Background: contractor on and off for years. Just moved from permanent to freelance; a totally different world from contracting.
There are a couple of things that have really worked out well for me this time around.
I left an agency - and I took some of their clients with me (don't worry, it's all above board). They have clients that are too small / too complex for them, but perfect for me. It's a great arrangement - the clients already know me, nothing much changes from their point of view. Best of all, they're already used to paying agency rates.
I'd suggest that if you're working at an agency you ask around to see if you could do the same. It really can work out in everyone's favour (particularly yours).
Secondly, I read a lot of patio11's advice [0] so I wasn't scared of asking for much higher rates than I ever had before.
There are a couple of things that have really worked out well for me this time around.
I left an agency - and I took some of their clients with me (don't worry, it's all above board). They have clients that are too small / too complex for them, but perfect for me. It's a great arrangement - the clients already know me, nothing much changes from their point of view. Best of all, they're already used to paying agency rates.
I'd suggest that if you're working at an agency you ask around to see if you could do the same. It really can work out in everyone's favour (particularly yours).
Secondly, I read a lot of patio11's advice [0] so I wasn't scared of asking for much higher rates than I ever had before.
[0] http://www.kalzumeus.com/greatest-hits/