Software costs

[FarmerPalmer]

Only thing which is a pain in the arse is when you end up having to use their web mail system

If you are given an email address at client co then just set it to forward to your business email address and use that.

[northernladuk]

If you are given an email address at client co then just set it to forward to your business email address and use that.

Oddly enough.. again a lot of companies won't allow this, particularly if you are using web based mail lol...

If the client insists on his hardware, take your own in as well and connect via whatever wireless option they have for consultants so you have all bases covered.

As Sue said every situation is different.

[Spacecadet]

Interesting SpaceCadet, I'm quite impressed you managed to get that approach working so often with IT departments who presumably aren't used to such things. How do you go about this - inform them in advance or turn up with your own laptop and just ignore the PC they put on your desktop? Do you even tell the IT people, or do you let them supply you a nework login and use it on your own PC?

All my contracts have been project work and most of them required travelling between different sites as and when.
When they offer a laptop I just tell them to keep it spare, most PMs are happy not to have to spend extra money and simply reallocate it to one of the permies.

[ITContractorUK]

Ok, thanks for all your replies. I will factor in my own hardware/software in my calculations, its nice to have anyway anyway in order to be able to do other dev work as well.

I am now more worried about this though: "Don't bet on there being that many real jobs tho my recent search shows the same few jobs appearing multiple times. "

I assumed that it would be fairly easy to find contract jobs around London and Cambridge but I might have to re-think that?

[dx4100]

The company will generally provide PC / software for you to use. It would be very unusual if they didn't.

If you have any personal software / IDE etc you prefer using, then you should bring it on a USB etc, and be prepared to get into battles with the IT department on getting the permission to install it..

Really ?

If someone turns up to build me a wall I don't expect to be providing them with the equipment to do the job

I would always expect to be using my own laptop and software. Only if the client had some real security issues with that approach would I be expecting to use their stuff.

[d000hg]

You're not being paid to build a wall. Pushing your analogies.

[kaiser78]

Originally Posted by oversteer
The company will generally provide PC / software for you to use. It would be very unusual if they didn't.


I'm sorry, but this simply isn't true.

One of the main distinctions between a contractor and an employee is the provision of equipment. Read this:

HM Revenue & Customs: Employment status


Now, some companies may choose to provision contractors with computers for security reasons, but many don't. And it's perfectly normal for companies to expect contractors to bring their own software. It very much depends on the role, company, and job. This isn't simply a small/large company divide either - I bring and use my own equipment for development to a big FTSE100 client on a regular basis.

On paper, correct, the distinctions between contrator and employee you refer to are true. In reality however, what Oversteer states is more common.

[SueEllen]

Really ?

If someone turns up to build me a wall I don't expect to be providing them with the equipment to do the job

I would always expect to be using my own laptop and software. Only if the client had some real security issues with that approach would I be expecting to use their stuff.

One contractor I previously worked with had never in his contracting career of 15 years has been required to use his own laptop or software.

There as I have but have always been given the versions or the appropriate licenses for the software required.

Hence every client and situation is different.

[DotNetDeveloper]

Personally I use my own laptop and software as I am uber paranoid about IR35, but also just like to have my own equipment. This wont always be possible though, depends on the gig.

Do what I did and signup for WebsiteSparks - you get Visual Studio 2010 for free in this package, as well as a license for SQL Server Web Edition & Windows Server 2007. You just need to set a website live in 6 months time. I'd recommend buying the developer version of SQL Server, its only something like £40.

Sign up for PCG as well, it'll cover pretty much all the insurances you need to worry about.

HTH & Good Luck

[ITContractorUK]

Well, some of the things I have seen and which I work with at the moment requires you to have VS2010 Ultimate edition which is really expensive and not included WebsiteSparks (that I know of).

Anyway, what is that PCG you mentioned? Insurances?