Returning to contracting

[IDB]

I'm a consultant that's been in the industry for seven years - one that unfortunately allowed himself to be pulled into the permie trap at the start of this year.

Enough's enoughk, and I've decided to return to contracting. I've been applying for contracts through various agencies since Thursday last week, and have now been put forward for several. Things seem to be moving a lot slower than they ever have before for me though, the longest I've had to wait to get an interview has been 2 days in the past, and the quickest contract I've got took me an hour to get from applying.

I'm now waiting on various clients to provide feedback to agencies, or on agencies to "complete their shortlists" to pass across to the clients. Frustrated by things moving slowly (although they're not really, I'm just being an impatient bugger!), I decided to e-mail a client I worked for 3 years ago. The thinking was, if they at least replied, that I'd try this tactic with a few other clients.

I got a reply straight back saying that the client has an urgent need for someone, and asking if I was interested. The role's a little bit of a lesser role to my normal 3rd line consultancy, but I've asked for the rate and the length of the contract and am currently awaiting the response.

The question I have is regarding payment. Working through an agency, as I've always had to do in the past, the only one benefit I can think of is that they pay me a few days after my timesheet has been submitted - I don't have to wait for the client to remit the agency. Usually business to business remittance has terms of 30 or 60 days. I know it's very much down to the client, but in other's experience are clients generally open to shorter terms for payment, eg 7 days?

[Fleetwood]

No.
An ag*ncy may payroll you for 7% or try a commercial factor.

[Not So Wise]

From my experience, no. Rarely have i found a client willing to accept invoices for less than 30 days (i would refuse ones who asked for 60 if it ever happened).
Sure alot paid well before that 30 days but most still ask for it.

[ratewhore]

The role's a little bit of a lesser role to my normal 3rd line consultancy

You mean support monkey?

[IDB]

Whatever you want to call it. I design, implement and manage backend infrastructures and solutions. You know what it's like - everything from spec'ing hardware and OS to the toolsets (backup, communication, etc) and security devices/software (firewalls, anti-virus, etc) to meet the clients needs.

I decided not to continue with programming after it started to bore me several years ago, and likewise tend not to really enjoy data management and database creation - though will quite happily look after data warehousing servers.

If you like to think of me as being a support monkey, that's cool. I enjoy designing, providing and managing the best solutions and infrastructures to meet an organisations needs. It pays the bills and allows me to enjoy life.