Advantages of using an Agency.

[lukemg]

Good advice here.
Don't underestimate the importance of getting paid promptly. Got a mate who is self-employed and he has a nightmare getting money off lots of companies and has had to write off plenty.
That's worth a few bob and factoring isnt that easy, it costs and the company involved will have to be approved beforehand.
I would be tempted to chuck it at a couple of agencies to see what % they would do it for, also provides some separation from client. Tell them it might give them an in for the future which might mean they will use you as a loss-leader. Might be worth 2% !
Also - good B2B contracts on PCG site I believe, for members of course.

[Wanderer]

That' what I thought. Pushy sods through aren't they?
I (regrettably) published my CV on a job web site several months ago and have been fending off agency phishing calls ever since!

I always get a prepay burner SIM for the phone and a throw away email address to use when job hunting otherwise the agents will hassle you forever more....

[Cr1spy]

Thanks for all the feedback.

Have been lurking around this site for quite some time and have read all the getting started info. Not to mention several other sites, guides, advice from friends who have gone before and even spent some time on the HMRS site [shudder].

In fact I've been obsessing over this decision for quite some time but found very little about the benefits of using an agency, hence the question.

Anyway, big client meeting tomorrow. Fingers cross that this first contract is close at hand.

[JamJarST]

My advice is not to go off on one about agents as so many people seem to here. They are a valuable source of work and in a large majority of cases you will have to deal with them so instead of going negative on them just learn to use them and deal with it as a necessary part of the process. So what if they call you fishing for info. Takes about 10 secs to say no thanks good bye. I would much rather get fished 100 times by an agent and get a call for a gig out of the blue. Yes they are pushy but they are out to make $$$'s and ultimately they do it by putting us in roles.

Use your nouse and spin the conversation around, give him the mimimum you can to get your CV on his books and then he is (in a very small part) working on your behalf to get a role. Yes I have had an agent search their own database and ring me about a role so very occasionally it works but you only need it to work once and your are off the bench.

Don't get dragged down in to all the agent bashing that goes on from time to time on here. They are playing you so play them back.

Great advice, and agents do actually find work for us too.

[northernladuk]

That' what I thought. Pushy sods through aren't they?

I (regrettably) published my CV on a job web site several months ago and have been fending off agency phishing calls ever since!

My advice is not to go off on one about agents as so many people seem to here. They are a valuable source of work and in a large majority of cases you will have to deal with them so instead of going negative on them just learn to use them and deal with it as a necessary part of the process. So what if they call you fishing for info. Takes about 10 secs to say no thanks good bye. I would much rather get fished 100 times by an agent and get a call for a gig out of the blue. Yes they are pushy but they are out to make $$$'s and ultimately they do it by putting us in roles.

Use your nouse and spin the conversation around, give him the mimimum you can to get your CV on his books and then he is (in a very small part) working on your behalf to get a role. Yes I have had an agent search their own database and ring me about a role so very occasionally it works but you only need it to work once and your are off the bench.

Don't get dragged down in to all the agent bashing that goes on from time to time on here. They are playing you so play them back.

[northernladuk]

You could also make sure you have read all the information at the right hand side, all the first time contractor guides and the stickies in the forums.

Lots of good info there.

[alreadypacked]

That' what I thought. Pushy sods through aren't they?

I (regrettably) published my CV on a job web site several months ago and have been fending off agency phishing calls ever since!

Go back to where you published your CV and put in a very high day rate, works for me don't get many calls from agents. When I do apply for something I tell them that's my CHF rate.

[TykeMerc]

My personal opinion is I wouldn't involve an agency as I wouldn't see any real added value.

[jmo21]

Hello,

I'm about to start contracting for the first time. My perm role will shortly become redundant and the payout should be sufficient to cover me until the contact cash starts coming in.

Currently in discussions with two client companies. Both run by former colleagues. If either of these come to fruit, the plan is to work under a contract directly between my company (yet to be registered) and the client co.

Not having contracted before, I was wondering what are the advantages of working through an agency as apposed to directly. I've read a lot of negative posts and dealt with plenty of numpty agencies in my time, so not completely naive to the ways of the world.

Is a direct client contract the ultimate happy path for most contractors or does using an agency bring additional security?


PS Be gentle, this is my first post here!

There are 2 possible advantages of using an agent.

- You may get paid quicker.
- If you are opted into the agency regs, if the end client goes bust, the agent still has to pay you for work done.

This leads directly of course to the major downside of more cost to the end client/less money for you of course.

[JamJarST]

That's not entirely true, there is one other benefit and that's credit control/payment. With an agent involved (one of the bigger ones obviously) you can negotiate a payment schedule and not care how long it takes for the client to cough up.

That being said as long as you're reasonably on the ball with the client relationship and credit control, since you clearly don't need the agency sales effort there's not much value added by paying an agency even a small percentage.

But at what cost? Surely if that was a concern then factoring the debt would be the better option.

[TykeMerc]

The only reason that you would use an agent, is to find you the work, if you have found the work directly then you would not use an agent.

That's not entirely true, there is one other benefit and that's credit control/payment. With an agent involved (one of the bigger ones obviously) you can negotiate a payment schedule and not care how long it takes for the client to cough up.

That being said as long as you're reasonably on the ball with the client relationship and credit control, since you clearly don't need the agency sales effort there's not much value added by paying an agency even a small percentage.

[saptastic]

Hello,

I'm about to start contracting for the first time. My perm role will shortly become redundant and the payout should be sufficient to cover me until the contact cash starts coming in.

Currently in discussions with two client companies. Both run by former colleagues. If either of these come to fruit, the plan is to work under a contract directly between my company (yet to be registered) and the client co.

Not having contracted before, I was wondering what are the advantages of working through an agency as apposed to directly. I've read a lot of negative posts and dealt with plenty of numpty agencies in my time, so not completely naive to the ways of the world.

Is a direct client contract the ultimate happy path for most contractors or does using an agency bring additional security?


PS Be gentle, this is my first post here!

Try finding a contract direct - especially as a first timer - and you would have done well. I would expect most direct contracts are when you have a strong network who get in touch personally and directly and often for smaller companies. Otherwise agencies are a means to an end.

[Cr1spy]

That' what I thought. Pushy sods through aren't they?

I (regrettably) published my CV on a job web site several months ago and have been fending off agency phishing calls ever since!

[JamJarST]

The only reason that you would use an agent, is to find you the work, if you have found the work directly then you would not use an agent.

[Cr1spy]

Hello,

I'm about to start contracting for the first time. My perm role will shortly become redundant and the payout should be sufficient to cover me until the contact cash starts coming in.

Currently in discussions with two client companies. Both run by former colleagues. If either of these come to fruit, the plan is to work under a contract directly between my company (yet to be registered) and the client co.

Not having contracted before, I was wondering what are the advantages of working through an agency as apposed to directly. I've read a lot of negative posts and dealt with plenty of numpty agencies in my time, so not completely naive to the ways of the world.

Is a direct client contract the ultimate happy path for most contractors or does using an agency bring additional security?


PS Be gentle, this is my first post here!