Referral agencies are just as the name implies. They are agencies that refer “Independent Contractors” to customers for different services. One of the most popular services for referral agencies is House Cleaning. Referral agencies are contacted by customers looking for house cleaners. Referral agencies are basically the middle man. They will find you individual cleaners to clean your home.

Referral agencies are NOT the actual employers of these individuals. Referral agencies cannot direct, train or control these individual’s work in any way. Referral agencies also don’t pay employment taxes on these individuals. Customer’s MAY be liable for paying employment taxes if they pay wages over certain tax thresholds while the individual works within their home. Referral agencies are also NOT responsible for paying worker’s compensation, liability insurance or bonding.

By not paying taxes or insurance; referral agencies can typically under price employer based cleaning companies. Several consumers think this is excellent. They can save money. Everybody wants a bargain right? Well, let’s take a closer look. A few individuals that agree to work for referral agencies have never had any former cleaning training. They may not have individual insurance or liability insurance. What happens if they get hurt in your home? Is the referral agency going to pay? NO! What happens if the individual breaks your tiffany lamp and the individual does not have insurance? Who pays, the “independent contractor? Good luck trying to collect that debt. Let’s go back to the referral agency. Are they going to pay for your lamp? No way! Remember, they only “referred” an individual to you! They will tell you they have no liability.

Often enough the difference between a referral agency and an employer based company is in quality, dependability, professionalism and liability. You may pay a little more for these qualities, but you will sleep well knowing you are using a licensed, bonded and comprehensively insured and professional company.

Referral agencies legally must disclose the fact that they are referral agencies. They must disclose this fact, both verbally and in writing. They must also let the customer know that they may be liable for payment of employment taxes including unemployment insurance and social security for this “Independent Contractor”.

Other problems usually encountered with referral agencies, is the situation where the customer is unhappy with the cleaning the “independent contractor” performs. Since the referral agency cannot legally train or direct the work of the “Independent Contractor” – the referral agencies only solution is to send another “Independent Contractor.” This is the cycle a customer routinely falls into when using referral agencies.

Employer based companies most often put their employees through a thorough training program. The employee then works alongside experienced workers to gain more expertise on all aspects of cleaning. When you hire a person from a referral agency you have no idea if they have had any training. Remember, the agency is NOT allowed to train, direct or control these individuals. If they do in anyway, they become employers and are responsible for paying all the taxes mentioned above.

The next time you call for an estimate on cleaning you may want to ask if the company carries worker’s compensation or better yet just ask the questioný “Are you a referral agency?” Remember when calling for estimates from cleaning companies, you may not always be comparing apples with apples and oranges with oranges. Make an informed decision and hopefully you will find a competent professional cleaning company to put a shine to your home. Please find laws on referral agencies operating in California below.

CIVIL CODE OF CALIFORNIA

1812.5095.

(b) An employment agency is not the employer of a domestic worker
for whom it procures, offers, refers, provides, or attempts to
provide work, if all of the following factors characterize the nature
of the relationship between the employment agency and the domestic
worker for whom the agency procures, offers, refers, provides, or
attempts to provide domestic work:

(1) There is a signed contract or agreement between the employment
agency and the domestic worker that contains, at a minimum,
provisions that specify all of the following:

(A) That the employment agency shall assist the domestic worker in
securing work.

(B) How the employment agency’s referral fee shall be paid.

(C) That the domestic worker is free to sign an agreement with
other employment agencies and to perform domestic work for persons
not referred by the employment agency.

(2) The domestic worker informs the employment agency of any
restrictions on hours, location, conditions, or type of work he or
she will accept and the domestic worker is free to select or reject
any work opportunity procured, offered, referred, or provided by the
employment agency.

(3) The domestic worker is free to renegotiate with the person
hiring him or her the amount proposed to be paid for the work.

(4) The domestic worker does not receive any training from the
employment agency with respect to the performance of domestic work.
However, an employment agency may provide a voluntary orientation
session in which the relationship between the employment agency and
the domestic worker, including the employment agency’s administrative
and operating procedures, and the provisions of the contract or
agreement between the employment agency and the domestic worker are
explained.

