Would you continue to do a job you are bored in for an above average Salary.

[DropTheHammer]

Surely you just fill your time with other stuff, on the sly. A previous role I was in could be done in two or three days per week so the rest of the time I was browsing the internet, devising get rich quick schemes, writing a novel, applying for better paid jobs etc etc etc. So it was a no brainer to stay there until something better came along.

[UgotNuts]

Your work embodies the truth of the expression "Turnover is vanity, profit is sanity, but cash is king." I would definitely look to do more than one job at a time. If your system can be built and implemented in 4 weeks, it's results can't be demonstrated until their credit cycle has been run through at least once. Lots of firms out there still wanting 60-90 day terms I'm sure.

Maybe sell them a design build and implement at the top rate, and a review and refine x weeks later at a marginally lower higher rate, noting that they have saved the cost of x weeks.

It varies from sector to sector, but the basic structure remains the same. A lot of these companies don’t enforce, or can’t enforce strict payment terms, or the commercial team has agreed to the customers payment terms to close the sale. The entire end to end fix can’t be completed in 4 weeks, but I can set out the structure by documenting processes and streamlining them, automate processes, review contracts and pass them back to commercial with key points to renegotiate with their client, identify resource required and recruit all within 4 weeks. Once in place the CFO can ensure his team continues to work under those guidelines and in the correct framework required. The biggest change is moving the processes from being reactive to proactive.
 

[UgotNuts]

Surely you just fill your time with other stuff, on the sly. A previous role I was in could be done in two or three days per week so the rest of the time I was browsing the internet, devising get rich quick schemes, writing a novel, applying for better paid jobs etc etc etc. So it was a no brainer to stay there until something better came along.

Of course, the issue I have is I don’t feel like I’ve made the most of my day. Which is what I struggle with.

[engy]

First world problems 😄😄. Milk it for what it's worth and enjoy the downtime

[Marky147]

Thinly veiled 'I'm on a monkey a day' brag ITT

[Pokerpops]

Your work embodies the truth of the expression "Turnover is vanity, profit is sanity, but cash is king." I would definitely look to do more than one job at a time. If your system can be built and implemented in 4 weeks, it's results can't be demonstrated until their credit cycle has been run through at least once. Lots of firms out there still wanting 60-90 day terms I'm sure.

Maybe sell them a design build and implement at the top rate, and a review and refine x weeks later at a marginally lower higher rate, noting that they have saved the cost of x weeks.

It varies from sector to sector, but the basic structure remains the same. A lot of these companies don’t enforce, or can’t enforce strict payment terms, or the commercial team has agreed to the customers payment terms to close the sale. The entire end to end fix can’t be completed in 4 weeks, but I can set out the structure by documenting processes and streamlining them, automate processes, review contracts and pass them back to commercial with key points to renegotiate with their client, identify resource required and recruit all within 4 weeks. Once in place the CFO can ensure his team continues to work under those guidelines and in the correct framework required. The biggest change is moving the processes from being reactive to proactive.
 

It sounds like a really interesting and worthwhile project for the first four weeks, or however long it takes to set up.
Do you have difficulties in finding clients? Because, if not then maybe you could aim for a six week timescale at an increased per diem (still saving the client money, but not putting yourself under undue pressure) and work happier and with more variety since you would be changing location and maybe sector more often.

[tonytats]

Isn’t this what we all do ?
Spend 75 mins of pure work to complete our tasks or 6.5 hours of drag out homes under the hammer lunch at parents afternoon nap ?
That’s what I was doing
But recently I started doing some courier work 8-14 hour days full on with 75 mins of other business’s obligations.

[tonytats]

If you know you have another contract speed up
If unsure slow down and drag it out ?
Surely you want the money to keep flowing

[UgotNuts]

Thinly veiled 'I'm on a monkey a day' brag ITT

Over my head lol

[bobAlike]

I think you are missing a trick, you should sell your services as a package offering for a set price. The set price should be based on what you know these companies are willing to pay and what you want to earn from it. For example for this current contract they are prepared to pay £30k for a certain outcome by a certain date (or sooner) and you think you can do this in 4 weeks (£10k). Agree to charge them £20k, as a whole not a day rate, for no longer than 8 weeks. Deliver it in 4 and earn £1k per day. They wont care that you delivered it early but they will be impressed that you delivered for £10k less than they were expecting.

[UgotNuts]

Hey Bob,

It would mean switching from using recruitment agencies and working on building a brand and marketing my product services. Its a good idea, but it would mean changing the avenue of supply that I currently have.

At the moment, I get at least one phone call from a recruiter a week asking if I'm available to go to X and help out with Y for Z amount of weeks. If I agree and my initial meeting with the company then we agree a day rate. Quite often I don't even negotiate it, i just agree to what day rate that is offered, they will come back and say "They are looking to pay between 375-425 a day, what would your day rate be" I Just say i'll take the top end. Probably missing a trick there too.

[bobAlike]

Hey Bob,

It would mean switching from using recruitment agencies and working on building a brand and marketing my product services. Its a good idea, but it would mean changing the avenue of supply that I currently have.

At the moment, I get at least one phone call from a recruiter a week asking if I'm available to go to X and help out with Y for Z amount of weeks. If I agree and my initial meeting with the company then we agree a day rate. Quite often I don't even negotiate it, i just agree to what day rate that is offered, they will come back and say "They are looking to pay between 375-425 a day, what would your day rate be" I Just say i'll take the top end. Probably missing a trick there too.

I totally get that as I operate in the same way but with IT consultancy. For a specialised service like you provide I think I would be doing as much networking as possible such as attending local business clubs and LinkedIn such as you are already doing. One good one that I found was attending local rugby club dinners where a lot of local business men usually hang out.

[UgotNuts]

Pretty good idea Bobalike, Thanks for the advice.

[bobAlike]

Pretty good idea Bobalike, Thanks for the advice.

One other idea is to speak to all the agencies that you have dealt with in the past and come to some arrangement where they introduce you/your company to the end customer for a fixed fee. This way they could get commission from the hirer and a bit from you and you would be able to charge for your services in a block.

[Jamier-Host]

I think you are missing a trick, you should sell your services as a package offering for a set price. The set price should be based on what you know these companies are willing to pay and what you want to earn from it. For example for this current contract they are prepared to pay £30k for a certain outcome by a certain date (or sooner) and you think you can do this in 4 weeks (£10k). Agree to charge them £20k, as a whole not a day rate, for no longer than 8 weeks. Deliver it in 4 and earn £1k per day. They wont care that you delivered it early but they will be impressed that you delivered for £10k less than they were expecting.

Definitely this. There are some good Reddit threads where day rates for IT contractors (usually devs) are discussed. The bottom line tends to be that where upside for the client is massive (either potential profit or general urgency), you should just charge accordingly if you can be picky about the work.

Also the referrals comment is spot on too. Once you have a backlog satisfied customers and case studies you really shouldn't need to rely on recruitment agencies.