A good umbrella company can be a close ally for contractors, helping you to manage your affairs in a structured, professional and tax-efficient way.
But like any service provider, you need to know you can trust your umbrella company. So how do you make that decision before entrusting your livelihood and professional reputation to a third-party provider?
Here are some of the things to consider, and why umbrella companies are not a one-size-fits-all solution.
Check the T&Cs
First of all, make sure you read the terms and conditions in full. The T&Cs tell you exactly what to expect from your umbrella company, and what your responsibilities will be.
A reputable umbrella company will give you full terms and conditions to cover your relationship with them, even if you choose a solution that does not require you to enter into a contract of employment.
Make sure you keep any contract, terms and conditions safe for future reference, and you're a step closer to a clear and transparent relationship with your umbrella company.
Compare the options
Remember different umbrella companies will offer different services, and one umbrella company may have multiple solutions for you to choose between.
This can allow you to decide whether you want a payroll solution, a contract of employment, holidays and benefits, IR35 support and so on.
All of these can affect the amount of admin work you need to do and your take-home pay at the end of the week or month, so it's worth weighing up the options available to you.
Calculate your take-home pay
Umbrella companies will often have an umbrella calculator tool on their website, which can help you to work out your take-home pay.
By putting accurate, up-to-date numbers into an umbrella calculator, you can get a clear indication of how much you will receive after any taxes and fees are deducted.
Again, this is about giving you a better idea of the agreement you are entering into, which all helps to build more trust between you and your umbrella company from the start.
Make your choice
Once you've researched all the information you need and compared the options that are best suited to your needs, you're ready to make your final decision of umbrella company, and which specific solution you want to choose from them.
This can be a purely pragmatic choice based on the take-home pay calculation and other T&Cs, or a highly personal decision based on your general impression and opinion of each provider.
At the end of the day, it's your business, your career and your earnings, so choose a provider you think you can trust, and a solution that meets your needs as a contractor.
If you are interested in discussing how Primis can help you meet your requirements, please don't hesitate to get in touch here and we will be happy to help.