Steep agency markup.. just a rant

[BigRed]

Even if you do all the hard work of getting the gig big companies insist you go through their preferred agency. At least you can try to get them down to single figures

[NibblyPig]

It bothers me enough that I am going to work very, very hard to go direct to my future roles.

[Cirrus]

A while back I went for an interview at Capital One. I met the agent beforehand and he - to be fair - did fess up he was going to mark me up 4 times.

Whilst working for a small consultancy on a client site, I acquired a new bloke who discovered we always took a 40% margin ie we were charging about double what he was getting. It was still an above average rate but he never managed to deal with it. Never bothered me.

[FatLazyContractor]

Absence of PC is strongly felt.

FTFY

[LondonManc]

At least you know there's margin at next renewal - getting the agent (or pimp in this case!) down to 20% shouldn't be too difficult given that you've earned the extension, not them.

[LucidDementia]

I remember discovering the 108% markup on my first contract. Amusing now looking back.

[fool]

Meh, folks here have markups in the region £300-£400 per day. Now that you know, take some of it for yourself on renewal.

[saad]

Absence of senior and reasonable members of this forum is strongly felt.

[Cirrus]

I might be on higher end... but it's kind of average .

Stick with UX. Don't go anywhere near quant stuff, MI, etc ...

[FatLazyContractor]

My line manager would

Fail !

HTH

[saad]

My line manager would occasionally compliment me in meetings by saying "that's why we pay you big bucks.." Which I always find strange as I might be on higher end in my UX industry, but it's kind of average rate.

Once curiosity reached it's limits I asked him what exactly they are paying the agency, to my surprise agency is charging them 45% on my invoice since I started the gig year ago, which tells the reason why client thinks they are paying me big bucks. Nothing can be done really but, I am seriously pissed.