Met a client and discussed their project - sounds right up my street and pretty much got offered the job on the spot. Got / had 2 other interviews, but I'm not quite as interested in them due to their working arrangements. Other contracts are much higher rates, though rate isn't a primary driver for me if I'm honest; other offers will just allow me to bolster my negotiation position, as you would expect.
Raised a caveat with the client during the meeting that the rate was lower than my normal / market rate for the services I'm providing. Didn't give any specific figures around what the agent's margin was, but figured it out based on some "suggestions" that were thrown around in the meeting - between 20 and 30%. Agent confirmed the margin on the phone afterwards - which was an unexpected bonus - and I informed them I'd want a fairly significant rate increase if I was to take the job - though what I've asked for is still well below quoted rate + their margin (i.e. they will still "make" money on my day rate, whether its classed as profit or not). Asked them if they'd offset any of it by reducing their margin as the client has already agreed a top-end budget with them - obviously they're not keen and tbh, I don't blame them.
Only paperwork involved is the "right to represent" email I sent back to the agent before the interview. Other than that, there are no contracts in place on either side - client is worried about signing the agency contract because of all the terms in it, but I expect that will happen before we engage.
Pretty sure the client is ready to give me the project, but I've got a feeling I'm not going to get much - if any - movement on rate, which is a deal breaker due to travelling / accommodation costs. If there's no movement when I speak to the agent, it's simply not doable.
Yep... I know... "move on" I hear you say... but my question is this; apart from the obvious moral issues and pissing the agency off, can I go direct with the client if the agency refuse to swallow the rate increase? I normally have no issue with agencies taking their cut, but in this instance it seems like I may miss out on a good opportunity because the agency refuse to drop their margin OR the client refuses to increase their budget. I appreciate that contracts can be verbal / implied - though it's not my side I'm concerned about, its whether suggesting to the client that we go direct would put them on edge (they've already expressed that they wish they'd seen my website / met me before they got the agency involved!).
This also bodes the question - how long would I need to wait before I can engage with the client directly after introduction? The client has already expressed that they would be very interested in me providing them with more ad-hoc services in the future (which I'm all for). I've not seen or signed a contract, so it's not just a case of looking at the restriction clauses.
Raised a caveat with the client during the meeting that the rate was lower than my normal / market rate for the services I'm providing. Didn't give any specific figures around what the agent's margin was, but figured it out based on some "suggestions" that were thrown around in the meeting - between 20 and 30%. Agent confirmed the margin on the phone afterwards - which was an unexpected bonus - and I informed them I'd want a fairly significant rate increase if I was to take the job - though what I've asked for is still well below quoted rate + their margin (i.e. they will still "make" money on my day rate, whether its classed as profit or not). Asked them if they'd offset any of it by reducing their margin as the client has already agreed a top-end budget with them - obviously they're not keen and tbh, I don't blame them.
Only paperwork involved is the "right to represent" email I sent back to the agent before the interview. Other than that, there are no contracts in place on either side - client is worried about signing the agency contract because of all the terms in it, but I expect that will happen before we engage.
Pretty sure the client is ready to give me the project, but I've got a feeling I'm not going to get much - if any - movement on rate, which is a deal breaker due to travelling / accommodation costs. If there's no movement when I speak to the agent, it's simply not doable.
Yep... I know... "move on" I hear you say... but my question is this; apart from the obvious moral issues and pissing the agency off, can I go direct with the client if the agency refuse to swallow the rate increase? I normally have no issue with agencies taking their cut, but in this instance it seems like I may miss out on a good opportunity because the agency refuse to drop their margin OR the client refuses to increase their budget. I appreciate that contracts can be verbal / implied - though it's not my side I'm concerned about, its whether suggesting to the client that we go direct would put them on edge (they've already expressed that they wish they'd seen my website / met me before they got the agency involved!).
This also bodes the question - how long would I need to wait before I can engage with the client directly after introduction? The client has already expressed that they would be very interested in me providing them with more ad-hoc services in the future (which I'm all for). I've not seen or signed a contract, so it's not just a case of looking at the restriction clauses.
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