just read the thread im gonna kind of reply to it all
i got myself busy a few years ago got uptown 10 guys on 3 sites doing building and groundworks, turn over shot up but profit didn't, stress went up i was jus either sorting problems or chasing more work to keep everyone employed, every friday was a struggle paying out and trying to get money in and hit targets, lads not turning in or doing stupid stuff.
i cut back to me and old boy foreman who'd worked for dads firm for 20 years and me 8 and a young labourer, he was keen but a bit simple. paid him ok £90 a day CIS for 19 year old didn't drive, could shovel and sweep up tried him on the dumpers but gave up. lasted about 4 months before i was having to knock him up in a morning and he'd stink of weed. left him digging my garden out by hand 1 week and we were watching him on cctv a bit he'd sit down for hours on his phone rather than getting done then going early. so after a run of missed days i got rid, yeah makes it harder, i work harder and sometime its a struggle but its great to be without the hassle and responsibility of him on the team.
sticking with just the 2 of us and self employed sub contractors works for me,
i have that from builders what you want £350 a day for 3 ton and dumper or £130 linear meter for standard footings dig muck away and concrete thats expensive, fine dont use me. i turn up set out check utilities etc get it done fast safe and correct, we even step gauge for bricks if we have to etc, lease with building inspector and clients etc often dont see the builder till their bricky turns up and we hand over at damp say floor and drains done, inspected square and all ready to go.
one builder asked us to dig out a floor in a barn conversion on a job we were doing the yard and groundworks on he was doing the conversion. i said i wanted 250 for my guy and 1.5 ton to dig it out saturday morning, he scoffed said he knew a lad and would hire a mini for 80. we came in monday he'd dug 400mm to much out and left it a bomb site of various levels and mess and knocked a wall down. cost the builder 700 in extra stone which they wheel barrowed in as he was to proud to ask us to skidsteer in after his f**k up.
we are paying joiners £210 a day and plumbers £250, brickies 560 per 1000 or £200+ a day. they want me and my £40k of digger and dumper then they're paying for it, too many guys undervalue themselves think its not a trade or a skill.