Contract for Self-employed Assistant

[KelliDoug]

I've looked high and low on here and can't locate any examples of self-employed contracts for assistants. Does anyone have one that I could review? I've googled too and can't find anything.

[sarah707]

When I wrote my assistants e-book I spent a lot of time researching contracts.

My conclusion was that I strongly recommend my readers to visit a specialist in contract law and spend some money getting a proper contract drawn up which protects both party in case something goes wrong in the future and the relationship breaks down.

Hth

[KelliDoug]

When I wrote my assistants e-book I spent a lot of time researching contracts.

My conclusion was that I strongly recommend my readers to visit a specialist in contract law and spend some money getting a proper contract drawn up which protects both party in case something goes wrong in the future and the relationship breaks down.

Hth

Thanks Sarah, and I totally understand why this would be a very smart way to go, however, would this not cost quite a bit? Do you happen to know how much money and time following this route would take?

I would still appreciate anyone else's examples of what contracts they might have in force.

I wonder if NCMA has anything to offer on this topic?

[boxtree7]

I purchased Sara's ebook

[KelliDoug]

I've ordered it, but still hoping for some other opinions too.

[rickysmiths]

I am not aware of any information available from NCMA. This is probably for the reasons Sarah has said.

Taking on an employee is a huge responsibility and you would have to cover you back good and proper. Good legal advise is never going to be cheap but I would have thought this would be essential. You would also need to check with HMRC because if the Assistant is going to earn over a certain amount each week they can not be Self Employed but you have to Employ them.

All the above is one of the reasons I have never had a paid Assistant and never would. The other thing that puts me off is what would I do if I was off sick? I guess even if I closed and so had no income I would have to pay the assistant.

What would I do if I had extra children, and the Assistant was off sick? Again prob be with less income due to cancelled children but still have to pay the Assistant.

What when the Assistant goes on holiday? Even if it is at the same time as me I would have to charge full fees for my holidays because I would have to pay for the Assistants holiday?

How many extra children would I need to take on to cover the Assistants wages and costs and make a profit as well because there is no point to my mind going to the trouble of having an assistant if I'm not going to make more money out of it. Also taking into account the loss of income for various reasons through the year for reasons given above.

I have found it interesting the number of cms especially ones who haven't even registered yet who are taking on or thinking of taking on Assistants.

Is it really that profitable??

If you have three full time (or the equivalent of) say 50 hours a week which you can easily do on your own even on £3per hour that's £450 a week, take four unpaid weeks holiday a year and that is still £21600 a year gross income.

I have regularly had 4 under fives so if you did this you could add a further £7200 gross to your income.

Then add a couple of term time only before and after schoolies at on average £10 per day three days a week you add another £2340 gross

So on £3per hour you on your own could earn with four under fives and a couple of schoolies you would gross £31,140 per year. Take a third off for expenses and account for tax that is a pretty good income.

If you charge anything over £3per hour you are grossing even more.

I can see if your numbers are cut because of your own children it may be profitable to have an assistant or if you are inundated with requests for care.

What would hiring an Assistant cost though?