2 Contractors 1 Ltd Company 1 Client

**Kanye** · 23 January 2014, 05:46

In theory anything can be negotiated.

However, I don't think the typical agency or client wanting a contractor will go for this.

Though LTD company contractors are B2B hopefully working outside of IR35, most clients working this route still want 1 bum in 1 seat on a day rate. A proper B2B sale seems to go via a completely different route.

**Bellona** · 23 January 2014, 08:37

+1
I find it very difficult to get fixed price work on a managed service or B2B basis nowadays
Time and materials bum on seat is the norm through agencies

Why not put the suggestion to the agencies whose contracts you are interested in and informally test the waters : nothing ventured, nothing gained

**Antman** · 23 January 2014, 08:49

It's a great idea, but I've a feeling that it'll be a computer says no response from the agencies.

**MarillionFan** · 23 January 2014, 08:50

Depending on how the client wants this done(especially if offsite), you could of course just take the contract, both work on it and also do other work as you'll have additional capacity.

**DirtyDog** · 23 January 2014, 09:24

Originally posted by andymarsden View Post

Me and my friend started a software development business (Ltd Company) we are not doing to badly...

My friend and I started a software development business (Ltd Company) we are not doing too badly...

Originally posted by andymarsden View Post

Would a company (and the agency) be willing to employ our Ltd company and have 2 people working on the contract - same rate but in theory completing the work in half of the time?

This way we could complete a 6 month contract (assuming the contract is for a finite project and not on-going work) in 3 months at no additional cost to the employer.

I think that some clients would challenge the assumption that you could do the job in half the time. The assumption works well once you have everything sorted out, there's no deviation from the spec, and everything is ready to go. The reality of the situation is probably very far from that - the client has padded the timescale to do the work because they know that there will be periods where you need to ask questions and it may take them a week (at least) to find out the answer to those questions.

The work that goes through agencies are looking for a resource for that length of time - the client may well have already padded it to take into account the way they run the project, so there won't be any scope for you to save lots of time.

Also, you can only save time if you are either working in shifts, or you are working on separate pieces of work. If the work doesn't split easily, then you'll spend time piecing it back together at the end of the development.

I wish you well with the business, but I don't think the agency model is the way forward for you.

**northernladuk** · 23 January 2014, 11:05

Hmm the title reminds me of a short film I saw once but the exact name of it escapes me.. Oh well...

Why not apply for the gigs, get in front of the client to listen to his requirements as if you were interviewing and then depending on what he says sell him your solution. If he clearly wants a bum on a seat then be polite and do some networking with him for the future. If he wants a solution then switch in to a sales spiel or arrange to meet him later.

Surely if you sell software dev and the agents are throwing leads at you that could potentially want some software dev you would be daft to ignore it no?

**Kanye** · 23 January 2014, 11:19

Originally posted by northernladuk View Post

Hmm the title reminds me of a short film I saw once but the exact name of it escapes me.. Oh well...

Why not apply for the gigs, get in front of the client to listen to his requirements as if you were interviewing and then depending on what he says sell him your solution. If he clearly wants a bum on a seat then be polite and do some networking with him for the future. If he wants a solution then switch in to a sales spiel or arrange to meet him later.

Surely if you sell software dev and the agents are throwing leads at you that could potentially want some software dev you would be daft to ignore it no?

It's an interesting approach.

One thing I am trying to do this year is scale beyond just day rate contracting, and I have wondered about interviews as a path to market.

I have an early stage interview/chat coming for a role which involves developing a completely standalone greenfield application. I might test the waters by pitching it as more of an offsite B2B thing.

**riffpie** · 23 January 2014, 11:44

Originally posted by andymarsden View Post

Hi All,
This way we could complete a 6 month contract (assuming the contract is for a finite project and not on-going work) in 3 months at no additional cost to the employer.

https://www.google.co.uk?q=the+mythical+man+month

Two guys at my current gig work for the same Ltd. It was formed to build a specific product, based on a particular other product. Along the way, they found consulting on and working with said other product for other people, more lucrative than slogging away on their own project. So now that's what they tend to do. They deal direct with the client.

But I don't think you're going to sell "we can do it in half the time!" to anyone. Mostly because it's complete nonsense. You're not typists.

**northernladuk** · 23 January 2014, 11:51

Originally posted by Kanye View Post

It's an interesting approach.

One thing I am trying to do this year is scale beyond just day rate contracting, and I have wondered about interviews as a path to market.

I have an early stage interview/chat coming for a role which involves developing a completely standalone greenfield application. I might test the waters by pitching it as more of an offsite B2B thing.

Well it's about gathering a customer base and what better way to get yourself in front of the guys you need to be speaking to. Like all sales methods it's going to involve a lot of legwork and dead ends but identifying the right people to speak to is half the work and the agents are throwing that at you. Agents are happy enough to ask for two references to go spam for sales so play them at their own game and gather their contacts. I don't do software so I could be wrong of course but if you have the time to apply and attend a 1/2 hour interview it's hardly taking all your time up.

2 Contractors 1 Ltd Company 1 Client