Business acumen!

[BrilloPad]

How much time would your solution save? I am amazed they wont pay for that!

Shame you aren't being paid a set rate for the task......

[scooterscot]

Did you develop this software before starting at the company, or after seeing the need for it once you started?

No. This software is developed and owned by a large US organisation. I've purchased a license to use it which costs me mega bucks to have it installed and maintained on a machine of my choice. The computer it's installed on is worth as much as a paperweight compared to the money I've shelled out on this software.

Both client and I now see a need to use in order to give the end customer confidence in our results.

My job, as I've explained to my client, is to get results quickly and effortlessly in the best way I know how. However nothing was said in the contract about using such such tools, if any. However I feel I should make my client aware that the option exists.

[scooterscot]

How much time would your solution save? I am amazed they wont pay for that!

Shame you aren't being paid a set rate for the task......

I reckon I'd spend an extra month going down the spreadsheet route.

However it's not the cost of employing me that's the concern for them, it's when the end client asks, so how do you do this calculation? They'll have zero confidence in the work and my client knows it.

[Spacecadet]

difficult situation, they probably feel as if they have been ambushed into paying for something they thought they would be getting already as part of your day rate.

Maybe in future you should get this sort of thing specified in the contract

for instance mine has a section detailing facilities and equipment provided:
FACILITIES/EQUIPMENT PROVIDED BY CONSULTANCY: Laptop, SQL Server test installation

[scooterscot]

What does it say in your contract that about supply of all the relevant tools to do your job?

I think you're on wobbly ground anyway to be honest.

Sweet nothing.

As far as my contract says the only tools they've bought are the ones in my head.

[Spacecadet]

Sweet nothing.

Thats the problem, the fact there is nothing mentioned...
You should explicity state : no software will be provided by the consultancy

[scooterscot]

Thats the problem, the fact there is nothing mentioned...
You should explicity state : no software will be provided by the consultancy

It is a problem.

The situation is further complicated as I'm working on a secure site and I've already went to the effort of installing the equipment on site for this specific purpose. (demostration) Now it looks like I may as well pack it up again.

[ratewhore]

First off I'd look at the license that I bought to see if I CAN use it for my customer. It's not a given that you can and personally, I would have thought the vendor would like to see the extra license revenue.

Once that's cleared up, I would probably get your client to buy directly from the vendor.

IMHO of course...

[scooterscot]

First off I'd look at the license that I bought to see if I CAN use it for my customer.

That's not a problem. Client raises purchase order my Ltd co provides.

Once that's cleared up, I would probably get your client to buy directly from the vendor.

They've already contacted the vendor just today. Company wide license, what they require, quote was over six figures, they're in a between a rock and a hard place now.

[d000hg]

Isn't "provides own tools" one of the things that's good to have when trying to avoid IR35...