[SteveHants]

I do odd jobs, gardening etc - by the time its gone through the books etc it isn't worth charging less than £15/h.


Would charge more if it was just a small job. Never had anyone quibble at those prices either.

[Sbom]

I guess the price would vary a lot. Depending on age, experience how fast they work an how well the job is done. If they are a good efficient worker who just gets on then £10-£12 per hour cash in hand sounds fair.
Slightly off topic, there does seem to be a market out there for someone who can shear sheep and was willing to travel around just doing small flocks. Loads of people seem to be after someone to shear upto 10 

[Fowgill Farm]

My neighbours 16yr old son is going to feed my pigs for a 3 &1/2 days whilst i'm otherwise engaged Its only 40mins twice a day and he can walk across the fields to us so i'm going to give him forty quid if thats any help to anyone.
mandy

[Alistair]

There is a market for small flock shearing, it's just the cost that's the problem, when you start adding it up you end up charging mileage and travel time, set up costs, then cost per sheep, 10 sheep can end up costing £100 upwards depending on where you are very easily and when you consider the cost of getting yourself trained to do it it becomes a bit of a false economy.

I should know, I used to be a shearer till my arms went silly, so I tried exactly that, small flocks, problem is they're so diverse geographically that the costs go through the roof, so unless your local it doesn't make much sense (or insanely rich)

Anyway that's my tuppence worth

[honeyend]

No one has mentioned PAYE and insurance. If someone is self employed they should be paying tax and have their own insurance tailored to their services, that should be covered in the amount they charge.
 If you employ someone you insurance should cover them and depending how many hours and how much you pay the you have to do PAYE, which I have looked at and looks more trouble than its worth. So make sure any workers are registered as self employed and pay them for their services.
 Anyone who has run a business and eventually starts earning enough to pay a big tax bill has the option of paying the tax or investing in something that is tax deductible as equipment or as an allowable expense. So the choice may be I give the taxman £10,000 or do I buy a nice piece of kit and if the Range Rover is a farm vehicle  as can be shown to be used as such a % of its value is tax deductible. If it was a plumber, you buy or lease a nice shiny van.
 Most tax offices run work shops to help with you tax returns so if you are making any money from your labours and use your land/home it may be worth finding out what you can use to lower your tax bill. It means you have to fill in a self assessment form but it could be worth it , just save all your bills and decide what you can legally claim for at the end of the year. If you were a childminder you can claim as an expense food supplied, the extra heating needed and a mileage rate for the car, and any professional bodies you have to join. If you consistently make a loss and claim they will class it as a hobby.

 

[Brijjy]

We are in mid Wales. My hubby is a gardener/builder/electrician/plumber/painter/personal shopper! He charges £10 an hour. At the moment he is pretty busy and gets our oldest to help him mow and strim. My oldest son, age 13, gets about £20 a day and he works bloody hard for it.