Reply to: Agencies - is there a better way?

[quackhandle]

absolutely!

A lot of newbie contractors don't see this though and just the agent as taking a slice of money that "should" be theirs!

Here's a strange one while we're talking about agents costing us and clients money.....

With my current contract, I asked for £x per day (which would have been my highest ever rate), agent said, "hmm, I think we can get you £X+£50.

So they definitely cost their client money, while making me more money than I asked for

But for every one of those there's the "Sorry, just got off the phone to the client, there's no movement on rate."

Pimpspeak: I've not contacted the client I have just went and made a tea then called you back and tried to fleece you for more wonga."

Yes it's a game and you get better with practice.

qh

[jmo21]

And they do have their upsides for contractors too; in terms of getting paid on time, for example.

absolutely!

A lot of newbie contractors don't see this though and just the agent as taking a slice of money that "should" be theirs!

Here's a strange one while we're talking about agents costing us and clients money.....

With my current contract, I asked for £x per day (which would have been my highest ever rate), agent said, "hmm, I think we can get you £X+£50.

So they definitely cost their client money, while making me more money than I asked for

[TheFaQQer]

Does it really matter weather you go direct or via an agency, so long as you are happy with the rate? I like using agencies as I have good relationships with a couple and they find me some nice work. Good clients, and they always keep my rate where I want it.

Even when I take 6 months off, i contact them and within a week I'm interviewing

Have you tried not opting out with an agency who insists on you opting out? You don't have that if you are direct.

[jamesbrown]

I guess the initial instinct is if there were no agents, I'd get paid more, the client would pay less.

In reality, a large percentage of clients use agents for very good reasons, regardless of what we think of them.

And they do have their upsides for contractors too; in terms of getting paid on time, for example.

[jmo21]

Does it really matter weather you go direct or via an agency, so long as you are happy with the rate? I like using agencies as I have good relationships with a couple and they find me some nice work. Good clients, and they always keep my rate where I want it.

Even when I take 6 months off, i contact them and within a week I'm interviewing

I guess the initial instinct is if there were no agents, I'd get paid more, the client would pay less.

In reality, a large percentage of clients use agents for very good reasons, regardless of what we think of them.

[Ramrod]

Does it really matter weather you go direct or via an agency, so long as you are happy with the rate? I like using agencies as I have good relationships with a couple and they find me some nice work. Good clients, and they always keep my rate where I want it.

Even when I take 6 months off, i contact them and within a week I'm interviewing

This. I've known too many contractors over the years who get all bent out of shape because "He's earning 13p a day more than me" or the agency is taking cream off the top.

Truth is, if you're getting a rate you're happy with there is nothing to complain about.

[Whorty]

Does it really matter weather you go direct or via an agency, so long as you are happy with the rate? I like using agencies as I have good relationships with a couple and they find me some nice work. Good clients, and they always keep my rate where I want it.

Even when I take 6 months off, i contact them and within a week I'm interviewing

[quackhandle]

Always found going direct to be a lot of luck/timing, call it what you will. My last gig (and current) were direct.

First was a pimp pi$$ing me off but I had a mate on the inside of client co who pointed me to HR, then got email for interview.

Got current gig via linkedin from agency but had a consulting relationship with client as there's a few of us direct here.

qh

[jamesbrown]

Or the vendor suddenly scraps the product that you are niche in, destroying your market completely and leaving you to try and salvage something from the wreckage.

As happened to me when I was permie. Carved out a little niche which meant I was never out of work, and then the buggers bought another company and scrapped my product

Ouch. Yeah, the risk/reward of specialising is probably quite different depending on your sector. If you're specialised in terms of specific software or systems, I guess that would be very high-risk.

[Antman]

The first rule of Contractor Club is that you do not talk about Contractor Club.

D'oh!

[TheFaQQer]

The downside of being specialised is that you risk being out of work for extended periods or need to spend time preparing tenders.

Or the vendor suddenly scraps the product that you are niche in, destroying your market completely and leaving you to try and salvage something from the wreckage.

As happened to me when I was permie. Carved out a little niche which meant I was never out of work, and then the buggers bought another company and scrapped my product

[jamesbrown]

It'd be interesting to find out what percentage of all the contracts people on here have worked direct with a client.

For me, it's about 3% of all contract time in 7 years contracting, and these were adhoc mini contracts for a client that I had previously worked for through an agency.

I did get offered a direct contract back in July, but I chose my current contract over it as it was a bigger client and rate.

I only work direct. However, I do work in a specialist area outside of IT. I'm not sure whether this translates to specialist work in IT(?), but I can't see you avoiding an agency without either: a) being specialised and, therefore, well-known by your potential clients; or b) engaging in a tendering process. Often, these two go together. The downside of being specialised is that you risk being out of work for extended periods or need to spend time preparing tenders.

[TheFaQQer]

It'd be interesting to find out what percentage of all the contracts people on here have worked direct with a client.

11% of my clients
25% of my contracting life

But that's just with one client.

[jmo21]

Correct and incorrect
I negotiated a contract directly with one of the world's major IT companies, once everything was agreed they handed me over to an agency for all the admin work and the contract itself.

However I also had an experience teh other way round. Agency introduced me to a (medium sized) company and did all the negotiations, but then handed me over to the end client with whom I would sign the contract (which I didn't in the end as it kept failing IR35 miserably and they were not willing to change it any further)

It'd be interesting to find out what percentage of all the contracts people on here have worked direct with a client.

For me, it's about 3% of all contract time in 7 years contracting, and these were adhoc mini contracts for a client that I had previously worked for through an agency.

I did get offered a direct contract back in July, but I chose my current contract over it as it was a bigger client and rate.

[Ramrod]

Have you tried ContractorClub?

Contractor Club

The first rule of Contractor Club is that you do not talk about Contractor Club.