How quickly should we be expected to respond to contract offers?

[Joxer]

Any thoughts on an acceptable period of time to get back to an employer after a contract position has been offered?

What are the standard (and indeed max and min) lead times that experienced contractors have come across?

In my example I'm expecting an answer back from the client today (exactly a week from the first interview) - from people's experience would commiting to providing a response by say Monday lunchtime (to give it some final thought and kick off the leaving process from a current role) be entirely acceptable?

I appreciate that every client (and indeed hiring manager) is different but I'd be interested on hearing people's perspectives.

Thanks all and have a great weekend.

[Wanderer]

Any thoughts on an acceptable period of time to get back to an employer after a contract position has been offered?

When a position is offered, you are generally expected to make a decision on the spot. I normally accept the offer "subject to contract". For most of my jobs I've offered and accepted the contract within hours of the interview and started as soon as we could get the paperwork signed.

Clients seem to like it that way, interview, like, offer, accept, start monday. Likewise they will quickly drop you if things go wrong but hey, that's business.