How many here own their own business?

[TIM]

benefit packages can be real tricky.

we pay for 100% of the employees health coverage.
you get 5 days of sick pay after 1 year.
5 days of vacation after one year, that goes to 10 days after 5 years.
we also have 401k that we match and a 10% profit sharing after you are with me 2 years.
discount on products we sell.
since we are a retail store there a very few days we are closed. So vacations happen year round.
Also there are about 20 of us.

tim

 

[coyoteman]

For me bonuses are up to a months salary and I start subtracting by how hard I feel you work. How much time you spend on internet, emailing, personal phone calls, coming in late or taking that extra 15 to 20 min on your lunch. I try to be easy going but if it is obvious to me that you are marking down hours that you aren't working than I just take it out of your bonus.

On the flip side I occasionally give more than a months salary for people make me extra money by performing their job better than I expect.

Exactly. Thats the way I treat my employees. My biggest pet peeve is an employee who is always late!!!

 

[Tec]

Ram painting,LLC

I've been a big company at times and find myself making more $$ with less headaches staying small. I've got 3 employees and still do a lot of the work myself with the boys. Paying the taxes are definitely the worst part of owning a business

 

[J-Roc]

I own a contract operating company. It's just me. On my days off from that, I'm an Arctic Cat tech at the dealer in town. I love it more than anything!

Thought about hiring a few employees, but, decided against it. Buying a 60K truck to give to someone to drive just didn't sound like a wise choice when i've only been in business for a year and a half. Might expand eventually, but not for now. I'm happy where i'm at.

 

[sky7051]

I've loved reading this thread. Growing up with parents who started a business (business phone systems, wiring, etc) when I was 6, I enjoy reading everyones takes on their businesses. The family business has gone through many changes over the years. We're now a full fledged phone company (direct competitor to Verizon and Qwest) owned by a group of five men, and employ 65 people. Its amazing to see something started 25 years ago that has grown and changed so much, but is still around and still locally owned.

 

[sledhead_2002]

Exactly. Thats the way I treat my employees. My biggest pet peeve is an employee who is always late!!!

LOL same here, one will show up 15 min late 2x a week but stayed 10 min a few days ago and marked the 10 min on his time sheet as overtime, and i have never seen a late start marked on his time sheet.!

 

[snowmobiler]

pet peeve.... most bosses will say they are not making money right before they go buy a new toy.

 

[redlineguy]

RLG, in the same boat we shut down for 2 weeks in first of July, holidays are rotated around that and a few straglers float out side of that but basically in shut down is when holidays are. Good bonus pd out! Was there understanding with the employees when less cashola was given to them with the down yr? We are having a Bang freakin on year, the euro is high and we are doing alright and i will be giving some bonus out, but want to be careful so they know it was a good year and not to expect this yearly. Any other ideas on how to keep the crew happy? This is a gooder of a thread, i must say.

Yes they know it is based on the years work, They knew they were getting less and even asked if there would even be on last year so they were very happy with what they got.


I will send them home early sometimes and pay them for the afternoon, Bottom line what did it cost me and it made them very happy. I don't do that offten but once in awile. We don't have sick pay but again I will sometimes pay them for a day just to help them out, They don't expect it so it is a surprise when I do it.


Buy lunch once in awile as well.


.

 

[redlineguy]

LOL same here, one will show up 15 min late 2x a week but stayed 10 min a few days ago and marked the 10 min on his time sheet as overtime, and i have never seen a late start marked on his time sheet.!

I have a clock, so they have to punch in. If they are always late start docking them they will get the idea fast.












.

 

[JasonAK]

Custom Home Builder in Alaska.

 

[kssnow987]

benefit packages can be real tricky.

we pay for 100% of the employees health coverage.
you get 5 days of sick pay after 1 year.
5 days of vacation after one year, that goes to 10 days after 5 years.
we also have 401k that we match and a 10% profit sharing after you are with me 2 years.
discount on products we sell.
since we are a retail store there a very few days we are closed. So vacations happen year round.
Also there are about 20 of us.

tim

In Washington if you are a member of the Master Builders Assoc. you can access health insurance through them. It's a great program and very cheap compared to most. They also have a program called ROII that returns 25% of your state Labor and Industries tax. Small companies have a hard time providing health for employees and this has worked well for us. PM me if you want more info.

 

[sledhead_2002]

In Washington if you are a member of the Master Builders Assoc. you can access health insurance through them. It's a great program and very cheap compared to most. They also have a program called ROII that returns 25% of your state Labor and Industries tax. Small companies have a hard time providing health for employees and this has worked well for us. PM me if you want more info.

Good point, How many small bus. are "chamber of commerce members"? I am in Winnipeg MB and we at this time are not members, are there benefits from such associations?

 

[1911freak]

Buisness Development for the Air Force during the day.

I have a side buisness specializing in CAD/CAM, I was a machinist and ME for 12 years prior to being an office weenie.