Lack of work during contract

[unixman]

If you don't have enough work, go and do some other work. The client should be happy as they're not paying you for nothing, and you can get on with something more useful/enjoyable to yourself. This how I've ended up with multiple part-time contracts.

Very interesting Cleatus. Care to share some more detail on how you approached the client with your proposal to go part time?

[unixman]

i'd suggest you go and try and get a full understanding of your situation and all it's nuances before posting any more on it then.

peak nluk klaxxon

[psychocandy]

on previous gig, when i was discussing this matter with my accountant I had a lot of ebay activity and had that on my LTD , doing contract at the same time, and not being Vat registered then.

Now today I have moved ebay activity on self-assesment (sole trading or whatever) and considering moving my money making websites to my LTD so that *maybe* they would have helped me with any IR35 investigations. Not sure what would be the VAT status of such income as i'm on flat rate, because of consultancy work.

What you sell on ebay then?

[diseasex]

What you sell on ebay then?

Wheeling dealing and wholesaling electronics . Depending how much overtime money i want

[NotAllThere]

Very interesting Cleatus. Care to share some more detail on how you approached the client with your proposal to go part time?

"There's not enough work to keep my occupied five days a week on what I'm contracted for at the moment. I suggest that I just come in 3 days a week to do what's necessary, until/unless the workload increases."

I once did a 100K contract for only 30K, because the client had hopelessly miscalculated the amount of work required. I more than made up the remaining 70K with other work for other clients. The project manager was delighted because it helped him stick to budget, and that led to more work.

All that's required is a flexible attitude and a good reputation, coupled with the ability to deliver. I've been doing this for nearly ten years.

[LondonManc]

NLUK is correct. You're being paid to deliver a professional working day. It doesn't look that professional if you're seen on your own laptop all day, barely touching any of ClientCo's work stuff.

It's a perception thing, ultra-political.

[Troll]

if you can do your own work then definitely use this time and do it... just don't get cought.
While being permie a while ago, i had the same problem. endlessly browsing wasnt enough so i started to do actual side work, programming apps and selling stuff on ebay. Managed to nearly double my salary for some period

You may need to revisit your English lessons HTH

[nomadd]

I once did a 100K contract for only 30K, because the client had hopelessly miscalculated the amount of work required.

I've spent most of my contracting career doing it the other way round - billing £100k for £30k worth of work. Client miscalculations have helped keep me off the bench for most of the last 27 years.

EDIT: To the OP: Find a set of new(ish) techs that are somehow - even if remotely - connected to your current role. Learn them on-site in your quiet periods with an aim to see how you could integrate them in with what your a currently doing, hopefully improving things along the way for them. You've no idea how much extra business I've gained by doing this. A quick word with a Manager - or at the daily standup - of "Hey, maybe you could consider using XXX to do YYY instead?" works wonders. And even if they don't take up your ideas, you walk away with some new skills on your c.v. and a few extra months worth of billing. Plus you have also stopped yourself from becoming bored and/or looking the office layabout.

[SueEllen]

I've spent most of my contracting career doing it the other way round - billing £100k for £30k worth of work. Client miscalculations have helped keep me off the bench for most of the last 27 years.

EDIT: To the OP: Find a set of new(ish) techs that are somehow - even if remotely - connected to your current role. Learn them on-site in your quiet periods with an aim to see how you could integrate them in with what your a currently doing, hopefully improving things along the way for them. You've no idea how much extra business I've gained by doing this. A quick word with a Manager - or at the daily standup - of "Hey, maybe you could consider using XXX to do YYY instead?" works wonders. And even if they don't take up your ideas, you walk away with some new skills on your c.v. and a few extra months worth of billing. Plus you have also stopped yourself from becoming bored and/or looking the office layabout.

Damn - you have explained my theory.

[MrMarkyMark]

I've spent most of my contracting career doing it the other way round - billing £100k for £30k worth of work. Client miscalculations have helped keep me off the bench for most of the last 27 years.

Sounds like you "added value" (to your own contractor business)