Renewal negotation

[CoderSaturn]

Why wait? The current managers have already made it clear to you that they do not think you're worth $525/day. If you believe you can get that rate (or something close to that) elsewhere, then go get it. Time waits for no man.

Yeah exactly, will be applying to other clients.

[TheGreenBastard]

Apply for other roles, depending on technologies you're on a very average rate in Manchester; 500 is routine for Manc.

I've had £150 day increases previously due to leverage not too dissimilar to your position. Having a nice war chest and skills makes me brutal in these situations.

[chicane]

Rate is currently £425 a day for doing full stack development/architecture work.

Apply for other roles, depending on technologies you're on a very average rate in Manchester; 500 is routine for Manc.

I'd say that benchmarking the OP's rate would require us to establish whether they're doing mostly development or mostly architecture work. I hear a lot of developers describing themselves as "architects" these days. IMO, 500pd would be a high-end rate in Manchester for a developer in any of the mainstream languages (PHP, Python, Java, C# etc), and it would be an average rate for somebody genuinely performing the role of architect.

[fool]

Well, it's a bit too late for advice because you're already negotiating but typically I just tell them I'm not renewing, wait for them to be nice and desperate then when they inevitably get someone senior enough to make stuff happen to sit down with me, I tell them maybe I'd consider $rate.

That said, this is a game you play when you're trying to say **** you to a client you don't really like. If you like working there, have an easy life and are easy to replace, you should really just shut up and get on it.

[BlasterBates]

Yeah exactly, will be applying to other clients.

Agree with this, it is usually the way to get a rise. Some clients are more profitable and therefore are able to pay more for contractors. You can't get blood out of a stone.

[ShandyDrinker]

Apply for other roles, depending on technologies you're on a very average rate in Manchester; 500 is routine for Manc.

I've had £150 day increases previously due to leverage not too dissimilar to your position. Having a nice war chest and skills makes me brutal in these situations.

^^I agree with this.

From past experience the go in low and expect decent rate hikes at subsequent renewals just doesn't happen unless you're brutal and can walk if so required. Ultimately it's business so if you're prepared to give away your skills cheaply then clients will take advantage and continue to do so as long as they can.

In 10 years of contracting the norm (for me at least) has been only getting rate increases if I have left and subsequently been asked to go back to a client or have been asked to renege on a contract elsewhere which is something I wouldn't ordinarily advocate but can be lucrative. I've only negotiated rate increases at next renewal a couple of times.

[Sub]

Rate is currently £425 a day for doing full stack development/architecture work.

We’ve achieved a lot within the first 6 months we’ve been setup and the CIO is really keen on what we are doing. My contract renewal is up and they offered me an extension at £450 up from £425. However I feel this is somewhat of a disapointing increase after working a lot of hours to get things up and running and to the standard they are at today. I asked for £525, however they are trying to hold me off and said they would have negotiate it to the CIO.

As it been said above your only argument to client is that you may walk. But even you are essential part of project and your departure will mean significant delay/losses, 25% raise after just 6 months is bit hard to swallow, you know, even they have these money - it can be just about principle for them. If you like the job, negotiate around 10%, with paid overtime (if there is any) or stop doing it and ask for another 10% 6-9 months later. To me the tactic worked better than asking for big raise once in 2 years.
But you still will be better off if you start looking for new gig when you enter these negs

[TheFaQQer]

Any thoughts are welcome.

Take the £450, negotiate the notice period down to a day, find something paying £525 (if such a thing exists in Manchester for that skillset), give notice and jump to the next client.

Simple.

[_V_]

Take the £450, negotiate the notice period down to a day, find something paying £525 (if such a thing exists in Manchester for that skillset), give notice and jump to the next client.

Simple.

I quite like that, it might make them think. £450 with one weeks notice would suffice. Then if the OP can get £500 pd or more, they can easily jump ship. At that point current client will probably match it with a 30 day notice.

It's all a game of billy big balls. Good luck.

[TheFaQQer]

At that point current client will probably match it with a 30 day notice.

Or say "see you" and ensure that they make it clear to anyone asking about the contractor that they need to watch for this kind of thing.

If the market isn't buoyant (and I have no idea how many roles there are in Manchester paying £525+ a day for stack development) then you may find that it's a matter of time before you get found out.