What is the best way to find out my chargeable day rate?

[Cirrus]

Agents aren't like Tesco. There isn't a price and that's what pops up at the checkout.

Your project manager may have a figure but that's come from a half-baked calculation by Finance who may have all sorts of motivations pushing them in different directions.

There are rate card discounts; bulk discounts, free services, entertainment etc. Your agency contact may not know because generally there are different people for contract and perm so they may not individually know the overall turnover/discount etc.

Ask around by all means. Lots of people are happy to talk about such matters. But be careful - margins are usually a lot lower than they first appear.

[WTFH]

If you want to find out your rate, do a really bad job one day in front of the PM/finance director, then get a colleague to go out drinking with them.
After a few beers they will let slip that they can't believe they pay £125 a day for you.


...hey presto, you find out your current rate and you know what to put on your CV for your next contract.

[SueEllen]

If you want to find out your rate, do a really bad job one day in front of the PM/finance director, then get a colleague to go out drinking with them.
After a few beers they will let slip that they can't believe they pay £125 a day for you.


...hey presto, you find out your current rate and you know what to put on your CV for your next contract.

Some of them leave rates showing on their computer screen, while others forget to remove paper of the photocopier...

[LondonManc]

This was 2012 ish, ballroom not used as a ballroom then, the Teradata team lived there......

No point to story, just to impress the ladies with my knowledge of folding and rolling shutter doors before I start on composite fire doors, Filuma Garage doors, and induction loop gate commissionaire units....

You sound like the absolute life and soul. I'd almost rather have a pint with d000hg and assguru.

[stek]

You sound like the absolute life and soul. I'd almost rather have a pint with d000hg and assguru.

[MrMarkyMark]

Is that some kind of Northern sexual offer?
I wonder what urban dictionary says

[clearedforlanding]

Whilst I generally agree that if you accept a rate you're happy with, the rate charged to the client by the agency shouldn't be your concern, there is one specific scenario where knowing this rate can be important:

For example:
Client --£600--> Agent --£500--> You
Client --£550--> Agent --£500--> Other Contractor

Agent has 2 contractors (who are for all intents and purposes equal in skill & experience) in the same client co, with the client co paying slightly more for you than the other contractor, despite you both getting the same rate from the agency.

Client has to cut budget and decides to reduce contractor head count. Who will the client choose?

Also has inflationary impact on the client expectation of the amount/calibre of work you should be doing .