This line above was lifted from a 'bookkeepers collectives' post earlier this month (Shaun?) and although the thread was of interest (as well as the 'mobiles v landlines' thread and the general 'I v We' discussion......i.e., sole traders giving off the impression of being bigger), I was particularly interested in the line above.
Some people have mentioned balance in the past, but I wonder what people out there have done or have in place for times when you might want to go on holiday or are taken ill?
This is probably not too much of an issue with those out there that do already employ staff....but it would be interesting to hear from them too just to hear at what point they employed and how it has worked out.
I have taken the odd weeks holiday and can usually prepare for these periods in advance, but does that mean that I can never go away on a two/three/four week holiday ever again????????
I have always preferred the type of client that needs a hands on weekly visit as they are usually more intensive and are higher earning than the once a month/quarter/year, although I do see now that the latter category allows more freedom. Maybe more of the smaller jobs is the answer??
Maybe I have answered my own question?? Just get more clients where you need only visit once a month which might bring in £100-200 per month!!
So, for those that have these 'more intensive clients', how do you prepare for these breaks?
It is very hard to have a holiday when you're a sole practitioner. I remember one year going on holiday and all the bookkeeping people were taken care of, but I also run weekly payrolls and there's no way round that. We were in deepest darkest Cornwall and the place we were staying had no internet connection so I spent Wednesday afternoon sat in a lane in my car with my laptop as that was where I could pick up a wireless connection doing peoples wages!!
I had two weeks off once (my maternity leave!!!) and even though I had staff at that point it was still a bit of a nightmare, all caused by myself I now understand due to the immortal line that you titled this thread with. Having learnt a lot from my past mistakes I am now working to create an environment where I don't feel that I need to control everything and trust other people to get on with it so that I can have time off without everything falling apart.
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Jenny
Responses are my opinion based on the information provided. All information should be thoroughly checked before being relied on.
I find long weekend breaks can be healthy and are just long enough before the mind wanders back to business thoughts.
Dalbir.
Ps luv the mobile version of the forum
I guess you could identify which is your quietest time of the month, in order to take your holiday at that point.
Re weekly (or even monthly) payroll, talk to your client. They must value the fact that you are on your own, and should be prepared to put up with the downsides. When I was on my own, I would do wages early, or even estimate and then correct when the actual information was available after my holiday.
Of course, this raises another issue - disaster planning. My professional body requires that I have an 'alternate' agreement with another firm of accountants who would act for my clients in the event of my sickness. Luckily, it's never happened, but that's not to say that it couldn't. I have many clients who are sole traders whose business would go under if they were unable to work (unplanned) for a couple of weeks. This is one of the big plus points that partnerships have over sole traders, there can be spare capacity to pick things up.
In respect of the title of this thread, if you provide a service yourself, you need to consider employees. You can subcontract some of the work out, but if things go wrong, subcontractors aren't going to help you out.
As for going away for a 4 week holiday - you'd only get bored... :)
I have about the same monthly as weekly clients. The monthly ones aren't a problem really but the weekly ones I tend to do as much as possible before I go and then catch up when I get back. Very rarely go away for more than a week but I never work Friday afternoons and go to our caravan which is on a seasonal pitch nearly every Friday afternoon till Sunday. As Dalbir said the new mobile forum is great although even the 3g is flaky where we are.
