Finished Contract; ongoing consultancy rate

[Ian Freely]

Hi all,

I'm due to finish a 6 month contract at the end of this week as although the client would like to keep me they can't afford to. However, they would like the potential to call me back for the odd day(s) consultancy here and there.

- I’ve been on £300 a day on this contract, but my new role is £350 (which is more like the market rate on a 6 month contract for my skillset).
- I need to set a day rate but aren’t sure what I should look to charge (bearing in mind the above and that it’s got to be attractive for me).
- The agent will no longer be involved, so their cut (not sure what it was) will disappear.

Please could I have your opinions on what you would charge in similar circumstances based on the above? I don’t want to appear greedy, nor lose out on what I should reasonably expect for my services.

TIA

[kingcook]

Hi all,

I'm due to finish a 6 month contract at the end of this week as although the client would like to keep me they can't afford to. However, they would like the potential to call me back for the odd day(s) consultancy here and there.

- I’ve been on £300 a day on this contract, but my new role is £350 (which is more like the market rate on a 6 month contract for my skillset).
- I need to set a day rate but aren’t sure what I should look to charge (bearing in mind the above and that it’s got to be attractive for me).
- The agent will no longer be involved, so their cut (not sure what it was) will disappear.

Please could I have your opinions on what you would charge in similar circumstances based on the above? I don’t want to appear greedy, nor lose out on what I should reasonably expect for my services.

TIA

It's business - it all depends on the market.

If you can only find 1 contract and the client is paying £250/day, you have a choice - take the £250/day or sit on the bench.

On the other hand, if there are plenty of contracts about, you have more of a choice and can afford to not give the £250/day contracts a 2nd glance, favouring the £350/day ones.

[d000hg]

Does your new client have any concerns you might go AWOL randomly to work for your other client?
If the consultancy would clash with your new contract it has to pay more or what's the point?

[Fred Bloggs]

Does your new client have any concerns you might go AWOL randomly to work for your other client?
If the consultancy would clash with your new contract it has to pay more or what's the point?

Given all that, working at more than one client in a week has to be good news from a IR35 perspective I would have thought. Even though each contract is assessed on it's own merits, it has to be good news.

[Ian Freely]

Does your new client have any concerns you might go AWOL randomly to work for your other client?
If the consultancy would clash with your new contract it has to pay more or what's the point?

Taking a days 'Leave' to do consultancy shouldn't be a problem as far as the new client is concerned.

I expect it should pay more than the £350 I'm on with my new client, what I'm not sure of is how much more would be reasonable for me to charge? Bearing in mind that this would be a day here and there as far as the original client is concerned, and effectively saves them from employing me fulltime for 3-6 months at £350 a day (+whatever agency charges) then surely as length of contract goes down, rate goes up(?).

Thanks all for your help.

[CheeseSlice]

I've not had to do this as a contractor, but when I was a permy consultant I saw that my short-term consultancy rate to the customer was quoted at roughly 25% more than the longer term rate. I would be inclined to do the same if I found myself in your situation.

As others have said, it may depend on the market for your skills and whether you have something the client can't get elsewhere, but in general I think the customer will appreciate having to pay a little more for impromptu consultancy. It needs to reflect the added inconvenience (dont say this to client) and flexibility you're providing, whilst not being prohibitively expensive.

[MarillionFan]

Hi all,

I'm due to finish a 6 month contract at the end of this week as although the client would like to keep me they can't afford to. However, they would like the potential to call me back for the odd day(s) consultancy here and there.

- I’ve been on £300 a day on this contract, but my new role is £350 (which is more like the market rate on a 6 month contract for my skillset).
- I need to set a day rate but aren’t sure what I should look to charge (bearing in mind the above and that it’s got to be attractive for me).
- The agent will no longer be involved, so their cut (not sure what it was) will disappear.

Please could I have your opinions on what you would charge in similar circumstances based on the above? I don’t want to appear greedy, nor lose out on what I should reasonably expect for my services.

TIA

You need a premium on that. I would recommend 400-450 per day.

[Muttley08]

I've not had to do this as a contractor, but when I was a permy consultant I saw that my short-term consultancy rate to the customer was quoted at roughly 25% more than the longer term rate. I would be inclined to do the same if I found myself in your situation.

As others have said, it may depend on the market for your skills and whether you have something the client can't get elsewhere, but in general I think the customer will appreciate having to pay a little more for impromptu consultancy. It needs to reflect the added inconvenience (dont say this to client) and flexibility you're providing, whilst not being prohibitively expensive.

I'd agree with 25% - good to keep your contacts happy for future work, just be careful new client doesn't get wind of it...they might be ok...but might not...

[TheFaQQer]

You need a premium on that. I would recommend 400-450 per day.

WHS - it needs to be more than the £350 that you are currently on, enough so that you can be arsed to do the work.

Work out the opportunity cost - how much is it worth to potentially piss off your new client by sloping off to the old job?

[MarillionFan]

WHS - it needs to be more than the £350 that you are currently on, enough so that you can be arsed to do the work.

Work out the opportunity cost - how much is it worth to potentially piss off your new client by sloping off to the old job?

WFS

It has to be a premium for the reason FAq says, otherwise there is no point