How long is not business like

[Tensai]

I've worked on projects as a permie and some of those taken well over 2 years of my time.

WHS. I've managed several projects back-to-back, each about 12-18 months, for different parts of the same Big Co. It depends on your specialisation : there are a lot more short contracts when you're, say, a developer, whereas most of the meaty PM roles tend to be big/long projects.

[miffy]

Difficult one.

Half of me agrees with Dow Jones on the 2 year rule thingy. But then again, if depends on the scale of what your working on. I've worked on projects as a permie and some of those taken well over 2 years of my time.

[TheFaQQer]

IIRC (and no doubt Mal will correct me!) one of the directors at the PCG has been working with the same client for a LONG time (years and years), and has defended successfully against an IR35 investigation.

[PAH]

I think it's a fair assumption that after that you are a permie to all intends and purposes.

That was the excuse I used for leaving my first contract after I'd milked a couple of years re-training out of them.

If they really wanted me to stay they'd have offered to increase my rate to cover the expenses I could no longer claim for.

[PAH]

I've known contractors that have been at the same gig for 7 or 8 years!

I think they must be undercharging to survive that long, they certainly weren't the worlds best contractor.

Every renewal I push for a rate increase, even if it's only another quid a hour. Eventually the client will decide I'm getting too expensive and not renew me. Stops me having to do a runner after a couple of years when I get bored, and the client will give me a good reference for seeing the project out.

I've a feeling that the two year rule and expenses in general will become a lot harder to claim, at least without all the paperwork, now the MPs themselves are coming under scrutiny.

[Dow Jones]

2-year rule

I think it's a fair assumption that after that you are a permie to all intends and purposes. Only thing I agree with the current contractor legislation/expenses framework.

[KathyWoolfe]

As long as I am being paid through my LtdCo I'm a business.

Contracts for a single piece of work which may take as little as a day to do is still a business if payment is made through my LtdCo.

[Diver]

Git..editing my post list that to make me look simple

<---------manly hug

[Sockpuppet]

That would be Zero then?

HTH

Git..editing my post list that to make me look simple

[Diver]

Ok, as has been proved that length of contract has no bearing on IR35.

But personally when you hear of "contractors" being at the same client site for three or four years I think...become a fliping permie. I don't think that anyone can claim to be a business in their own right with less than one client.

You can argue that if one client can fill your order books why try harder...I just don't buy it. Plus i start to get cabin fever after 6 months and decided a new challenge is for me.

How long do you consider long enough and you should either go permie or move on.

That would be Zero then?

HTH

[threaded]

CSC and EDS have been up one of my clients for decades it seems...

[Sockpuppet]

Ok, as has been proved that length of contract has no bearing on IR35.

But personally when you hear of "contractors" being at the same client site for three or four years I think...become a fecking permie. I don't think that anyone can claim to be a business in their own right with less than two clients.

You can argue that if one client can fill your order books why try harder...I just don't buy it. Plus i start to get cabin fever after 6 months and decided a new challenge is for me.

How long do you consider long enough and you should either go permie or move on.