Reply to: Agencies asking your daily rate

[speling bee]

Almost guaranteed.
Last November, for 2 of the gigs I was put forwards for (one I got), the agent asked what rate I'd want. When I told them she said (2 different lady agents from different agencies) 'Ok, that shouldn't be a problem - they're offering quite a lot more than that'. And later, 'So what rate would you like me to put you down for?'.

No guarantees that she did for the one that I didn't get, of course.

My first gig was a Friday to Monday with a client that I had previously been seconded to by an organisation I had been seconded to from an organisation I had been seconded to by my employer. They gave me a list of agencies I could work through.

Agency 1 asked how much I wanted and I said £400 pd and they said they could get me £375 pd.

Agency 2 asked how much I wanted and I said how much will they pay and they said they could get me £500 pd.

[SpontaneousOrder]

What they mean is what is the lowest rate you will work for, as it's almost an agency guarantee that what you state is the maximum they'll put on the table

So always quote what you think the market rate is for a skillset in a particular locality rather than relate it to what your last rate was

Almost guaranteed.
Last November, for 2 of the gigs I was put forwards for (one I got), the agent asked what rate I'd want. When I told them she said (2 different lady agents from different agencies) 'Ok, that shouldn't be a problem - they're offering quite a lot more than that'. And later, 'So what rate would you like me to put you down for?'.

No guarantees that she did for the one that I didn't get, of course.

[MicrosoftBob]

What they mean is what is the lowest rate you will work for, as it's almost an agency guarantee that what you state is the maximum they'll put on the table

So always quote what you think the market rate is for a skillset in a particular locality rather than relate it to what your last rate was

[CloudWalker]

I'm on'a Hourly rate

[speling bee]

Then they should ask "what will your daily rate be?" rather than "what is your daily rate?" since they are very different questions.

Only if you have secured the contract, in which case the answer is the highest number you can think of, expressed in pounds sterling. Otherwise they should ask:

"What would your daily rate be?"

[TheFaQQer]

are you serious? why does someone who is looking to do business with you, want to know your price?????

Then they should ask "what will your daily rate be?" rather than "what is your daily rate?" since they are very different questions.

[Taita]

Me neither - for my very first one I was keen to be flexible, but still said 'In london, upwards of $xxx, in East Anglia, upwards of $xxx - but it depends on how attractive the role is.'

But it's still a reasonable question to ask, I think. Even if you don't have a fixed answer.
When people call a plumber they'll normally ask - "What's your hourly rate?". If it's high they might shop around.

Or they might ask how much the job is going to cost them. I don't think the question, when I have been told the specifics of the gig, is unreasonable. As a generalisation, I politely and friendlily tell them that my answer is going to be as meaningless as the question. Some get the picture quickly enough although there are still too many twits out there.

[AnthonyQuinn]

Hey everyone,

Is it normal for agencies to ask what your daily rate is or do they not need to know? Why do they ask this, I assume its because they want to get a good margin for themselves?

are you serious? why does someone who is looking to do business with you, want to know your price?????

[SpontaneousOrder]

I don't mind being asked for to give a quotation for a specific gig. But I don't have a price for all gigs.

Me neither - for my very first one I was keen to be flexible, but still said 'In london, upwards of $xxx, in East Anglia, upwards of $xxx - but it depends on how attractive the role is.'

But it's still a reasonable question to ask, I think. Even if you don't have a fixed answer.
When people call a plumber they'll normally ask - "What's your hourly rate?". If it's high they might shop around.

[speling bee]

Yeah, annoying isn't it. Just like when they put stupid little price stickers on items in the shop, rather than letting me enjoy a nice surprise debt when I get to the checkout.

I don't mind being asked for to give a quotation for a specific gig. But I don't have a price for all gigs.

[GillsMan]

When I've been asked my rate, I answer truthfully, which is that my rate can be as little as £280pd, and can be as much as £700pd, depending on the complexity of the role, the specialisms they require and other ancillary factors, such as WFH, etc. That range is the genuine range that I've contracted for in the past, and allows me to say that I genuinely don't have a day rate - it's the role that has a day rate.

[tomtomagain]

I assume its because they want to get a good margin for themselves?

What's wrong with that? They are in business to make money. And are not a charity.

As sales-people they ask their suppliers what the current rates are and what they availability of that supply is so that they can have a up-to date information to hand so that when they approach their potential customers they can answer questions such as.

"How much is a C# developer going to cost me?"
or
"How long will it take to get a good Project Manager?"

With a reasonable degree of confidence that the information they are imparting is accurate.

[Hireonomy]

I think its all semantics and/or training on what to say/ask.

One agency would ask "what's your rate" - assuming you want that, or more, for your next role (understandable). They may then go on to ask the below (but then again they may not).

Another agency may ask "what would your rate be for X role, in Y location for Z period"... this is a more helpful question

[northernladuk]

My current rate bears no relevance to the next rate. I am always flexible on the rate, within reason, and that depends on the client, the work, the location and how desperate I am for work.

Revealing what I currently earn (which is usually £0 since I rarely discuss new roles with agents when I'm already working) is useless for trying to price up the next piece of work - tell me the details, and I'll give you a price.

+1 to that. Giving the rate brings absolutely no benefit to the discussion and could in fact put the agent off. If he has £300 in his head and you say £500 he's going to lose interest straight away even if there is price somewhere in the middle you could have both agreed on.

[TheFaQQer]

My current rate bears no relevance to the next rate. I am always flexible on the rate, within reason, and that depends on the client, the work, the location and how desperate I am for work.

Revealing what I currently earn (which is usually £0 since I rarely discuss new roles with agents when I'm already working) is useless for trying to price up the next piece of work - tell me the details, and I'll give you a price.