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D


Hermes

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figuring out my contract
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I'm trying to think through my approach, and this post may just be an exercise in thinking it through, but I thought some of you might have some valuable input for me to consider too.

Yesterday, I spoke to my primary client about my contract for next year.  They recently were purchased by a large company and will no longer be non-profit.

I was told everyone thinks I'm doing a great job, and they expect their budget to increase for my work, and that they want to increase my hours and hourly rate (I'm overseeing their digital media, and pretty much work as a member of their marketing team, with the exception that I work from home.) 

Currently, I have a contract for 25 hours/week.  I put in way more than that as I'm used to working on a 40 hour week salaried basis, but I don't tap them on the shoulder for the extra hours because, for one, they have been non-profit and I love the job and the fact I work from home. I mentioned my hours and said I could use the extra hours in my contract, and would also like to hire someone to help me (I'm using freelance developer right now, but would like help on more of the day-to-day.)

My role is coveted and highly visible, and many individuals and agencies have approached my client to do what I am doing. I told my client I would even entertain direct employment, out of fear that they would feel the need to have someone on staff and to let them know I would consider it.

Another issue is time off.  With the 25 hour work week contract, I can take time when I want in theory, and the 25 hours were arrived at with this in consideration.  My client said she could use me 40 hours/week.

Long story short, I'm trying to think up what I want so I can come back to her with (she'll counter, but I kind of want the hourly increase to be up to her since I didn't ask for it... at least that's how I feel right now.)  I'm thinking of proposing 40 hour weeks with 20 days pto -- more of what I would negotiate with an employer.  I do not really want to give up working at home, so I want to propose that I continue with that.  I'm also thinking, if my hours increase, perhaps I play it by ear to bring someone else on?  Perhaps I just give them some of my hours?  Now that I write that out, I'm not sure if that will work...

If I had to blurt out a contract right now, I'd say
increased hourly rate for me
based on 40 hours/week
20 days pto baked in
20 hours/week for support staff at a lower rate
continue to work from home...





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"Fashion can be bought. Style one must possess." ~ Edna Woolman Chase
Collette


Chanel

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I unfortunately have no advice but just wanted to wish you luck, hope it goes as you want it!

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D


Hermes

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thanks, Collette! discussed again this morning - think I have some ideas up my sleeve... I'm going to increase the hours, but offer a reduced rate for some and hire a friend to help me out.

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"Fashion can be bought. Style one must possess." ~ Edna Woolman Chase
Suasoria


Chanel

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I think you have the right ideas. If I were you I would come up with 2-3 options, one being full-time salaried (if you truly are open to that). In either case I'm sure you will want to explain that your role truly is full time, but you've donated hours above your agreement because of their nonprofit status, and now you'd like to be compensated for the extra work.

I'm not sure about the support staff person and paid time off. It seems if you remain an IC, you would cover that out of your own pay (and leave them out of it). Since they ostensibly have a full staff in place, they may simply prefer you to hand off assignments to an existing employee.

Based on the scope of your services, and the fact that your invoices probably don't vary much from month to month, have you considered moving to a monthly retainer agreement, versus counting up hours? Then your time off would be irrelevant to them, assuming you deliver on your services. Your retainer could be big enough to farm out work to an underling, without them needing to approve it. I work with almost all my clients on a retainer basis and it's a win-win as far as I'm concerned.

Good luck!

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D


Hermes

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Suasoria wrote:

I think you have the right ideas. If I were you I would come up with 2-3 options, one being full-time salaried (if you truly are open to that). In either case I'm sure you will want to explain that your role truly is full time, but you've donated hours above your agreement because of their nonprofit status, and now you'd like to be compensated for the extra work.

I'm not sure about the support staff person and paid time off. It seems if you remain an IC, you would cover that out of your own pay (and leave them out of it). Since they ostensibly have a full staff in place, they may simply prefer you to hand off assignments to an existing employee.

Based on the scope of your services, and the fact that your invoices probably don't vary much from month to month, have you considered moving to a monthly retainer agreement, versus counting up hours? Then your time off would be irrelevant to them, assuming you deliver on your services. Your retainer could be big enough to farm out work to an underling, without them needing to approve it. I work with almost all my clients on a retainer basis and it's a win-win as far as I'm concerned.

Good luck!


Yeah, the pto thing was me thinking aloud.   We are now discussing a retainer - problem is, I need to figure out how much that is, as I don't want to cut myself short if I bring someone on.  Retainers I've quoted in the past take into account hours anticipated at certain pay levels, and I've shared that with the client to support why I'm asking for the given dollar amount.  How do you arrive at/present your retainer quotes? 



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"Fashion can be bought. Style one must possess." ~ Edna Woolman Chase
Suasoria


Chanel

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D wrote:
How do you arrive at/present your retainer quotes?

Well...it's not scientific, I can tell you that - it's more metaphysical! I usually only expect a 4-6 month relationship but I juggle 3-4 clients at a time. Some of it depends on how much I'm bringing in already, how much time/capacity I can realistically give them, whether they piggyback nicely on something I'm already doing (which saves time and resources), and frankly, how much I like them as people.

I am usually able to get a sense of their budget from talking to them over the course of building the relationship, and I've already given them a price range based on what we normally get (usually $1800 a month up to about $3500) and then I will narrow it further based on what I'm led to believe the scope of their project will be.

It mostly depends on the amount of media outreach I anticipate. For a local client, like a restaurant, I would really only be going to local media, so that involves a relatively small universe of media contacts/outlets. If it's a product available nationally, it's more time consuming. However if it's something that requires targeting a bunch of media markets - such as a film that's opening/screening in 20 cities - that's like doing that small local outreach, but times 20, so it's actually more intense than a national program.

However it's still a crapshoot. When I say $x a month, sometimes we get "that's great! we were expecting MUCH higher!" and I go aww crap. But then other times I give what I think is a really fair deal, and they want to negotiate down.



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