoutes and more paperwork……..
I do appreciate the thought of an extra pair of hands. Wage bill alone doesn’t bear thinking about even if it was a part time student to do some techie stuff. I would have to treble monthly contracts income overnight to contemplate getting help onboard!
It makes me wonder how others in my shoes get on? It must be a very common problem.
Anyone?… 
Andy Parkes Said,
February 20, 2008 @ 4:01 pm
Save up?
We’re looking for staff at the moment and have enough money saved up to pay someone for a year.
Other way to think about it is that if you had someone who could free up some of your time you’ll have more time to go find the customers you’ll need to treble your contracts…
Fingers crossed it’ll work here!
Robert Crane Said,
February 21, 2008 @ 6:03 am
Taking on staff can actually make things worse not better, at least initially. As Andy says you need to look at your productivity initially and find what only you can do and what someone else can do for you cheaper. Perhaps things like accounts can be outsourced to free up time. Honestly look at what you should be doing that brings in revenue.
I would suggest that perhaps you need to consider forming an alliance with another business were you can pool the resources and cover each others bases. That way if you out sourced something like accounts for 2 businesses the costs can be driven down even more.
In the long run I believe the one man band is going to be totally sidelined, it is just getting too hard to do, there just aren’t enough resources not matter how goof you are. As they say you either get bigger or get out because if you stay where you are I believe it is only going to lead to more frustration.
Thanks
Robert Crane
dwhyte Said,
February 22, 2008 @ 2:19 am
Thanaks guys for the response.
Andy raises some good points about saving to get an employee, never thought about that.
Robert,
Whilst I agree with the main points, I don’t believe that the one-man-band is dead or is ever going to die.
I see your point about resources etc but it depends on what you want to achieve as a business.
Yes it is getting harder in the market place but, (no matter what industry it is in to be honest) from what my best clients are telling me, it is precisely because I am local/small/proactive (or a one-man-band) that I have their business and now after a few years, complete trust!
I do and will continue to partner with bigger IT companies who pass me smaller jobs whilst I pass them bigger jobs that I as a one-man-band can’t cope with.
I hope to be here for many years to come as a one-man-band and with the help and support from the SBS community, here’s hoping you all will be too.
Cheers,
Dave