Any ideas on good engagement models?

[CHC]

I have my own limited company, and am searching for my next contract. I have found a company who are looking to move into a new business area where I could help them out. What they don't know is whether the work will be regular. They do have other stuff I can do for them as 'infill' work, which would be useful but not as focused on my main skillset.

Understandably they don't want to commit to a major expense until they prove the business case, so we are thinking about how we can structure an engagement. I don't want to be left without work for a long time waiting for them, nor to commit to an arrangement with them which when work is available I can't then honour due to having taken other contract work.

I would prefer remaining a contractor than become an employee, as generally it's more lucrative (and having set the company up fairly recently it would be a blow to close it down so soon!).

The options I have thought about are:

• Become an employee
• Take a 6 month fixed term contract (pseudo employee) and see how it works out, and discuss after that
• Take an initial 6 month contract and charge differential rates - higher for 'real' work, less for 'infill' work, and review at the end

I half suspect it may boil down to employee or nothing.

As no agency is involved I would also have to draft a suitable contract, though they may have one we could adapt.

As I'm relatively new to contracting I'm interested in what others have done, what I can add to this list, and from experience what works and what doesn't.

Thanks in advance.

[Alias]

You could try a fixed price piece of work? i.e. come up with a total amount for 6 months and then work on it as and when it comes up, getting paid the full amount at the end of it or until you can agree better terms?

[CHC]

You could try a fixed price piece of work? i.e. come up with a total amount for 6 months and then work on it as and when it comes up, getting paid the full amount at the end of it or until you can agree better terms?

Interesting, thanks. Could allow me to charge the higher rate for work I do and have some time off - as long as we specify a minimum amount overall.

Very interested in other useful suggestions folks.

[TheFaQQer]

Interesting, thanks. Could allow me to charge the higher rate for work I do and have some time off - as long as we specify a minimum amount overall.

Very interested in other useful suggestions folks.

If it's fixed price, then the whole point is that you don't specify a minimum (or maximum) amount overall. Otherwise, it's a time hire / time and materials basis with some kind of cap to prevent it going too high.

[CHC]

If it's fixed price, then the whole point is that you don't specify a minimum (or maximum) amount overall. Otherwise, it's a time hire / time and materials basis with some kind of cap to prevent it going too high.

OK - I think the higher cap may be a slight red herring. I don't think they would have an issue paying for my time when there is work to be done (it's a services arrangement to their clients so the cost will be time based), I think it's more a case of I want there to be a lower cap on the effort involved to make sure I don't go 6 months with too little work.

I appreciate the input guys - it's certainly getting the grey cells working and helping me rationalise what I do need out of this.

[Batcher]

Why not try and get more than one client at a time?

[CHC]

Why not try and get more than one client at a time?

Mentally I had equated 'client' to 'full-time', which is usually true in my line of work, but this has given me something else to explore as well .... Thanks.

Please everyone don't worry about stating the obvious - it's amazing how much of what is obvious to you is news to others.

[NotAllThere]

I work on a part time basis for different clients. You'd be surprised how many companies need someone for short periods, or not full time, but can't find anyone, as most contractors and agencies are only interested in fulltime 3,6, 12 month roles.

My clients get a contract for, e.g. 25 days over six months. If they use it all, fine. If they need more, they can extend. If they don't use it all, that's fine too. They pay a premium for that flexibility,and also understand that if they don't give me enough notice, I might not be available. I've been doing this for eight years and it's worked out pretty well so far.

[Antman]

I work on a part time basis for different clients. You'd be surprised how many companies need someone for short periods, or not full time, but can't find anyone, as most contractors and agencies are only interested in fulltime 3,6, 12 month roles.

My clients get a contract for, e.g. 25 days over six months. If they use it all, fine. If they need more, they can extend. If they don't use it all, that's fine too. They pay a premium for that flexibility,and also understand that if they don't give me enough notice, I might not be available. I've been doing this for eight years and it's worked out pretty well so far.

PM'ed you

[Batcher]

I work on a part time basis for different clients. You'd be surprised how many companies need someone for short periods, or not full time, but can't find anyone, as most contractors and agencies are only interested in fulltime 3,6, 12 month roles.

My clients get a contract for, e.g. 25 days over six months. If they use it all, fine. If they need more, they can extend. If they don't use it all, that's fine too. They pay a premium for that flexibility,and also understand that if they don't give me enough notice, I might not be available. I've been doing this for eight years and it's worked out pretty well so far.

I've not PM'ed you