Becoming an Engineering Contractor
You may also find the following pages useful:
Why Become an Engineering Contractor
Getting Paid - The Options
Working as an Engineering Contractor through your own Limited Company
Finding an Engineering Contract
Depending on your level of experience, on where you are based and on the state of the industry at the time you start contracting, you could expect to earn twice as much, or even more, than a permanent employee would. Somewhere in the region of £45 per hour or more in fact. Our take home pay calculator can show you how much more you could take home as a contractor. To find out more about how you can get paid and the different options available to you click here
Money is not the only positive aspect of a decision to work on a contract basis. When the market is good, you could find yourself in a position where you can choose where, when and for how long you work - and subsequently, how much holiday you can take!
But with this level of freedom comes the responsibility to make sure that you do actually find and complete enough contracts to maintain your required level of income. This is quite straightforward when there are lots of projects available which suit your skill set, experience level and location - but it can be tougher in more challenging economic times, when projects are not as readily available, and the competition for the best contracts is that much higher. For advice on finding a contract click here
What happens next?
The decision to move to contracting is often a conscious one, but sometimes it happens as the result of redundancy, where you simply don’t have a choice if you want to keep the money coming in. Either way, as soon as the decision has been made, there are a number of things that you will have to consider. The most vital of these is the need to manage your finances yourself, as you will no longer just be paid by a payroll department somewhere within your employer’s organisation!
The first step is to decide how you will operate – the two most common options being to work through an umbrella company or to set up a limited company. There are pros and cons to each and you can find out more about this here.
If you do choose to set up a limited company, SJD Accountancy can give you with a wealth of information and advice – as well as providing a low cost fixed-fee accountancy service which has been especially developed for contractors. You can also read here about working as an engineer through your own limited company
You should also make sure your CV is as up to date as it possibly can be, and that it is saved in a universally-recognised format such as Microsoft Word or as a PDF file – so when you start to email it out to prospective companies, you can be sure they will be able to read it. Our Contractor Careers Centre has all the information you need on writing the perfect CV and how to perform your best during an interview
It’s also a good idea to have some business cards. They are useful for meeting situations whilst sorting out your first contract and are always worth having as you continue in your contracting career, as you never know when an opportunity might present itself in the future!
If you have any question about contracting or would like any further advice please call our New Client Services helpdesk on 0500 152 500 or e-mail jaime.thorpe@sjdaccountancy.com.
SJD Accountancy
SJD Accountancy are the UK's largest specialist provider of fixed fee, limited company accountancy services to contractors; we've been acting for contractors across the UK since 1992 and have more than 10,000 clients.
We are the only National specialist firm of accountants with offices in all major UK cities so you’ll never be far from your accountant. SJD also have more qualified staff than any other firm in our market with qualifications from the following major tax and accountancy bodies - ATII, ATT, ACCA, CA, ACA, FCCA, ACMA. You’ll also be pleased to know that we are one of the lowest priced as well.
Free face-to-face meetings. This is another unique service, only SJD offers free face to face meetings - tax is complicated and sometimes only a meeting will do.
Unlimited access to your own dedicated accountant. No call centres, no outsourcing, no automated call handling. Simply telephone, e-mail or meet your own dedicated accountant face to face.
Money backed service guarantee. All your telephone calls and e-mails will be answered the same day or we will refund your monthly fee's.
Outstanding reputation. We have won more awards for customer service and accountancy excellence than any other firm in our market.
All inclusive low cost monthly package which includes completion of accounts, payroll bureau, dividends and corporation tax computations, personal taxation, free bookkeeping software, unlimited access to your accountant and all company returns. All this for a fixed monthly fee of £95 plus VAT, which is one of the lowest prices in the market.
Appoint SJD Accountancy and never worry about your tax or accountancy affairs again!
You may also find the following pages, guides and case studies useful:
Take home pay calculator - How much could you be taking home
Contractor FAQ - All your frequently asked questions and their answers
First time Contracting or Freelancing? - A summary of the alternatives along with pros and cons
Step-by-step Guide to Contracting - Download a FREE copy of our guide
Limited or Umbrella? Can't decide? - We help you decide which is best for you
Take home pay case studies - Examples of contractors using limited and umbrella companies
Expenses Guide - Know exactly what you can claim
Umbrella company guide - Everything you ever wanted to know about umbrella company services
IR35 Guide - A great plain English guide to IR35
