No agency: any pitfalls?

[NickFitz]

I'm just about to start a new contract arranged directly with a (very) large new media company, with no agency involved. I'm working through an umbrella company. Are there any tips, tricks or traps I should be aware of in connection with the client contracting directly with the brolly?

TIA :-)

[Spacecadet]

you're open to abuse by the company not paying invoices in a timely fashion. I've known contractors go 3-4 months without getting paid and then getting all outstanding invoices cleared in one go, effectively meaning that they're only paid 4 times a year!

[thunderlizard]

Have a word with Meerkat on that other thread. You both seem to have lots in common.

[chicane]

Is there such a thing as a "very large" new media company?

All the "new media companies" I deal directly with are 15-20 employees, and the person who pays the invoices is just a phone call away if you feel the need to abuse them for non-payment (which I often have to).

Despite all this, I recently had to wait 6 months for payment of an invoice from such a company, despite constant harrassment. Don't underestimate the convenience of working through an agency.

[NickFitz]

you're open to abuse by the company not paying invoices in a timely fashion. I've known contractors go 3-4 months without getting paid and then getting all outstanding invoices cleared in one go, effectively meaning that they're only paid 4 times a year!

I'll be making sure that doesn't happen; I know a number of people on the team already, and know that they pay in a timely manner. Also, they understand the importance of keeping their developers happy, unlike a lot of companies.

Is there such a thing as a "very large" new media company?

They generally describe themselves as a media company to distinguish themselves from their main competitor, and everything they do is online so I would call them a new media company.

As for very large: well, I probably shouldn't say who it is, but their name ends with an exclamation mark and they employ thousands of people worldwide... so yes, I think "very large" is justified

[BlasterBates]

You probably are going to have chase up invoices. Big companies only pay when they really need to. Agencies, on the whole, provide a buffer paying contractors on time whilst they chase up the invoices, and obviously for them doing this part of their daily routine.

The other thing to be aware of is that you are a supplier, an Agency sees you as a source of revenue. However if you go direct, you will be dealing with a purchasing manager who's job it is to push the costs down.

[Rantor]

You probably are going to have chase up invoices. Big companies only pay when they really need to. Agencies, on the whole, provide a buffer paying contractors on time whilst they chase up the invoices, and obviously for them doing this part of their daily routine.

The other thing to be aware of is that you are a supplier, an Agency sees you as a source of revenue. However if you go direct, you will be dealing with a purchasing manager who's job it is to push the costs down.

Absolutely! Don't rely on payment terms being respected and do expect them to try and knock you down in price at any given opportunity.

Oh, always trying to get you to go permie. One of my two clients is always trying this. The incentive is a "promotion" that would formalise what I do now plus more paperwork i.e. more work for less money. Don't know how long I can resist

[NickFitz]

Thanks for your advice everyone

Just to let you know how it turned out: the only problems with payments were due to the brolly messing up and sending generated invoices to the bitbucket rather than the client. Once that was sorted out, the client was a very fast and reliable payer.

Sadly, the gig only lasted six months as the client's US management put the kibosh on any contract extensions during one of their innumerable management reorganisations, which ultimately led to their downfall the other day: Yahoo shares jump after Verizon merger - BBC News

But the experience has stood me in good stead over the years, and it led to me joining CUK, so it's all good

[jamesbrown]

10 years...

[NickFitz]

10 years...

…and counting!