Contractor Mindset

[marty_boy]

Hi - found lots of good advice on this board so far so hoping some kind folks will have some more good advice.

The good news is my contract is outside of IR35 and I have set up my own limited company and employed an accountant - so far so good. Also looking at ways in which to run my company as a real business i.e. company letterheads, web address etc

My question is how I get the message across to my client that I am not an employee without getting terminated. Having been a permie employee for a number of years I could use some helpful advice on thinking like a contractor rather than an employee.

For instance what steps can I take to avoid being deemed as a disguised employee/ temp by the IR if my company was to be investigated?

Thanks

[Mailman]

As much as many people want there to be there is no difference between a permie and a contractor. Both, in a perfect world, are dedicated professionals

Frankly how some of you goons get contracts outside of serving big macs is a mystery

Mailman

[DodgyAgent]

Hi - found lots of good advice on this board so far so hoping some kind folks will have some more good advice.

The good news is my contract is outside of IR35 and I have set up my own limited company and employed an accountant - so far so good. Also looking at ways in which to run my company as a real business i.e. company letterheads, web address etc

My question is how I get the message across to my client that I am not an employee without getting terminated. Having been a permie employee for a number of years I could use some helpful advice on thinking like a contractor rather than an employee.

For instance what steps can I take to avoid being deemed as a disguised employee/ temp by the IR if my company was to be investigated?

Thanks

The first thing you can do is to be prepared to take responsibility for your work. So for example in your contract offer to give "post contract" support.
It would also show that you are a business if you were to invest in professional indemnity insurance. Also notice clauses for you to "walk away" should be removed.
The more that you can align what you do as if you were a service provider or business the better.

[malvolio]

Blood Hell, DA - I find myself agreeing with you yet again.

He's right though - take responsibility for your work, keep out of politics, do not join in corporate activities (although beers after work are probably OK!), work with the rest of the team but remember you are not actually part of it. Never, ever discuss rate, taxation or the problems of being a freelance with any of your clients staff - apart from anythin else, they won't believe you.

You are (supposed) to be an independent professional, so act like one. It's not that easy to keep the mindset at first, but you find it comes with practice.

[XLMonkey]

Find a mentor

A lot of people struggle with the switch from being employed by someone to working for themselves. On the IR35/tax side of the situation it's easy -- just subscribe to the professional contractors group, read their guidance and follow it (and I do mean follow it, the advice is good, most of the questions about newbie contracting on this forum are answered quicker and better on the material they publish).

the harder bit is thinking like an independent professional, as opposed to someone else's resource. Discussion sites like this can be helpful (though remember that the information on it is worth exactly what you paid for it) -- but if this really is your first time then I'd advise trying to find a mentor who you can get some proper advice and support from. Needs to be a contractor friend/ex-colleage/experienced independent contractor with your current client that you will see on a reasonably regular basis. If you ask, I think you'd be (un)surprised by how willing they will be to share the benefit of their experience. They're all know-it-alls who like nothing more than the sound of their own opinions.

..... just like me

[morphman]

First and foremost. Act like you are working for your own company, and not theirs. That means not being worried about setting your own terms (probably on things that are fairly negotiable anyway), such as working hours, overtime rates, late payment charges.
Try to get a contract in fixed portions of work. If you are direct, you would be advised to ask your Client:-
"What is your requirement" - Then offer to fulfill that requirement for X pounds in X period of time. That way you are a service provider.
If you contract basically says - will do thy managers bidding, then you havnt got much chance of staying outside IR35.

[DodgyAgent]

Blood Hell, DA - I find myself agreeing with you yet again.

He's right though - take responsibility for your work, keep out of politics, do not join in corporate activities (although beers after work are probably OK!), work with the rest of the team but remember you are not actually part of it. Never, ever discuss rate, taxation or the problems of being a freelance with any of your clients staff - apart from anythin else, they won't believe you.

You are (supposed) to be an independent professional, so act like one. It's not that easy to keep the mindset at first, but you find it comes with practice.

Malvolio, people will start talking if we dont soon have a bust up

What do you think about foxhunting?

[malvolio]

All for it, although I always preferred a .22 to a pack of hounds - then again I grew up on farms and live in rural Somerset, so I'm possibly not totally representative; after all, it's only townies who think they are cute!

but did you know more foxes are dying now than before it was banned... ?

[malvolio]

Yeah, but where's the skill? Shotguns are not exactly precision instruments, are they.

[DimPrawn]

Especially that stinking puss ridden thing that insists on running across my lawn.

Shooting ones wife is still illegal I believe.