Freelance rates- Events managers
Freelance rates- Events managers
Author
Discussion

s3fella

Original Poster:

10,524 posts

216 months

Friday 12th December 2008
quotequote all
Any idea what sort of rates Events managers and organisers charge.

Missus lost her job as an events manager at a publisher recently, she did big exhibitions, shows, awards cermonies, etc for the media industry, but not outdoor music stuff like festivals.
She's looking to go freelance and I have little idea on day / hourly rates, and as they never used outsourcers at her company, she is a little in the dark too. I've suggested a couple of rates, one for in London work, one for outside, in order to cover travel time etc, (we dont live in London).

Anyone any experience of using outsource evens planning people and what rates are charged? I presume reasonable out of pocket expences are charged?
We have a rough idea based on her old employed salary, but would be nice to get some first hand experience. I've emailed a few freelance epopel asking for info, but no response and feel bad asking as I'm not looking to put work their way! (sorry!)

Cheers

Puggit

49,789 posts

277 months

Friday 12th December 2008
quotequote all
Don't know the rates, but a friend who is a freelance event organiser is seriously struggling financially at the moment - sorry for the bad news!

Bolebroke

398 posts

215 months

Friday 12th December 2008
quotequote all
Mrs B runs an event management company in London...she used some freelancers for various team building events and I seem to remember them being about £300 all in per day...but those days are definitely over ! The only business that remains is central and local govt / agency work...sorry to sound discouraging...

s3fella

Original Poster:

10,524 posts

216 months

Friday 12th December 2008
quotequote all
No need to appologise. She has picked up work already, or at least leads from people wanting her to do urgent stuff but she has not yet quoted. As I said it litterally has come up last night.

The rates we had in mind were less than £200 a day, or hour equivalent, so maybe its the higher end stuff that is slowing a lot. to be honest she's only lloking for 2 days a week or so, so fingers crossed it will come to something.


Cheers for the help

Steamer

14,173 posts

242 months

Friday 12th December 2008
quotequote all
Its not all doom and gloom.

Okay some people have been cut (sorry S3fella's Mrs) But as I'm sure she knows - people will always goto exhibitions and events... with the right clients now could be the ideal time for her to set up on her own.

...at the moment clients are cutting their cloth to suit... slashing budgets left right and center. A few clients are pulling out altogether - but this does reflect VERY badly on their perceived status.

But with any luck the hall space providers will start being a little less greedy and get people attending.

prand

6,244 posts

225 months

Friday 12th December 2008
quotequote all
She should speak to some recruitment agencies to get a feel for the market rates. Michael Page are a big Marketing/Comms agency who would be a good start. They might even be able to place her in some work.


s3fella

Original Poster:

10,524 posts

216 months

Friday 19th December 2008
quotequote all
Cheers for the advice, everyone! Fingers crossed she has a big meeting on monday in London....

Steamer

14,173 posts

242 months

Friday 19th December 2008
quotequote all
thumbup Hope it goes well! As I said above, its not all doom & gloom in events and exhibitions (just a bit tighter than usual!)

And if she ever needs a hand on the creative / planing / pitching side - just shout biggrin

Mobile Chicane

21,984 posts

241 months

Friday 19th December 2008
quotequote all
Steamer said:
thumbup Hope it goes well! As I said above, its not all doom & gloom in events and exhibitions (just a bit tighter than usual!)

And if she ever needs a hand on the creative / planing / pitching side - just shout biggrin
Can I have a bit of whatever it is you're on? I've been in marketing for 20 years and never seen things this tough. Freelance work has all but evaporated, and what there is pays peanuts. One can only hope things pick up the New Year... coffee

Busamav

2,954 posts

237 months

Friday 19th December 2008
quotequote all
You need to be careful about the daily rate , it will vary from event to event.

Some days are 16 + hours and away from home.

It may be worth just giving a heads up as to what area you are based too wink

Edited by Busamav on Friday 19th December 17:57

Steamer

14,173 posts

242 months

Friday 19th December 2008
quotequote all
Mobile Chicane said:
Steamer said:
thumbup Hope it goes well! As I said above, its not all doom & gloom in events and exhibitions (just a bit tighter than usual!)

And if she ever needs a hand on the creative / planing / pitching side - just shout biggrin
Can I have a bit of whatever it is you're on? I've been in marketing for 20 years and never seen things this tough. Freelance work has all but evaporated, and what there is pays peanuts. One can only hope things pick up the New Year... coffee
Sorry M.C.


I'm freelance - but on the design side of things, mostly exhibitions, events & interiors... its still ticking over, but I agree, there certainly are a few nervous faces in the director's offices.

alex s

2,105 posts

265 months

Friday 19th December 2008
quotequote all
There is work out there. We are very busy at the moment.
We always use freelance EM's, however there is deffo a move away from big events in the last few months, more a move to F2F promo stuff at the mo.
Feel free to Pm me if you have a CV, we are London based, however we do events nationwide.
We have a lot of contacts at the big PR companies and some of the bigger companies who use in house PR, happy to put a word in/ forward CV etc.

