Farriers and your Admin........

[Fabforester]

A simple quick question for the farriers out there ...
Would you pay a monthly fee to have a virtual PA to manage all your bookings / cancellations / panic calls and Admin ?
I'm doing this for a local farrier, basically he hands out cards with a number and email address which is essentially me, and I manage a calendar online which he picks up the night before (or whenever as app based). I also do auto invoicing for all his clients and because he's vat registered I manage all expenditure.
He therefore doesn't get bothered with zillions of calls, doesn't even have to manage a paper diary, or call anyone if he's running late!

Is this something I try to take forward with other farriers ?....No offence will be taken just some honest feedback !

 

[Fiona]

From the complaints on here, I think lots of farriers need someone like you...

Fiona

 

[Fjord]

If you're a farrier who is rubbish at admin I think you sound like a godsend.

 

[milliepops]

OH says no because you wouldn't know the geography well enough to organise his visits and could end up driving across his whole area randomly because someone has a lost shoe. Plus most clients are booked in 5, 6 or 7 weeks in advance.
Plus some horses can be shod in 40 mins others take 1hr 10 mins.

Good luck with it though, maybe it's for the more disorganised ones!

 

[Fiona]

I was assuming that OP either knew the area or used Google maps to book the visits milliepops. .... or it would be terribly inefficient.

May be wrong though..

Fiona

 

[milliepops]

Just feeding back from the horse's mouth, so to speak!

 

[Fiona]

Just feeding back from the horse's mouth, so to speak!

Yes definitely, that's what OP asked for

I just remember all the hundreds of posts from HHO about their farriers, though great at shoeing horses, being very poor communicators lol, and it sounded like OP had hit on a winning idea...

Fiona

 

[meleeka]

My farrier used to have someone like this. I think he dispensed with her as he couldn't afford her wage.

 

[Fabforester]

Thanks for the comments so far. Having had horses in many counties and met many farriers I know Admin isn't their forte and also not something they necessarily Want to spend time doing. So I thought if I can do it at a cheaper rate than they are earning, plus increase their productivity, reduce complaints etc, then it's good for all. I've been a PA for years, and with a home office already set up and running it would be something I'd be keen to try with a few in the trade. Yes I get the point re varying Appt times, driving issues etc, but all solveable and something good communication can only improve. Really appreciate all your comments.

 

[Fabforester]

OH says no because you wouldn't know the geography well enough to organise his visits and could end up driving across his whole area randomly because someone has a lost shoe. Plus most clients are booked in 5, 6 or 7 weeks in advance.
Plus some horses can be shod in 40 mins others take 1hr 10 mins.

Good luck with it though, maybe it's for the more disorganised ones!

thanks for this, and yes I'm sure it is.
Varying times appreciated, you'd still know in advance if you were doing a lost shoe or a new set etc, and could help you actually travel less, with someone logistically coordinating appointments in terms of proximity to each other, and so on. It won't be for all, but I could streamline and help with a lot of scribbled diaries and texting confusion.

 

[Fabforester]

My farrier used to have someone like this. I think he dispensed with her as he couldn't afford her wage.

Blimey, for a farrier not to have been able to afford a girl Friday she Must have been Charging too much.
Thanks

 

[Cecile]

This service exists with Berkshire Farriers, its the most civilised service I have ever heard of
Farrier is never late, doesn't deal with money generally, he isn't pestered with calls and text whilst working
and is allocated loads of time for appointments and you receive a text/email the day before your appointment to remind you
Everything is done or so it seems like clockwork from the office

http://www.berkshirefarriers.co.uk/services/

 

[Spottyappy]

How would emergencies fit into this though?
Someone has a horse stand on a shoe, pull it half off and other half digging in foot. They are unable to remove it themselves, so farrier needs to attend asap, preferably the same day but certainly the next. That entails rescheduling work, and I'm not sure this type of service would work in those situations?
Also, things like seeing X-rays and speaking with vets is often short notice but still needs to be fitted in during the working day. It may work for a team of farriers, but think it would be not so suitable for a single self employed one?

 

[Rowreach]

A simple quick question for the farriers out there ...
Would you pay a monthly fee to have a virtual PA to manage all your bookings / cancellations / panic calls and Admin ?
I'm doing this for a local farrier, basically he hands out cards with a number and email address which is essentially me, and I manage a calendar online which he picks up the night before (or whenever as app based). I also do auto invoicing for all his clients and because he's vat registered I manage all expenditure.
He therefore doesn't get bothered with zillions of calls, doesn't even have to manage a paper diary, or call anyone if he's running late!

Is this something I try to take forward with other farriers ?....No offence will be taken just some honest feedback !

This role used to be called "the farrier's wife"! Even if she had her own job, kids, house to manage etc etc.

 

[little_critter]

How would emergencies fit into this though?
Someone has a horse stand on a shoe, pull it half off and other half digging in foot. They are unable to remove it themselves, so farrier needs to attend asap, preferably the same day but certainly the next. That entails rescheduling work, and I'm not sure this type of service would work in those situations?
Also, things like seeing X-rays and speaking with vets is often short notice but still needs to be fitted in during the working day. It may work for a team of farriers, but think it would be not so suitable for a single self employed one?

Well how does it work at the moment? If the farrier does his own admin he still would need to reschedule work around emergencies.
The PA can call him and tell him there is an emergency then get on with the rescheduling / calling the clients.
The farrier also isn't bothered by calls all the time from all his clients, so he knows if the phone rings it's probably his PA and it's probably an emergency.

 

[Batgirl]

This happens in my area with a group of 4 or so farriers using the same lady.
The 'PA' deals with emergencies and will fit you in with the next available slot that is anywhere near/on the way. I get a text a few weeks in advance and one the day before, occasional shifts in time in case of emergencies. Works very well.

 

[Spottyappy]

Well how does it work at the moment? If the farrier does his own admin he still would need to reschedule work around emergencies.
The PA can call him and tell him there is an emergency then get on with the rescheduling / calling the clients.
The farrier also isn't bothered by calls all the time from all his clients, so he knows if the phone rings it's probably his PA and it's probably an emergency.

At the moment, the farrier (my OH in this case) reschedules the visit himself, and has to inform any other affected clients.
As he works to a round,rescheduling may need to move clients to a totally different day, IF their horse can go a bit longer and IF the client can be about a different day. It's kind of inside knowledge that a PA probably wouldn't have but farrier himself is aware of.
I just can't see this kind of service begin effective for a single farrier.
It would likely work better with a small business employing more than one, however, imho.

 

[Jack110]

I assumed they all had a wife/mother/partner who did this, as I do for my husband who is a plumber, on top of my own job

 

[Arzada]

I assumed they all had a wife/mother/partner who did this, as I do for my husband who is a plumber, on top of my own job

Maybe if these apparently male farriers/plumbers don't have a paid or volunteer relationship apparently female person doing their admin they could use a PA. What do female plumbers/farriers do? Do they have a husband/father/partner doing their admin?

 

[JillA]

My window cleaner has an on line diary which manages his repeat appointments, alerts etc, I would think that is the future