Which umbrella - OrangeGenie vs Parasol

[smithsi]

Just about to start a new contract and want to use an umbrella to limit the hassle factor on a first contract.

Any recommendations on which agency to use?

I get the impression that the service received from OrangeGenie has improved of late and that they are generally pretty good at processing the necessary based on someone who uses them.

Parasol seems to be the largest? Any recommendations for them?

[Waldorf]

Umbrellas are possibly ok to test the contracting world, but they are not the best financial option.

HMRC have announced they wish to crack down on this area anyway, so it looks like their days are numbered anyway.

[pmeswani]

Just about to start a new contract and want to use an umbrella to limit the hassle factor on a first contract.

Any recommendations on which agency to use?

I get the impression that the service received from OrangeGenie has improved of late and that they are generally pretty good at processing the necessary based on someone who uses them.

Parasol seems to be the largest? Any recommendations for them?

I was with Parasol (Umbrella) when I started Contracting. They are extremely good at providing advances (I think it's up to 50%) when in times of need. From what I recall, PCG also have an agreement of some sort with Parasol.

[TheBigYinJames]

Umbrellas are possibly ok to test the contracting world, but they are not the best financial option.
HMRC have announced they wish to crack down on this area anyway, so it looks like their days are numbered anyway.

It depends what your priorities are, I've been contracting for 15 years, both as a Ltd and with a brolly, and my priorities these days with a growing family is low risk and no-hassle, which makes a brolly the best option for me. I'm not maximising my income from contracting, but that's not as important for me as it is for single young blokes with something to prove until they lose their virginity.

HMRC in parallel with the crackdown* on Umbrellas have also promised to revisit IR35, so you may find that Ltds get clobbered with the same expenses legislation as brollies, so don't be so smug.


*crackdown = public consultation, which is miles and miles away from legislation, so far that it's bound to be after this govts term of office.

[TheBigYinJames]

Parasol seems to be the largest? Any recommendations for them?

Your topic subject seems to imply there are only two, when there are many. Most of them do whet athey say on the tin, I wouldn't get too het up about the difference between them.

[Sausage Surprise]

Just about to start a new contract and want to use an umbrella to limit the hassle factor on a first contract.

Any recommendations on which agency to use?

I get the impression that the service received from OrangeGenie has improved of late and that they are generally pretty good at processing the necessary based on someone who uses them.

Parasol seems to be the largest? Any recommendations for them?

Where's the hassle in starting up a Ltd and maximising your income?

[TheBigYinJames]

Where's the hassle in starting up a Ltd and maximising your income?

Reams of paperwork, VAT returns, PAYE returns, CGT returs, CT returns, end of year accounts, phoning accountants, meeting HMRC deadlines or else.... all this takes time and get it wrong you are in hot water, legally and finiancially.

If you have the time in your life to spend the hours per month (times your hourly rate, remember) then fine, go for it. I got a buzz out of running a Ltd when I did it.. until the novelty wore off and it just became a load of paperwork.

There's more to life than squeezing the last penny out of your work. It's the contractor equivalent of permies climbing the greasy pole - unpleasant, unneccessary and ultimately futile.

[malvolio]

Reams of paperwork, VAT returns, PAYE returns, CGT returs, CT returns, end of year accounts, phoning accountants, meeting HMRC deadlines or else.... all this takes time and get it wrong you are in hot water, legally and finiancially.

If you have the time in your life to spend the hours per month (times your hourly rate, remember) then fine, go for it. I got a buzz out of running a Ltd when I did it.. until the novelty wore off and it just became a load of paperwork.

There's more to life than squeezing the last penny out of your work. It's the contractor equivalent of permies climbing the greasy pole - unpleasant, unneccessary and ultimately futile.

Balls. 20 minutes a week, tops, mostly spent logging your costs and invoices. Any more than that then you're either in retail or doing it wrong

[TheBigYinJames]

Balls. 20 minutes a week, tops, mostly spent logging your costs and invoices. Any more than that then you're either in retail or doing it wrong

Balls to you too, with bells on. I don't understand why, if you are so puffed up with the achievement of running your own Ltd, you are always underselling the complexity of doing so. You would imagine you'd want to make it look harder than it is, instead of telling everybody what a breeze it is.

20 mins a week for maintenance accounts possibly, but you spend a lot more than that at year end time.

[newbee]

[QUOTE=smithsi;595479]Just about to start a new contract and want to use an umbrella to limit the hassle factor on a first contract.

Any recommendations on which agency to use?

I was previously with parasol, they are large but I had huge problems- will not answer questions, passed around for a simple query to be answered, no complaints procedure( the manager promised to call to sort issues, but I had to chase for that call 2-3 times). Left them, and have since gone ltd.

Google umbrella super market , they have a huge list of umbrellas.