Future Plans: 2) Staff...

Normally we are able to manage our work flow adequately with the two of us. There are always 24 hours in a day and 7 days a week!

Sometimes we need to get in a third party to help and we pay them on an hourly basis.

Occasionally, we sub-contract to specialist firms for tasks such as sign fitting - we either get our client to pay them direct or we pass on the sub-contractors fees to them. We do not add on any additional costs.

Requirements:

Office/admin manager to deal with financial side of business and customer care.

Vehicle/sign technician

We currently are not in a position - in terms of sufficient work load, time and resources - to employ someone.

It is a bit of a "Catch 22" situation at the moment - without premises we are unable to handle enough jobs to afford or warrant taking someone on and if we took premises we would be unable to afford to employ someone in the initial stages. Until suitable, and affordable, premises are located we are unable to sustain any increase in staff.

Additionally, our original business aims were to provide a quality service to clients in which they benefit from direct contact with me - I am responsible for each of the projects I undertake and know what each client expects. Would this suffer if someone else came in?

We also want to remain independent and self controlled. We want to be able to work as late as we want (or need!) and them take a day off when we feel like it. This would be difficult with any employees to consider.

Considerations:

Aspects of employment law would need to be researched and implemented correctly.

Way forward at present:

In an attempt to increase turnover/profit, existing part time staff increase hours and additional (paid) temporary work given to friends and family as a temporary measure.

Current financial down turn means that this has worked well at present for KDS Ltd. However, once the economic climate improves the only way to increase profits is to expand the business and take on the risks that this would then present.