Posted By Andrew Pattinson Can any one give me an idea of a sensible day rate for supplying my services 2 days a week to act as an advisor to a fabrication company. Veiwing procedures, coshh assessments , usual day to day stuff

Posted By Merv Newman Andrew, depends on your qualifications, experience and reputation. Reputation is the most important for a consultant. Word-of-mouth is the best CV you can have. If you can honestly say that you have done a great job for one client then they will be happy to recommend you to the next. Maybe at a higher tariff. Push the envolope (as they say) If you did a good job for £250 and have client recommendation then try the next one at £350. You might have to give them a negotiated discount of perhaps 10% Which means £315 Back in the old days, for my services as a salaried consultant clients were charged £3 000 per day. (my monthly salary) When I went independant I calculated that £500 would give me an equivalent income. which it did. Then came a job I did not want to do (North west africa) so I doubled the price and they took it. Since then I have gradually increased the tariff and it is now 2 000 euros per day plus full travelling expenses. Now at that level some companies turn you down. But the interesting thing is that the bigger companies (those with more possibilities of repeat business) know the value and the cost of good consultants. This year I have probably averaged 3 paid days per week. And two days to do the garden and the shopping with my wife. Some years it gets really hairy with up to 200 hotel nights per year. What am I saying ? If you have the qualifications and the experience to be a consultant then build your rep and your client base and your references. Once you have that balance set your tariff according to how many days you want to work Nothing this week. Manuring and digging the root plants plot. Geneva English book sale in Friday. 2 days in Lyon on BBS next week. 4 days in Blois the following week on pilot BBS. Probably followed by SMS next year. Cool. Merv