Finding the right daily rate!

**Mr.Whippy** · 12 January 2013, 22:15

Originally posted by Vdubster187 View Post

I have no idea what I am worth

If you don't know your own worth in your marketplace, how exactly do you expect any of us to know?

**Vdubster187** · 12 January 2013, 22:22

Originally posted by Mr.Whippy View Post

If you don't know your own worth in your marketplace, how exactly do you expect any of us to know?

Exactly why I am asking

**kingcook** · 12 January 2013, 22:49

I personally sign up for contracts (e.g. via jobserve.co.uk) for 3 or 6 months usually, at the market rate for my skill (somewhere between £300 to £400 per day. Some gigs are advertised as more (so I try to get more), other gigs will be advertised as less (so I try to get more! - but i have limits). It all depends how desperate you are or how long you're willing to wait for a better rate to come along.

If I were asked to do a days work, it would be double/triple the above.

You might thing that £180/day sounds cushdie, but what if the client complains that something went wrong with your cable installation and they need you to fix it. You have to price warranty into it too. There maybe cowboys out there willing to do it at a fraction of a price and give the client the 2 fingers when they complain about something not working.

There are no hard and fast rules.

**Sumutai** · 12 January 2013, 23:01

Hi Vdubster,

Not having read your previous posts on this question, I don't know past experience you have, which may have a bearing on what sort of contracts you'll be able to secure..

Looking at your qualifications though, it's quite similar to what mine was (a few years back) when I chose to take voluntary redundancy and chance my arm at contracting.

My first contract was about £186 per day. It wasn't a case of 'here's my daily rate'...moreso, the agent saying here's a contract for £200 a day...,and then ... oh no, wait, they want to give you a bit less.... I took it anyway since it was a foot in the door, and much better than what I was on as a permie. I thought it fair at the time - the contract matched my skill level. In hindsight I still hold that opinion, I was compensated well enough for the services I was expected to provide.

It didn't take that long to get the necessary experience and exposure to new technologies that meant I was able to start confidently pitching for better paying contracts...

SC clearance often adds a premium though, so If mine had still been current when first looking for a contract I'd have definitley tried to use it if possible.

best of luck Vdubster!

**bless 'em all** · 12 January 2013, 23:29

Originally posted by Vdubster187 View Post

Hi all,

I have had some great advice on this subject in (General) along with a lot of abuse haha.

With the great advice I have received I have come up with an amount.

Firstly I searched the average daily rate @ ITjobswatch.co.uk for the qualifications I have in my area:

CCNA = £250
MCDST = £110
A+ = £120
SC = £375

The average is £171 I'd round that off to £180 a day excluding any travelling etc.

My question is, as I am new to this, for instance if I was asked to do a days cabling, obviously I would not be using these skills as such, would it be right to set a daily rate purely on my qualifications and experience?

As I have no idea what I am worth and seem to be having trouble negotiating.

Thank you for your time

Your approach might be under-valuing your business. What would a bigger business charge? I would imagine the bigger guys would be charging 3 or 4 times what you're proposing - remember they're charging for the office, receptionist, pretty little things in accounts (MMmmmmm accounts) and all the management and salaries.

Try £360+ per day and see if anyone winces - I bet they won't.

**Mr.Whippy** · 13 January 2013, 11:15

Originally posted by Sumutai View Post

SC clearance often adds a premium though

In my experience SC doesn't add a premium to the rate, it mostly adds the advantage you have over non-SC people in even getting an interview....

Which is something I'm unfortunately finding at the moment as it's been a fair while since I had SC.

**BolshieBastard** · 13 January 2013, 12:54

Originally posted by Mr.Whippy View Post

In my experience SC doesn't add a premium to the rate, it mostly adds the advantage you have over non-SC people in even getting an interview....

Which is something I'm unfortunately finding at the moment as it's been a fair while since I had SC.

Really!? Who'd have thought it, eh?

**Wanderer** · 14 January 2013, 00:15

Originally posted by Vdubster187 View Post

I searched the average daily rate @ ITjobswatch.co.uk
I have no idea what I am worth and seem to be having trouble negotiating

It's not difficult. Go back to ITjobswatch and type in the skill you need for the job and it will tell you you the average day rate. eg, cabling is £208/day. Add 25% to that rate and tell the client that this is your rate. Client says that's too expensive, and offers you a bit less and you accept.

Or maybe client accepts the higher rate and you're officially BOOMED!

**psychocandy** · 14 January 2013, 10:57

Originally posted by kingcook View Post

You might thing that £180/day sounds cushdie, but what if the client complains that something went wrong with your cable installation and they need you to fix it. You have to price warranty into it too. There maybe bobs out there willing to do it at a fraction of a price and give the client the 2 fingers when they complain about something not working.

There are no hard and fast rules.

FTFY :-)

Finding the right daily rate!