HTH
Alex

s3fella

Original Poster:

10,524 posts

216 months

Friday 19th December 2008
quotequote all
alex s said:
There is work out there. We are very busy at the moment.
We always use freelance EM's, however there is deffo a move away from big events in the last few months, more a move to F2F promo stuff at the mo.
Feel free to Pm me if you have a CV, we are London based, however we do events nationwide.
We have a lot of contacts at the big PR companies and some of the bigger companies who use in house PR, happy to put a word in/ forward CV etc.

HTH
Alex
Thanks, I may even see if "S3Missus" wishes to sign up herself.... although the obvious danger of a divorce once she finds out how much crap I write may be too much!!!

eek

Maybe I'll PM you after all!!? laugh

s3fella

Original Poster:

10,524 posts

216 months

Monday 19th January 2009
quotequote all
Sorry to resurrect, but Missus won her first pitch for a contract to the end of March and was all set to be self employed and invoice weekly for this, as was agreed at her pitch meeting where she detailed her rates, (she chickened out of the rate I suggested as was keen to win it so went in cheap!).But it was OK for the first one, and rates would be revisted in March.

Anyway, now company has said it cannot be invoiced unelss she has a Ltd co, otherwise she has to gon on a contract and be paid PAYE!

Part of her rate calculation was that she could offset some setup costs vs capital allowances, now she is on short term contract it seems.
So questions are, how much more difficult would it be to set up a co, I know it's simple enough on net, but presume there are then accountancy and audit costs and responsibilities, which will add to the costs of the business and hence her rate is too low!

Also, if she goes on a short term contract does this mean she get holiday pay and sick leave etc?
Company said it changed it's policy on self employed people in November as some regulation changed then..

Is this "normal", ie can you know longer be "self employed" anymore and do self assessment etc with larger organisations?

Anyone any experience of "umbrella companies" that she could invoice through (daft question as I am sure there are!) and if so what are the approx costs of this as a % of billing or £/mionth/week?



Edited by s3fella on Monday 19th January 12:47

Steamer

14,173 posts

242 months

Monday 19th January 2009
quotequote all
Thats great news!

Keep us posted - as I think there are a few of us here that work in exhibitions & events.

Sorry I can't help you with the finance questions (but I'm sure someone else will soon).

I just work as a VAT Reg. sole-trader.

Just thought I'd give this a bump as I posted on it first time round.

Edited by Steamer on Monday 19th January 13:11

tinman0

18,231 posts

269 months

Monday 19th January 2009
quotequote all
s3fella said:
Sorry to resurrect, but Missus won her first pitch for a contract to the end of March and was all set to be self employed and invoice weekly for this, as was agreed at her pitch meeting where she detailed her rates, (she chickened out of the rate I suggested as was keen to win it so went in cheap!).But it was OK for the first one, and rates would be revisted in March.

Anyway, now company has said it cannot be invoiced unelss she has a Ltd co, otherwise she has to gon on a contract and be paid PAYE!

Part of her rate calculation was that she could offset some setup costs vs capital allowances, now she is on short term contract it seems.
So questions are, how much more difficult would it be to set up a co, I know it's simple enough on net, but presume there are then accountancy and audit costs and responsibilities, which will add to the costs of the business and hence her rate is too low!

Also, if she goes on a short term contract does this mean she get holiday pay and sick leave etc?
Company said it changed it's policy on self employed people in November as some regulation changed then..

Is this "normal", ie can you know longer be "self employed" anymore and do self assessment etc with larger organisations?

Anyone any experience of "umbrella companies" that she could invoice through (daft question as I am sure there are!) and if so what are the approx costs of this as a % of billing or £/mionth/week?
I can see where they are coming from, but its quite easy.

You should be able to register a Ltd company by the end of the afternoon, and you can put in an application to the VAT office for a number first thing in the morning. You can do the whole lot of the web. You'll have to be on top of the paperwork though, forever more. try uk-plc.net i think for company formation. She should be able to invoice with vat even without a vat number as you can back date the vat date to the application date (and maybe earlier but i would have to double check that first).

s3fella

Original Poster:

10,524 posts

216 months

Monday 19th January 2009
quotequote all
Do you need to be VAT reg if you have a ltd company? Or only if TO is over the threshold?


Anyone any experience of umbrella companies?

john_p

7,073 posts

279 months

Monday 19th January 2009
quotequote all
You don't need to be VAT registered till you hit the threshold (over £60k or so).

However, there may be benefits to her if she joins the flat rate scheme - she should speak to an accountant for advice. To simplify VERY greatly, you might pocket about 2-3% extra for being on it.

Ali_D

1,115 posts

313 months

Monday 19th January 2009
quotequote all
s3fella said:
Do you need to be VAT reg if you have a ltd company? Or only if TO is over the threshold?


Anyone any experience of umbrella companies?
You only need VAT reg if you are not over the threshold, however voluntary registration may be beneficial. No need for audit either.

You'll need to run a PAYE scheme for ltd co but its relatively easy or get an accountant/payroll bureau to do it for you.

tinman0

18,231 posts

269 months

Monday 19th January 2009
quotequote all
john_p said:
You don't need to be VAT registered till you hit the threshold (over £60k or so).
You volunteer though. Its not so bad as you get back the vat on purchases and when you are in an B2B business being registered for VAT its a bit of a bonus because your business petrol vat comes back etc.