Contract directly with clients

[sun10]

I have a limited company, and have worked as a contractor at company A for the last one year via a recruitment agency. My contract is nearing the end, and I would like to set up a support contract directly with the company A. How do I go about this? Any ideas?

[BolshieBastard]

I have a limited company, and have worked as a contractor at company A for the last one year via a recruitment agency. My contract is nearing the end, and I would like to set up a support contract directly with the company A. How do I go about this? Any ideas?

Check the handcuff clause in your contract. You'll likely be prevented from doing this for 6 months unless you agree to pay off the agent.

It has been covered many times here before.

[GillsMan]

Check the handcuff clause in your contract. You'll likely be prevented from doing this for 6 months unless you agree to pay off the agent.

It has been covered many times here before.

WBBS. Equally, the client is likely to have a similar clause with the agency.

However, you may find that your client is a bit like mine, who came to me and said that they want to do some fixed-price direct work (sans agency) with me at the end of my contract. I was the one who mentioned that the agency might have a restrictive clause with the client, and the client's response was "what's he going to do, put me in jail?".

Bearing in mind my client is a leading London law firm, I found this amusing.

[SueEllen]

Bearing in mind my client is a leading London law firm, I found this amusing.

The agency wouldn't want to fight with a bunch of lawyers.

Even if the agency is right they would spend far more money trying to defend themselves than the lawyers would.

[sun10]

Thanks. I guess I should check my contract with the agency in the first place and see if such handcuff clause is there.