6 month or 12 month contract - which is best?

[heyya99]

I've secured a new role. The client has offered me a contract of 6 or 12 months, whichever I prefer.

Surely contract length doesn't matter much considering the client can get rid of you in a month if the work runs out?

Can anyone tell me the pros and cons of choosing either?

[kingcook]

I've secured a new role. The client has offered me a contract of 6 or 12 months, whichever I prefer.

Surely contract length doesn't matter much considering the client can get rid of you in a month if the work runs out?

Can anyone tell me the pros and cons of choosing either?

6 months: shorter contract, less money.

12 months: longer contract, more money.

(Assumes you go the whole term and without renewals)

Does this help?

[Software]

If the rate is same for 6 and 12 months, i prefer to take 12 months..
We can earn good money with it.

[heyya99]

Wouldn't a rate increase only be possible when my contract is up for renewal? My thinking was that I take the 6 monther and then ask for more money after 6. Is it likely I'd get a rate renewal during a contract or is that unheard of?

[SimonMac]

Unless there is no termination clause this is a false economy, a contract is only as long as the notice period. If the money is the same, and so is the location go with which ever is the most interesting role

[heyya99]

Unless there is no termination clause this is a false economy, a contract is only as long as the notice period. If the money is the same, and so is the location go with which ever is the most interesting role

It's the same role. The client has asked how long I want the contract (6 or 12 months).

[SimonMac]

It's the same role. The client has asked how long I want the contract (6 or 12 months).

Go for 3 and negotiate a rise at the end of each one

[BolshieBastard]

The contract is only as long as the notice period which is likely to be immediate from the clients part. So whether its 6 or 12 month doesnt make a difference.

However, if you take the 12 month option, you would be unlikely to get a rate rise whereas with the 6 monther, you could ask and demonstrate the need for a rate rise.

[northernladuk]

You would think that by giving you the option he expects the work to last for the greater amount of time. He isn't going to ask if you want 12 months if there is only 6 months work....So either way best guess is there is 12 months work to do. Just seems a paper based exercise but as Bolshie says, picking 6 months gives you a shot at renegotiating rate.

He could of course be well aware of how contracts work and may not care about the length of contract as he knows full well he will bin you as soon as he doesn't need you. Thankfully most clients either haven't worked this out yet or are not that mercenary...

Surely contract length doesn't matter much considering the client can get rid of you in a month if the work runs out?

He can get rid of you next day if he wants to. He withdraws the work so you have nothing to do so you stop billing the day after. You spend your notice sitting at home. Notice periods are for permies. If they honour it all well and good... but they don't have to. Again thankfully very few clients are this mercenary.

[psychocandy]

True enough about the notice thing but I'd be tempted to say 12. Then you've not got the fannying around at 5 1/2 months trying to get extension sorted.

And you'd hope that if they want to go for 12 months now they'd have the budget all allocated for it now so again less hassle.