Contract options for consultancy work

[Spoiler]

Why can't you just list the deliverables expected from this piece of work? If it is just a bum on a seat not knowing what your deliverables are and you just do what the client wants then all this is a bit hypothetical. The role and its working practices are inside

The deliverables will subtly change for each engagement.

So the first piece of work could be "Deliver platform upgrade for client A. 10 days PS".
The next work stream "install new infrastructure and migrate data and services from legacy platform. 30 days PS".

I'd prefer not to have a different schedule of work for each engagement (instead just a PO), but a generic schedule that is included with the initial contract.

[northernladuk]

The deliverables will subtly change for each engagement.

So the first piece of work could be "Deliver platform upgrade for client A. 10 days PS".
The next work stream "install new infrastructure and migrate data and services from legacy platform. 30 days PS".

I'd prefer not to have a different schedule of work for each engagement (instead just a PO), but a generic schedule that is included with the initial contract.

Sounds more like D&C bum on seat stuff to me that.

[Spoiler]

Sounds more like D&C bum on seat stuff to me that.

I'd disagree.

[northernladuk]

I'd disagree.

I'm sure you do. I am a bit lost on what you are trying to offer but if you have an overarching contract per client with no end date, billing T&M, set work number of days doing any task the client wants you are going to have a hard time convincing HMRC you are not just a disguised permie. They have contracts with no end date and are told what to do. Direction and Control are one of the pillars of your IR35 defense. I don't quite understand how your term 'engagement' works. If you have an overarching contract then that is your engagement, the rest is just work you are told to do. Needs careful wording.

Having multiple clients was good for the now defunct BET's but IR35 is on a contract by contract basis.

If you are wanting to be a supplier on a call off basis I can't help think you don't want a standard PSC contract. You need a different one to differentiate yourself from us. Fixed price/call off or something that doesn't look like you just come in and get told what to do. I'm just a BoS so I can't help but so far there are a couple of gotcha's I think you need to be wary of.

[fidot]

An over-arching contract with a schedule for each piece of work is the right way forward.

[malvolio]

An over-arching contract with a schedule for each piece of work is the right way forward.

Yep, agree.

[MrMarkyMark]

An over-arching contract with a schedule for each piece of work is the right way forward.

+2 Agree

[jamesbrown]

+3

[LondonManc]

+4, but potentially look at fixed price quoting for each deliverable to get you more outside IR35 than D&C would suggest you are.

[MrMarkyMark]

+4, but potentially look at fixed price quoting for each deliverable to get you more outside IR35 than D&C would suggest you are.

If he puts the below level of detail in an an overarching contract he should be more than covered, IMO.

So the first piece of work could be "Deliver platform upgrade for client A. 10 days PS".
The next work stream "install new infrastructure and migrate data and services from legacy platform. 30 days PS".