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10-step guide to becoming an IT contractor in the UK

Last updated: | Starting Up

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Life as a contractor can be very rewarding. Alongside potential higher earnings, you can also experience a wide variety of jobs, and enjoy the freedom of being your own boss. It isn’t for everyone, but for those who move away from permanent work, most never look back. Here are ten things to consider if you’re thinking about starting up as a contractor in the UK this year.

The current outlook for 2023

At the start of 2023, the outlook is challenging for would-be contractors. The April 2021 IR35 reforms have made the process of contracting more arduous – for all parties in the recruitment chain. The legislation has shrunk the contracting market, and reduced the number of ‘outside-IR35’ contracts available.

Like other industries, the demand for contractors is heavily influenced by the state of the general economy – which is clearly going through a rocky time post-COVID, coupled with recession clouds on the horizon.

However, the contracting market has typically been one of the first to pick up following economic downturns in the past.

1. Is contracting for you?

This is probably the most important question of all, as once you have decided to take the plunge, the remaining steps are mainly administrative.

To succeed as a contractor, you will need to be a self-starter, and be willing to take on a degree of risk. You will no longer have the comforts of a traditional job, complete with ‘perks’, a regular salary, and many other certainties.

However, you have the chance to significantly increase your income, have far more control over your life, and the work you take on. You can enjoy a wide variety of different working environments and industries.

2. Do your research

If you feel you have what it takes to become a contractor, you need to work out a) whether there is a market for your skills, and b) what contract rate you will be able to command.

The best way to do this is by doing some in-depth online research. Start off with our own IT contract rate-checking tool, which uses data sourced from thousands of contract jobs posted on major recruitment sites.

You can also gain a good impression of overall market strength by reading updates on one of the many contractor industry sites. You’ll also get more of a feel for your earning power when you start researching possible contract positions and speaking to agencies and other contractors.

3. Finding contract work

Around 20% of contractors work directly for end clients. The remaining 80% work via recruitment agencies. However, there are many different avenues you may take before you actually deal with a recruitment agent.

You may use a contract job board, apply directly to a recruitment agency, get recommended for a position by someone you already know, or even transfer from permanent to contract with your existing employer.

4. Applying for a contract role

To get your first contract, you need to get your CV up-to-date. Contract recruiters are primarily interested in your current skillset and experience. You should list these at the top of your CV, and keep the document to a maximum of two pages if you can (this is a rough guide).

Be concise, and remember that you’re being hired for your skills, to fill a project requirement. Keep the ‘additional information’ you may have included in your permanent CV to a minimum. Tailor your CV (within reason) to each role you apply for.

It goes without saying that you should take time to make the CV presentable; spell check everything and use uniform fonts. You want to make sure your CV stands out from the crowd.

Agents tend to be divided on whether or not you should include a covering letter or not, but our view is that you should do anything to improve your chances of securing the role.

These days, LinkedIn is probably the most important tool in a contractor’s armoury. Set up a profile if you haven’t done so already, and make sure your traditional CV and online profiles match.

More and more recruiters use pre-screening firms to find out more about applicants, so clean up your online footprint if there could be any unflattering information out there about you if you perform a search on your name.

5. End of an old life, the start of a new one

Most recruiters want applicants to be able to start a contract role at short notice – often within a week or two. For this reason, you will be in the strongest position if you have already left your permanent role, or come to an arrangement with your current employer if they support your decision to become a contractor.

There are no strict rules here, and some clients will be prepared to wait for the right contractor to fill a given role.

6. Limited or Umbrella?

Almost all IT contractors work via a limited or umbrella company; it is very unusual for a contractor to work as a ‘sole trader’, as your agent (or client) will be liable for certain employment rights if you do not work via a company structure.

Most contractors work via their own companies, as it is a tax-efficient way to contract (mainly because National Insurance Contributions are not payable on the dividends you draw down from your company). You will have to take on a certain amount of administrative duties, but a specialist accountant can easily carry out most of these on your behalf.

The umbrella company route is the simplest route to contracting – you simply become an employee of the umbrella company, and they will take care of all your admin, and pay you your net salary each week/month. However, you will receive none of the tax benefits associated with limited companies.

7. Watch out for the IR35 trap!

Of all the challenges you may face at some stage of your contracting career, ‘IR35’ is likely to be the most challenging.

The IR35 rules were put in place to clamp down on the practice of so-called ‘disguised employment’, where a permie would leave his job one day, only to return as a limited company contractor shortly afterwards; but unlike a ‘self employed’ person, the contractor in question would typically carry on performing a job in an ’employed’ manner – under the complete control and direction of his/her client.

Umbrella company contractors don’t need to worry about IR35, as they are ’employees’ of their umbrella schemes. If you run a limited company and your contracts are caught by IR35, the financial consequences are significant, and all the tax benefits associated with working via a limited company will be eroded.

Since 6th April 2021, private sector clients are now responsible for determining the employment status of contractors – in a significant overhaul of the current IR35 rules, following on from the April 2017 public sector implementation.

Understandably, you should read up on IR35 as a priority, and take steps to ensure that you remain IR35-free. There are plenty of experts out there to guide you through this process, and it is not expensive.

You should have each contract professionally reviewed before signing.

8. Dealing with tax issues

If you go down the umbrella route, your income will be processed in exactly the same way it was when you had a permanent job (via Pay-As-You-Earn, a.k.a. PAYE).

You need to submit your timesheet to your umbrella company, which will then invoice your end-client. Once payment has been received, the umbrella company will process your payslip, and you will receive a net salary, after deductions for income tax, National Insurance, the umbrella fee, and any other pre-agreed deductions.

If you’re a limited company contractor, your accountant will help take care of your company’s tax affairs, although you do need to spend time understanding how everything works.

Ultimately, it is the company’s directors who are responsible for the accuracy and timeliness of its accounts.

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As a company director, you will need to register for self-assessment, and submit your tax return and pay any tax liabilities by 31st January each year. Your company will also pay Corporation Tax on its profits, and you may have taxes to pay on the salary you draw down.

9. Other practical steps

You could never list all the micro-steps you need to take from the moment you decide to become a contractor to the day you start your first contract in a single article, however the first 8 steps listed here are the fundamental ones you will follow.

Other things you ought to consider when you’re starting out:

  • Take our adequate insurance (most clients require you to have professional indemnity cover as a minimum).
  • Open a business bank account if you’re a limited company contractor.
  • Consider setting up your own business website.

We cover lots of these topics in further detail here on ITContracting.com, with new content being added all the time.

10. Being an IT contractor

As we mentioned at the start of this guide, most contractors have no regrets over their decision to leave traditional employment. It can be a very rewarding career choice, albeit with a number of potential challenges along the way.

As a contractor, you’re in control of your own future, so make sure you keep in touch with the latest changes in technology, take courses if you need to, and most of all, keep in touch with other contractors.

Other contractors will become your most powerful source of future work if you take the time to network.

Browse the rest of our site for dozens of concise guides, and email us if you’d like to get in touch, make comments, or ask any questions about becoming an IT contractor.


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