(5) The domestic worker performs domestic work without any
direction, control, or supervision exercised by the employment agency
with respect to the manner and means of performing the domestic
work. An employment agency shall not be deemed to be exercising
direction, control, or supervision when it takes any of the following
actions:

(A) Informs the domestic worker about the services to be provided
and the conditions of work specified by the person seeking to hire a
domestic worker.

(B) Contacts the person who has hired the domestic worker to
determine whether that person is satisfied with the agency’s referral
service.

(C) Informs the domestic worker of the time during which new
referrals are available.

(D) Requests the domestic worker to inform the employment agency
if the domestic worker is unable to perform the work accepted.

(6) The employment agency does not provide tools, supplies, or
equipment necessary to perform the domestic work.

(7) The domestic worker is not obligated to pay the employment
agency’s referral fee, and the employment agency is not obligated to
pay the domestic worker if the person for whom the services were
performed fails or refuses to pay for the domestic work.

(8) Payments for domestic services are made directly to either the
domestic worker or to the employment agency. Payments made directly
to the employment agency shall be deposited into a trust account
until payment can be made to the domestic worker.

(9) The relationship between a domestic worker and the person for
whom the domestic worker performs services may only be terminated by
either of those parties and not by the employment agency that
referred the domestic worker. However, an employment agency may
decline to make additional referrals to a particular domestic worker,
and the domestic worker may decline to accept a particular referral.

(c) The fee charged by an employment agency for its services shall
be reasonable, negotiable, and based on a fixed percentage of the
job cost.

(d) An employment agency referring a domestic worker to a job
shall inform that domestic worker, in writing, on or before the
signing of the contract pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (b),
that the domestic worker may be obligated to obtain business permits
or licenses, where required by any state or local law, ordinance, or
regulation, and that he or she is not eligible for unemployment
insurance, state disability insurance, social security, or workers’
compensation benefits through an employment agency complying with
subdivision (b). The employment agency referring a domestic worker
shall also inform that domestic worker, if the domestic worker is
self-employed, that he or she is required to pay self-employment tax,
state tax, and federal income taxes.

(e) An employment agency referring a domestic worker to a job
shall verify the worker’s legal status or authorization to work prior
to providing referral services in accordance with procedures
established under federal law.

(f) An employment agency referring a domestic worker to a job
shall orally communicate to the person seeking domestic services the
disclosure set forth below prior to the referral of the domestic
worker the following disclosure statement:

“(Name of agency) is not the employer of the domestic worker it
referred to you. Depending on your arrangement with the domestic
worker, you may have employer responsibilities.”

Within three business days after the employment agency refers a
domestic worker to the person seeking domestic services, the
following statement printed in not less than 10-point type shall be
mailed to the person seeking domestic services:

“(Name of agency) is not the employer of the domestic worker it
referred to you. The domestic worker may be your employee or an
independent contractor depending on the relationship you have with
him or her. If you direct and control the manner and means by which
the domestic worker performs his or her work you may have employer
responsibilities, including employment taxes and workers’
compensation, under state and federal law. For additional
information contact your local Employment Development Department and
the Internal Revenue Service.”

(g) An employment agency referring a domestic worker to a job
shall not specify that a worker is self-employed or an independent
contractor in any notice, advertisement, or brochure provided to
either the worker or the customer.

(h) Every employment agency referring a domestic worker to a job
and who is not the employer of the domestic worker being referred,
shall in any paid telephone directory advertisement or any other
promotional literature or advertising distributed or placed by such
an employment agency, on or after January 1, 1995, insert the
following statement, in no less than 6-point type which shall be in
print which contrasts with the background of the advertisement so as
to be easily legible:

“(Name of agency) is a referral agency.”

(i) An employment agency may not refer, in its advertising,
soliciting, or other presentments to the public, to any bond required
to be filed pursuant to this chapter.

