Contractors, what % is your agent retaining?

Just had a 12.5% rate reduction, and been told to " speak" with agent about there % charge to ease the pain.
So wondering what others are paying and what service ( if any) they are getting.

Here we have 30 plus long term contractors, and about 12 different agents.

Mine retains 9.5% but ranges from 6-15%

Another has 25%!!.

Also other than sending salary to my company I have no interaction or benefit that I can see.

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Kerak said:

Also other than sending salary to my company I have no interaction or benefit that I can see

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Well I have spent 20 years contracting in Europe, but never at home in Ireland, so my experience my not be relevant to you.

The usual rate for agent's commission is about 20%, which must be disclosed by the agent to the contractor. So they normally tell you the hourly rate to the client is say 195 and to you 145 per hour....

As regards the main two benefits of using the agency:

- They finance the deal, you are normally paid within 5 days of invoicing, where as they allow the client between 45 and 60 days.

- Hassle free payments: I always get paid on time, when I deal directly with clients I often spend a lot of time chancing down invoice payments and 45 days credit often becomes 90 or even more!


Good luck with that,

Jim

Kerak said:

Also other than sending salary to my company I have no interaction or benefit that I can see.

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Would you have got the job in the first place without the agency - if you don't rate them why not freelance and see how you get on?!

Not definite about what mine takes but I reckon it's about 20% ++. Not over the moon about it but they had the contacts to sort the job out which wouldn't have happened without their network.

Thanks for replies,

I got the job the myself, but the company wanted us with a third party so I went to who they wanted. 20% is outrageous. I agree about been paid quickly and not having to chase invoices, I still do some independent work as well.
Annoy feature is the "company" is making us do the dealing with the agents, not a huge amount of productivity the last few days, any saving with their pay cut are been eroded.
Also general opionion of agents is unprintable

We, agent now at 5%, small victory.