# Considering contracting

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/considering-contracting/221920>\
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\
**Created:** [December 31, 2003, 10:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/considering-contracting/221920 "2003-12-31T10:37:26Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![One\_And\_Only\_Wanderers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/838e76/32.png) [@One\_And\_Only\_Wanderers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/One_And_Only_Wanderers)\
**Post date:** [December 31, 2003, 10:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/considering-contracting/221920/1 "2003-12-31T10:37:26Z")

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Any UK IT contractor dopers? im pretty sure there must be some out there. I have reached a stage in my skills where I am considering abandoning full time employment in favor of going contracting. (specifically I am an ABAP programmer with 3 years exp). Id like to hear from any contractors, particularly if u took the jump from full time employment recently. What were the pro’s and cons that you hit?

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**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\
**Post date:** [December 31, 2003, 10:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/considering-contracting/221920/2 "2003-12-31T10:44:24Z")

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Don’t do it without very careful consideration. I used to be a contractor. The rates are **really** poor right now. No holiday, no sick pay, no nothing. IR35 is a real killer too.

OTOH you have a minority skill and as such may be able to demand a premium, **if** there’s a job.

Being a contractor can be very advantageous, though, if you have your own company as you can buy a lot of things gross.

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**Author:** ![One\_And\_Only\_Wanderers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/838e76/32.png) [@One\_And\_Only\_Wanderers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/One_And_Only_Wanderers)\
**Post date:** [December 31, 2003, 10:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/considering-contracting/221920/3 "2003-12-31T10:54:39Z")

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Thanks **qts**

been reading up on IR35 - if i do go the contracting route I would use an umbrella company such as [parasol-it.com](http://parasol-it.com). Also been scanning jobserve etc, rates seem to vary from £200 - £400 per day depending on location and experience. Seems to be plenty about at the moment - providing im willing to go work ‘Darn sarth’