What would you charge?

[tino]

First thing I'd factor in is the cost to me of doing the work - if I'm unavailable, then obviously there is the cost of not working elsewhere.

Then there is the cost of preparation time, plus the likelihood of it being a longer day than usual.

Add in the cost of whether I could be @rsed to do anything for a one day engagement, or just stay at home.

By which time, I'd be far too expensive to bother even speaking to the pimp.

[Durbs]

I'd personally go the other way - do it at a standard rate and do a ferkin good job and then when the same company needs a contractor for the juicy 6 monther that crops up in a couple of months time they'll hopefully be on the blower.

[chicane]

I'd personally go the other way - do it at a standard rate and do a ferkin good job and then when the same company needs a contractor for the juicy 6 monther that crops up in a couple of months time they'll hopefully be on the blower.

D'you really think a company that asks a pimp for a 1 day contract is really going to dish out a 6 monther at a later point?

Even if they do, it'll be at a lousy rate because they'll be agonising over the difference in expenditure between a decent contractor and a junior permie on 10K pa.

[Durbs]

D'you really think a company that asks a pimp for a 1 day contract is really going to dish out a 6 monther at a later point?

Even if they do, it'll be at a lousy rate because they'll be agonising over the difference in expenditure between a decent contractor and a junior permie on 10K pa.

Maybe, maybe not, you never know. But for the sake of doing a days job and getting your normal rate, you now have an additional contact on your books.

Even if you only get a few more one day jobs out of it in the future its probably worth it if you're doing nowt at the time. Also now chap from piddly company A is talking to company B asking what they are up to - they want some support/development/new kit - "yeah, we had a guy in a while back who did x for us, was good, i'll give you his No". I've had numerous jobs in the past this way - via word of mouth from someone i'd sorted out a little job for.

Its all about networking and keeping clients sweet.