(j) An employment agency may not refer, in its advertising,
soliciting, or other presentments to the public, to any licensure
acquired by the agency.

(k) Any violation of this section with the intent to directly or indirectly mislead the public on the nature of services provided by an employment agency shall constitute unfair competition which includes any unlawful, unfair, or fraudulent business acts or practices and unfair, deceptive, untrue, or misleading advertising. Any person or entity that engages in unfair competition shall be liable for a civil penalty not to exceed two thousand five hundred

While wealthy families had the money to hire as many staff as they desired, even the middle class managed to scrape together enough extra money to hire at least one servant. Having domestic help was so essential to the social image of the Victorian household that almost 13% of the woman of England and Wales were employed as domestic help during the 19th century.

Regardless of how may servants the household employed, most families followed a logical hiring progression that was designed to ensure that as many domestic tasks as possible had a corresponding person who was responsible for either doing it or seeing that it was done.

Lowest on the domestic pecking order, and often the first to be staffed, was the daily girl or charwoman. This entry level position was usually filled by a young girl in her teens who was responsible for general housekeeping and heavy cleaning. Depending upon the size of the domestic staff, she might also have laundry and other responsibilities as well. Think Cinderella without the help of the Fairy Godmother.

The next to be hired would usually be either a housemaid or a nursemaid depending upon the age of the children in the home. The housemaid would assist with serving meals and guests, freshen up the parlour, turning down the beds, and helping the Lady of the house with her personal needs. Sometimes she might even provide domestic services to other house staff of higher rank.

The nursemaid provided all of the services normally provided by today’s nanny. She dressed the children, bathed and fed them, took them outside to play, and acted in like a mother in many ways. In some instances it was actually possible for a “wet nurse” to breast feed infants in some Victorian homes.

The next in line to be hired would normally be the cook. The Cook had absolute authority over the kitchen and, in homes where there were no domestic staff beyond the charwoman and a housemaid was often responsible for supervising and hiring the domestic help as well.

This trio of char girl, nurse or housemaid and cook was capable of providing a wide range of services to the smaller and less affluent Victorian families. But for larger households, the hiring progression continued with the next in line usually being a male attendant. Depending upon the home, his responsibilities usually ranged from general maintenance, to providing valet services to the Lord of the mansion. He might also double as the stable keeper and drive the carriage as well.

For those households with larger staff needs, domestic staff were selected to fill specialized positions which varied among families. Available positions included a lady’s maid, kitchen maid, laundry maid, housekeeper (who automatically became the domestic staff supervisor unless a Butler was hired), groomsman, coachman, footman, a chef and a whole variety of upper and lower parlour maids, chamber maids and more. The very wealthy seemed to have a maid for every reason.

For homes with property (known as landed estates), there was always an assortment of grounds men, gardeners, stable boys and gamekeepers positions available.

The hours were long and the pay was dismal, but there was a sense of pride in being a valued domestic. In fact, many servants spent a lifetime with the same employer and often watched the children grow into the new Lords and Ladies of the Manor.

Aircraft of Connect Airlines are designed in New Zealand. The crew members are also generally from New Zealand. Domestic services are also available within the country. Auckland Airport is the main base for this airline service. The 737-400 aircraft were previously operated by the Australian Airlines and Qantas. 737-800 are the brand-new and an interesting form of the aircraft.

The historical background of Connect is indeed very interesting. It is known that, the domestic flights were operated by Jet Connect in New Zealand till the year 2009. The final domestic service was QF2728 (from Wellington to Auckland) and was operated by 737-300 ZK-JNC. Various places included in the routes of this domestic service are Auckland, Wellington, Rotorua, Christchurch and Queenstown.

Although being a new service, Connect is already earning good amount of profit. The response of the passengers has been good. It seems that the passengers are completely satisfied with the services provided during the flight. All safety issues have been studied carefully and necessary arrangements have been made for any kind of emergency situation. Majority of the crew members are experienced. All the members of the crew work with an objective to make the flight journey comfortable and ensure safety of the passengers.

