Rate increase after 3-4mths?

[CheeseSlice]

I'm still struggling to see how you're going to approach this. There are three or four motivations here: rise in cost of travel, and confidence in the value delivered to client, the initial discount to get your foot in the door and rising market rates. Are you going to put them together as a joint reason for upping your costs? IMO your weakest reason for doing this is the value you're delivering to the client. Unless you're doing something very niche or can do it particularly quickly, developers are perfectly replaceable and project managers really don't care who is doing this kind of work so long as its getting done. Market rates would be a better reason there because if you leave them they're going to have to get somebody else at market rate. Then again have they really changed that much in 4 months? The problem with using rising cost of travel as a reason is that a company can just recruit somebody who lives closer than you, unless they're relocating operations out into the sticks.

I'm not trying to talk you out of this, only you know your true situation with all of the information at hand. From experience - and I may just be bad at it - this is like a tough game of poker and you will often think you've got a stronger hand than you really do.

[rurffy]

the simple answer to that question is - if you dont ask you dont get .

[tarbera]

Ask for £50

Thanks all, yeah it'd be at renewal time. I've 20+ years dev + architecture experience in my skill area, so reasonably senior, but yes a few others above me in the project/team pecking order.
I wouldn't normally put in a request at this stage, but feeling pretty confident about my skills/experience/ benefit to clients these days and feel there's still perhaps a bit more potential scope for rate movement - maybe £25/day

Then you will get £25.

Its a lot of hassel for the PM to raise paperwork etc, if you asked me for a tenner rise I would put you down as a timewaster.

[northernladuk]

Sorry if this has been asked/answered. Do you have any idea of the margin the agent is on. Any extra rate is going to come from the agents cut. I doubt he will be going back to the client for more money so knowing what his percentages would be very useful to you here. If he is on fixed margin at 6% or so you are wasting your breath. If he is taking you to the cleaners on 15%+ it should be a walk in the park to get your money.

[tarbera]

agreed

Sorry if this has been asked/answered. Do you have any idea of the margin the agent is on. Any extra rate is going to come from the agents cut. I doubt he will be going back to the client for more money so knowing what his percentages would be very useful to you here. If he is on fixed margin at 6% or so you are wasting your breath. If he is taking you to the cleaners on 15%+ it should be a walk in the park to get your money.

If you can't get it out the agent dont waste clients time with such a tiny amount as will cost them up to a grand in time to get everything re-signed agreed etc

[Smartie]

Increase

I asked for a 10% hike at renewal after three months with one client, mostly because I pitched my initial rate quite low in order to get the gig. They also loved my work and had mentioned that they thought I was low cost(!) Worth asking if you feel you're worth it.

[cojak]

Don't forget to search the board for older posts on this topic, it has been discussed plenty of times. I recall the main CUK site has some articles too.

Re-negotiating at renewal time is a popular one. In my own experience the only way I've secured higher rates is to move on and set it correctly when starting the next contract. I believe raising rates part way through a contract is taking the mick unless the client or agent has already stated they'd be willing to consider after a period of time.

Yep, I do this too.