My business is thriving, but I’m having to turn down work because I don’t have the team
(US, MI, Detroit) I’m in year 2 of building my homemaking business and the hardest thing so far has been building my team. I’ve hired 9 people over the course of 2 years and all but two have bowed out for various reasons: 3 had other/better opportunities elsewhere (can’t compete with that and hold no stones), 2 were no-call-no-shows, and the other 2 just couldn’t cut it.
I have 2 people right now that are M-F that really enjoy the work and clients. Our niche idea attracts a certain kind of clientele that puts my people in a good position to be tipped or just treated well, without over exerting themselves.
I’m looking everywhere I can without paying another F******* subscription so that keeps me within: WOM, community bulletin boards, facebook, Nextdoor app, even Care.com!!
I provide:
- all products and tools ($200 value/kit)
- guidebook, contract, code of conduct
- 1099 for now with goals to go W-2 (just increased prices so I could get more growth)
- $18/hour for training, $22/hour once placed, with room for advancement within $24-$26/hour
- Bonus opportunities for client retention and/or team member referral
- Same-Day Pay
- Clients: I have a waitlist and strong word of mouth in a HCOL area
- Scheduling app: 6 weeks of schedule view, predictable schedule, clock in/out, view your timesheets for the month, add in availability/time off
- We don’t work major holidays, weekends, or evening hours. I even went ahead gave the team I have now July 3rd off for a long US holiday
Everything I put here I’ve put in my help wanted ads. I generate a lot of interest but during screening I’ve found a variety of issues: unable to pass a background check, want to pick and choose what they do/start times because it’s an IC position, ask for weekends or evenings but we’re residential so there is no demand for those times, or just poor presentation during the interview.
I’m turning down so much work, and at first it was just the spring pick-up but now it’s bleeding into summer, and I STILL don’t have anyone. I feel stagnant, like I’m failing at growing. The girls I have are happy with their workload, but they’re maxed out at 30 hours rn, including myself!! I can’t add more to either of our plates, and I’m the owner! I shouldn’t be working this much. Then I don’t have the admin time to do anything.
If I stay the course without adding anyone we’ll go W-2 by 2028 fall/winter (depending on Q1, that’s always bad due to winter illnesses). If I can get 2-3 more people in, I could transition us to W-2 by the beginning of 2028 (really summer of 2027 but to make it easy on taxes I’ll start fresh at the beginning of the year).
What am I doing wrong??? Is it the IC?? I can’t do anything about that just yet. And honestly they would lose so much when I do change things over. They lose a lot of their tax deductions, gas reimbursement, and schedule freedom when I do, but it should be more consistent work without the fear of losing income. I just don’t know what else I can do. Just stay the course? Ugh I feel like everyone wants the service, but doesn’t want to do the work or carry the emotional intelligence to execute it.