Online booking of the tickets can be made at the official website of the company. The official website of Jet Connect is regularly updated. Technical experts maintain the website. Professional web designers have made the website presentable as well as informative. Connect Airlines is the best airline service in Auckland.

Domestic Services franchises cover a variety of services for example:-

Domestic Cleaning Franchise opportunities Domestic premises always require cleaning whether it be general house cleaning, carpet cleaning, upholstery cleaning and other such services.
Handyman Franchise opportunities Theres always odd jobs that need doing in the house and finding a handyman is not as easy these days as it was. Specialist handyman franchise opportunities have been formed which provide for this marketplace.
Kitchen Service Franchise businesses Kitchen services such as oven cleaning cover the sort of jobs people put off forever and having another person do it for them is an desirable offer. Kitchen door replacement franchise opportunities can give a facelift to a kitchen which is in need of a sprucing up.
Utility Franchise opportunities Gas and Electrical services are more and more regulated and there is a perpetual requirement for people with the training to perform home electrical and gas servicing and maintenance.
As with any business investment, when looking into taking on a Domestic Services Franchise business its prudent to carry out your research properly:-

What is it you enjoy doing? Study the selections and see what works best for you. You can see our %LINK3% section for a helpful variety of franchise businesses.
Take time to assess your funds and savings… what are the franchise costs and setup charges involved in the franchises for sale that are of interest to you
Make contact with the franchisors which attract you and discover everything you can in relation to their systems.
Organise to go to the franchisors head offices and get some insight into their operation and backup facilities.
Pick up a list of franchisees that you can chat to regarding each franchise. This will usually provide you a reasonable, on-the-ground view from those people who are operating the franchise system as a lifestyle.
Ensure you are up to date on the legal side of investing in a franchise by talking to a professional franchise lawyer.
A good number of the major banks have franchise departments… get in touch with them to discover what funding and facilities are offered.
In conclusion, make your choice and commit yourself to the necessary training and working the established system.

Domestic services, and more particularly home cleaning, relieves from your family’s shoulders all the workload necessary. To make ends meet, a lot of individuals are now so much more focused on their careers, that they no longer have time to allot to cleaning. This makes it always a better option to hire domestic cleaning services. The benefits from these services range from keeping up the hygiene of your home up to protecting your valuable property investment.

Cleanliness and hygiene are essential to keep in mind, to counter potential health risks and hazards. Reliable cleaners are essentially equipped with the right knowledge and expertise to clean your home down to the last speck of dirt or bacterium. There are a set of governing rules and licenses that need to be acquired by a cleaning company to be accorded clearance to offer such services. Perhaps one of the primary concerns about home cleaning is cost. In any type of product or service, cost and pricing is no longer an issue when we are equipped with accurate and comprehensive market information. There are now numerous resources, particularly on the internet, which can provide you with the best rates.

Aside from health and time issues, home cleaning provides a clean and tidy home which ultimately reflects your good qualities as a person. When your home is clean, tidy and organized, your friends, guests and onlookers will definitely receive a positive impression. Home cleaning and other domestic services are essential when we celebrate certain occasions, parties and gatherings. You’d have a hard time dealing with all the resulting mess all by yourself.

You can find a variety of types of domestic services… home cleaning, carpet cleaning, after-party cleaning, end-of-tenancy cleaning, shampooing, etc. But prior to contracting a particular company, you should have an idea as to which particular cleaning tasks need to be done. To be able to find really reliable cleaners, you could first gather and compare quotations, check relevant information from the internet and the newspaper, and get recommendations from your friends, or use those companies who have earned the most positive customer reviews. Finally, remember that your home is part of your investment, therefore it is a must to take good care of it.

And now I’d like to recommend to you Home Sparkle, a home cleaning company with a difference. We provide a range of domestic cleaning services across North London, with a team of reliable and thorough cleaners, who ensure your house, flat or home sparkles! If you want a clean and tidy house before or after your tenants move, trust Homesparkle. We also help with your home management, offering support with services that give you more time to relax and enjoy y