Re: staff consultants

[Tracey Moore <temoore -at- MAIL -dot- JAX -dot- BELLSOUTH -dot- NET>]

To be or not to be. . .

I have been working as a consultant for the past year and a half. I love
consulting, well I love the freedom part. Alas, I am returning to the employee
world. The reason? I can't afford to continue consulting. So my advice to
anyone wanting to consult full-time:

Have at the very least three months living expenses saved! You will be
unemployed for periods at a time, it's a fact! Take into consideration the
following expenses when you set your fees:

You have to provide your own insurance, working or not..
You have to pay double social security tax.
You have to provide your own retirement benefits.
You have no paid holidays, sick days or vacations.

I know of consultants who do very well. One in particular charges a lot of
money, and if someone balks at it, she turns away, no regrets. Don't let them
get off cheap, you're worth the money (if not you shouldn't be contracting)! I
plan to return to contracting one day, when I've got a healthy nest egg to fall
back on when times are tight.

Kevin Scott Feeman wrote:

> I have a question that is similiar.  Right now, I am working for a company
> as a consultant.  The contract I was working on ended about a month ago and
> they have yet found me a position.  However, I am getting paid on the
> bench.  My question is this:  For those who have worked at a company as a
> main empolyee and at other times in their careers, as a consultant, which
> do you like best?  Any replies will be helpful.
>
> Kevin Feeman
>
>
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> >