starting my 1st contract

[Guy Incognito]

I can recommend Starling - never had any issues they respond very quickly to In-App chat.

[rocktronAMP]

After being a permi for 10 years, I have decided to get into contracting. Have got a potential offer from an agent for an initial work of 4 months outside IR35. Agency is pushing for their sister umbrella company, but I think its better to go ltd as its IR35.

-The client wants me to start from next week. Since its my 1st contract I don't know the steps. Can any experienced ones in here, tell me on what happens next and anything I need to be aware of? (contract review? etc).
-I haven't got ltd setup yet, but believe it only takes few minutes/hours to get it done online.
-Agent hasn't talked about the hourly rate since first time and the range specified on advert. Should I explicitly do that before offer, or see what he comes with?

Thanks!

How have you got a contract when several experienced contractors have been benched, looking for new client contracts, since January 2023?

If your legal contract is an Outside IR35 engagement then get your contract checked by QDOS or AJD Consultancy before you sign it.
QDOS will want to see a water tight SDS (HMRC private secotor off payroll worker rules 2021) and they will advise if your contract is Outside IR35.

I am worried about the initial duration of just 4 months. You don't mention any renewal possibilities above. So you will be in a world of pain if the contract finishes in 4 month or they just dump you after 3 months. Contact lengths tend be 3, 6, 9 or 12 months long. NLK will explain to you about the notice period, so I'ill let him do that.
Your big issue in this severe economy is continually finding Outside IR35 compliant contracts in order for contracting business to work over 2 years. It is really is Feast and famine out there. Have a serious read of the State of the Market thread (https://forums.contractoruk.com/busi...arket-827.html) , and you will understand the dire straits the UK contracting market is. And good luck to you in 2023, you are going to need it.

[londonrulz]

rocktronAMP An agent approached me and couple of interviews later had an offer.

Could be because of my experience in a certain niche area. Its only few months so will soon figure out how well the contracting career goes!

Thought AI and data science and cloud had lot of opportunities going on...

[TheDude]

How have you got a contract when several experienced contractors have been benched, looking for new client contracts, since January 2023?

Just because somebody is an experienced contractor it doesn't necessarily follow that their skills are in demand or even that they are particularly competent.

I have worked with many contractors that loved to talk about their part share in a light aircraft and buy to lets but have been mediocre developers.

[DrewG]

Just because somebody is an experienced contractor it doesn't necessarily follow that their skills are in demand or even that they are particularly competent.

I have worked with many contractors that loved to talk about their part share in a light aircraft and buy to lets but have been mediocre developers.

Are you really a crap dev if your dev pay lets you buy aircraft and houses?

[SussexSeagull]

Are you really a crap dev if your dev pay lets you buy aircraft and houses?

There are contractors who aren't that good and basically spend all their time looking for the next contract who for never seem to be out of work (although I am not so sure about that at the moment(.