Taking multiple contracts

[ensignia]

Currently doing this, it is hard work yeah, but obviously good moolah.

Don't listen to the permanently embittered NLUK, he always wades in to these threads stating some nonsense about misleading clients or whatnot, but he's obviously not capable of doing it so thinks no one should. Has no problem posting on here 24 hours a day for the past 10 years on clientco time though...

In terms of running multiple contracts concurrently: organise everything and plan in advance if you can, and tell at least one of the clients that there might be times you're not available or block your calendar out. You'll be working evenings and probably some of the weekend too, unless one of the clients is not demanding at all.

I've got two clients and both have been absolutely delighted - one has even extended twice now because they've been so impressed. 7 weeks work originally has turned into a full 5 months outside IR35 on a solid rate.

Go for it, I say. I was bricking it originally, but you just need to adapt. I'm due to start another contract as well, so there will be around a months overlap when I have 3 contracts but there's always ways you can make it work and please everybody.

[Lance]

Good point, well presented!

it's the same as the "I want to run my own consultancy" questions. If they have to ask they don't stand a chance. Doesn't mean it cannot be done, just that they probably cannot do it.

[NotAllThere]

Indeed and I bet you didn't have to ask a bunch of randoms if it's possible to do it either which I think speaks volumes. If people have to ask then I'd be willing to bet they aren't ready and shouldn't be doing it.

Good point, well presented!

[northernladuk]

I went through my entire contracting career being told by managers that they didn't care what the actual hours were, so long as the job got done. I understand that for Bums on Seats it's somewhat different.

Indeed and I bet you didn't have to ask a bunch of randoms if it's possible to do it either which I think speaks volumes. If people have to ask then I'd be willing to bet they aren't ready and shouldn't be doing it.

[NotAllThere]

I went through my entire contracting career being told by managers that they didn't care what the actual hours were, so long as the job got done. I understand that for Bums on Seats it's somewhat different.

[northernladuk]

It's what those offshore companies do. And unlike them, if the client is getting what they want, who cares whether you do it in 7.5 hours or 1? Professional working day works any way you like it to.

That's true but that is all described in their contract and the way they engage with the client, which generally isn't a 9 to 5 T&M which we have. I think you are right in the first half but I don't think the prof working day comment is strictly true. Prof working day works any way the contract dictates, not any way YOU like it. If you are contracted to delivery 8 hours work then yeah PWD gives you the flexibility to do that in a way that suits you but you still deliver to the client. It doesn't mean you do 4 hours when the client (rightly or wrongly) is looking for 8 hours work.

So when you say anyway you like it to is within the constraints of the contract and client expectation.

Problem is, as many say, the way our contracts are written. When we get away from 8 hours bum on seats then the world will be a different place. At the moment it isn't.

[perplexed]

Expected to work 9.5, 7.5 hours a day is typical T&M which we as contractors really need to get away from... milestone payments properly defined mean multiple contracts are better facilitated because it doesn't matter when you do the work as long as you hit the milestones.

[NotAllThere]

I would hazard a guess you aren't giving 100% and a full 7.5 hours per day to each client which I am sorry but is wrong

It's what those offshore companies do. And unlike them, if the client is getting what they want, who cares whether you do it in 7.5 hours or 1? Professional working day works any way you like it to.

[ladymuck]

again you're making pronouncements from on high without know WTF you are talking about.
None of my clients are paying for me full time. They are all aware. I balance my time.
Just cos you're a bum on seat contractor doesn't mean we all are.

And if I plan my work well, then I have more than one client paying for the same work as they all want similar. If I do a design for a solution I don't rewrite it entirely. Every customer who uses it pays full price for it. Even if I only have to spend 2 hours making it work for them.

Reusing design patterns is just sensible business.

I remember when I used to do loads in Excel - analysis and reporting stuff with VBA and formulae all over the wazoo. My client mentioned something about the code I produced being their IP and I said they couldn't claim that as I'd taken it from work I'd done before for other clients and just tailored it to the solution I was being asked to deliver, and I would continue to reuse in other scenarios where it could be applied.

Reuse instead of reinvent

You don't see Ford redesigning a car from scratch everytime someone wants to buy one...

[Lance]

I would hazard a guess you aren't giving 100% and a full 7.5 hours per day to each client which I am sorry but is wrong

again you're making pronouncements from on high without know WTF you are talking about.
None of my clients are paying for me full time. They are all aware. I balance my time.
Just cos you're a bum on seat contractor doesn't mean we all are.

And if I plan my work well, then I have more than one client paying for the same work as they all want similar. If I do a design for a solution I don't rewrite it entirely. Every customer who uses it pays full price for it. Even if I only have to spend 2 hours making it work for them.