Reply to: What is the best way to find out my chargeable day rate?

[clearedforlanding]

Whilst I generally agree that if you accept a rate you're happy with, the rate charged to the client by the agency shouldn't be your concern, there is one specific scenario where knowing this rate can be important:

For example:
Client --£600--> Agent --£500--> You
Client --£550--> Agent --£500--> Other Contractor

Agent has 2 contractors (who are for all intents and purposes equal in skill & experience) in the same client co, with the client co paying slightly more for you than the other contractor, despite you both getting the same rate from the agency.

Client has to cut budget and decides to reduce contractor head count. Who will the client choose?

Also has inflationary impact on the client expectation of the amount/calibre of work you should be doing .

[MrMarkyMark]

Is that some kind of Northern sexual offer?
I wonder what urban dictionary says

[stek]

You sound like the absolute life and soul. I'd almost rather have a pint with d000hg and assguru.

[LondonManc]

This was 2012 ish, ballroom not used as a ballroom then, the Teradata team lived there......

No point to story, just to impress the ladies with my knowledge of folding and rolling shutter doors before I start on composite fire doors, Filuma Garage doors, and induction loop gate commissionaire units....

You sound like the absolute life and soul. I'd almost rather have a pint with d000hg and assguru.

[SueEllen]

If you want to find out your rate, do a really bad job one day in front of the PM/finance director, then get a colleague to go out drinking with them.
After a few beers they will let slip that they can't believe they pay £125 a day for you.


...hey presto, you find out your current rate and you know what to put on your CV for your next contract.

Some of them leave rates showing on their computer screen, while others forget to remove paper of the photocopier...

[WTFH]

If you want to find out your rate, do a really bad job one day in front of the PM/finance director, then get a colleague to go out drinking with them.
After a few beers they will let slip that they can't believe they pay £125 a day for you.


...hey presto, you find out your current rate and you know what to put on your CV for your next contract.

[Cirrus]

Agents aren't like Tesco. There isn't a price and that's what pops up at the checkout.

Your project manager may have a figure but that's come from a half-baked calculation by Finance who may have all sorts of motivations pushing them in different directions.

There are rate card discounts; bulk discounts, free services, entertainment etc. Your agency contact may not know because generally there are different people for contract and perm so they may not individually know the overall turnover/discount etc.

Ask around by all means. Lots of people are happy to talk about such matters. But be careful - margins are usually a lot lower than they first appear.

[northernladuk]

"Got an invoice for NLUK, £140 per day, bit high isn't?"

Oiii!!

[billybiro]

Don't be a dick, you were happy with the rate when you accepted it and haven't walked so man up.

Other than that, hack the purchase ledger/shag the purchase ledger woman (or man)......

Whilst I generally agree that if you accept a rate you're happy with, the rate charged to the client by the agency shouldn't be your concern, there is one specific scenario where knowing this rate can be important:

For example:
Client --£600--> Agent --£500--> You
Client --£550--> Agent --£500--> Other Contractor

Agent has 2 contractors (who are for all intents and purposes equal in skill & experience) in the same client co, with the client co paying slightly more for you than the other contractor, despite you both getting the same rate from the agency.

Client has to cut budget and decides to reduce contractor head count. Who will the client choose?

[stek]

Has the old ballroom in CIS Tower been out of use since the Reverend Flowers departed? And, was there a point to that tale?

This was 2012 ish, ballroom not used as a ballroom then, the Teradata team lived there......

No point to story, just to impress the ladies with my knowledge of folding and rolling shutter doors before I start on composite fire doors, Filuma Garage doors, and induction loop gate commissionaire units....

[barrydidit]

When I was at the Coop in Manchester desk were so few and far between you can end up blagging a desk for a day in the oddest of places. My second home was the purchase ledger office, got to hear allsorts, "Got an invoice for NLUK, £140 per day, bit high isn't?"

Stuff like that.

Ended up in the 'Ballroom' once, was the old Ballroom in the CIS Tower, and was quite literally an old Ballroom, and in the old Ballroom the old Mirrorball was literally still there, along with the old stage, and Galaxy Roller Shutters on the literal old bar. I know my roller (and folding) shutter doors having worked at Bolton Gate Company after leaving school, once spotted a Superior Folding Shutter on the freight lift at Coop offices in Skem, and on a Railtrack pissup incorporating a visit to the Coronation Street set then at Castlefield, I correctly confirmed my theory that the folding shutter door on Kevin Websters Garage (poss. MB Motors at the time as it was owned by Mike Baldwin during that Corrie epoch) was in fact a Bolton Gate Eurofold Lattice Door, a sort of low-spec Superior, Lattice Door, aluminium, single bottom tracks. I scraped 'BWFC' on it, it's still there on its move to Salford Quays, same door.

Has the old ballroom in CIS Tower been out of use since the Reverend Flowers departed? And, was there a point to that tale?

[MrMarkyMark]

Ring the agency up pretend to be someone hiring for the same skillset as your role.

Ask them what they perceive the cost per day would be.

Could also be interesting as they may ring you and sound you out about a "potential new role".

[stek]

When I was at the Coop in Manchester desk were so few and far between you can end up blagging a desk for a day in the oddest of places. My second home was the purchase ledger office, got to hear allsorts, "Got an invoice for NLUK, £140 per day, bit high isn't?"

Stuff like that.

Ended up in the 'Ballroom' once, was the old Ballroom in the CIS Tower, and was quite literally an old Ballroom, and in the old Ballroom the old Mirrorball was literally still there, along with the old stage, and Galaxy Roller Shutters on the literal old bar. I know my roller (and folding) shutter doors having worked at Bolton Gate Company after leaving school, once spotted a Superior Folding Shutter on the freight lift at Coop offices in Skem, and on a Railtrack pissup incorporating a visit to the Coronation Street set then at Castlefield, I correctly confirmed my theory that the folding shutter door on Kevin Websters Garage (poss. MB Motors at the time as it was owned by Mike Baldwin during that Corrie epoch) was in fact a Bolton Gate Eurofold Lattice Door, a sort of low-spec Superior, Lattice Door, aluminium, single bottom tracks. I scraped 'BWFC' on it, it's still there on its move to Salford Quays, same door.

[PerfectStorm]

Project managers tracking costs sometimes know, and/or can tell you the margin rate. Get friendly with one of them

[stek]

Hey

I have been freelancing via an agency for nearly five years (PAYE). I get short term bookings and most of the time they are not even involved in the process. I heard a comment from someone else that their commissions are very high to the client. I am curious to know how much exactly because if it is very high or extortionate I am going to feel aggrieved - I am constantly being asked to do more work and it is my good reputation that keeps all these requests coming. Five years is a long time...

My question is - how do I find out exactly what a typical day's invoice for my services is? If I ask my agent I am sure they will put two and two together and start kicking up - like they have in the past when I asked for an increase in my day rate.

Don't be a dick, you were happy with the rate when you accepted it and haven't walked so man up.

Other than that, hack the purchase ledger/shag the purchase ledger woman (or man)......