grahamc Posted June 24, 2010 Share Posted June 24, 2010 Well I have not been contracting for long, but already getting VERY annoyed with agents, especially my current one. Does anyone know any good agents that actually realise that they need to have an interest in what the contractor needs, rather than it purely being about the company and the contractor being a little "cash cow". I am a SQL Server DBA (lots of experience from dev to prod) as well as some infrastructure, etc. My missus is IT BA and PM. I also would like to know what other peoples experience is, with regards to percentage taken by the agency. IE. day rate on contract is 300, contractor gets 200. EDIT - will also consider Europe, Dubai, etc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Homer Posted June 24, 2010 Share Posted June 24, 2010 I can't recommend agencies, but in terms of commision, it will mostly depend on lenght of contract and whether a services agreement is in place. Most agencies will charge between 15 and 25% for a standard short lenght (3 month) contract. Shorter length contracts willl tend to be higher but you should never expect commision above 30%. IIRC typical industry average was around 22%, but that was a few years ago. If it's an agency providing large numbers of contractors or one with a supplier agreement the rate will tend to be much lower, typically 12-18%. My company won't allow anything above 10% from it's suppliers Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grahamc Posted June 24, 2010 Author Share Posted June 24, 2010 well worked out on the total day rate (that the agency charges my company) my agency makes 30%... VERY high!! They say their margins are fixed, which is utter rubbish!! I have had my contract extended by 4-5 weeks, so ideally want to move on. Like the company and people, but the agency is destroying the relationship and that is my managers point of view and mine. New Agency is now a MUST!!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Homer Posted June 24, 2010 Share Posted June 24, 2010 Agency rates are never fixed unless they are working as a 4th party (a practice most professionals hate as it's generally two agencies skimming off your rate). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grahamc Posted June 24, 2010 Author Share Posted June 24, 2010 Agency rates are never fixed unless they are working as a 4th party (a practice most professionals hate as it's generally two agencies skimming off your rate). agency is annoying more and more!!! cheers mate Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grahamc Posted June 25, 2010 Author Share Posted June 25, 2010 So no good agents?!? That makes more sense Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnny g Posted June 25, 2010 Share Posted June 25, 2010 When I was contracting, I used Certes and found them to be pretty good. Elan aren't too bad, but are quite rigid and a bit of a pain to engage with. The best agency I used were Concept-IT, but they are a small agency and didn't seem to have much in terms of DBA work from what I remember. Agencies will take as much as they can get away with, it's a fact of life, like death and taxes! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wez Posted June 25, 2010 Share Posted June 25, 2010 If the company likes you and you are happy there can you not bypass the agency and go direct for the remaining term? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grahamc Posted June 25, 2010 Author Share Posted June 25, 2010 Will have a look at those. Sadly no. Company only uses agencies, no one goes direct. Painful! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnny g Posted June 25, 2010 Share Posted June 25, 2010 Will have a look at those. Sadly no. Company only uses agencies, no one goes direct. Painful! Thought about setting your own Ltd company and then getting yourself on the preferred supplier list? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wez Posted June 25, 2010 Share Posted June 25, 2010 Thought about setting your own Ltd company and then getting yourself on the preferred supplier list? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ozz Posted June 25, 2010 Share Posted June 25, 2010 If the company likes you and you are happy there can you not bypass the agency and go direct for the remaining term? Do not do this without checking your contract, it will almost certainly have comments in saying you cannot work direct, usually for up to 6 months after employment ends. Also, you would likely lose liability insurance cover...so really not a good idea! I used IT Talent when I was contracting, no complaints. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grahamc Posted June 25, 2010 Author Share Posted June 25, 2010 Do not do this without checking your contract, it will almost certainly have comments in saying you cannot work direct, usually for up to 6 months after employment ends. Also, you would likely lose liability insurance cover...so really not a good idea! I used IT Talent when I was contracting, no complaints. I was assuming something like this and I think it's contractual for both me and the company. Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Restorer Posted June 25, 2010 Share Posted June 25, 2010 Used to be with an agency called PS Computer Services based in Southampton. I was very happy with them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulrenn Posted June 25, 2010 Share Posted June 25, 2010 I hate to say it, but agents are a necessary evil. Could you have found your current contract without one? Sometimes I pick up direct contracts from companies I've worked with in the past, but most of the time any larger company are likely to work with preferred supplies, and one-person companies rarely figure there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grahamc Posted June 26, 2010 Author Share Posted June 26, 2010 I hate to say it, but agents are a necessary evil. Could you have found your current contract without one? Sometimes I pick up direct contracts from companies I've worked with in the past, but most of the time any larger company are likely to work with preferred supplies, and one-person companies rarely figure there. I realise that they are, I just want one that is the lesser of 2 evils Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulrenn Posted June 26, 2010 Share Posted June 26, 2010 I realise that they are, I just want one that is the lesser of 2 evils Fair point! You might ask over on Contractor UK site: http://forums.contractoruk.com Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Branners Posted June 26, 2010 Share Posted June 26, 2010 always found Church International are good for contracting. Placed me twice during my contracting days. Talk to Keith at Church and mention my name, we just took on a contractor at our place from them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grahamc Posted June 26, 2010 Author Share Posted June 26, 2010 always found Church International are good for contracting. Placed me twice during my contracting days. Talk to Keith at Church and mention my name, we just took on a contractor at our place from them. Branners from mkivsupra.net Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Branners Posted June 26, 2010 Share Posted June 26, 2010 Branners from mkivsupra.net lol, Branners is my weekend name, he knows me as John Branigan. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grahamc Posted June 26, 2010 Author Share Posted June 26, 2010 lol, Branners is my weekend name, he knows me as John Branigan. Figured it was that Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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