[austechwriter] Re: re working in other states with management companies
- From: "Christine Birtley-Kent" <birtley_kent@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <austechwriter@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Mon, 4 Aug 2003 08:23:06 +1000
Re management companies, I think their knowledge base and service skills
vary quite considerably between companies. I took a contract on the gold
coast that required insurance I did not have. I started with one management
company who got very confused when I insisted that all I wanted was the
insurance and nothing else. They insisted in turn that it could not be
done. I switched to another company who were superb - they sorted out weeks
of accumulated mess and got money to me within a couple of days. I have
decided that, for my next contract, I will experiment with the 'total deal'
with this company as I am so fed up with company administrivia. ERISA - are
you getting the $400.00 living away from home allowance?
Re accommodation, I found that, on the Gold Coast, with the down turn of
tourism, you can negotiate deals for 'tourist' rather than 'business'
accommodation. If you are prepared to go 'down-market' you can get very
good deals indeed. In addition, I am travelling with my dog, which severely
complicates things. I started in a fairly upmarket place near Surfers for
$1000 for a month (normally $100.00 per night). I then advertised for a
share house, got lots of replies, and moved into one for $100.00 per week.
I didn't like that so moved to a very run down but clean and dog-friendly
beachfront motel for $165.00 a week (normally $50.00 per night) - where I
stayed for the rest of my contract.
I think the key is to think creatively - break away from the normal concept
of 'business' accommodation - although I think this would be very hard
without a car. Having my car with me was key to being able to take
accommodation a bit out of the way. Having a dog with me may also have been
another key - I travel with the guides to dog-friendly accommodation. This
accommodation is often so far 'down-market' that no-one else wants to stay
there. ;-)
Regards, Christine
Ph: +61 7 4958 3107
Mobile: 0407 604010
----- Original Message -----
From: "Jean Hollis Weber" <jean@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: "Australian Technical Writers List" <austechwriter@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Sunday, August 03, 2003 12:46 PM
Subject: [austechwriter] re working in other states with management
companies
> Erisa Linsky wrote,
> > If contracting in Canberra it is virtually impossible to be self
> > employed unless you have a company... So you sign your contract over to
> > a management company who ... will charge you
> >5% percent of your income... [followed by details]
>
> Erisa, I've never needed to use a management company, but 5% sounded quite
> reasonable to me -- thought not, of course, if they don't do a good job.
> I'll be interested to hear from anyone else with experience.
>
> You mentioned they
> >pay you your money, part in wages and part in reimbursements for expenses
> >incurred.
>
> This sounds good, in theory. Later you said they don't recognise as many
of
> your expenses as you think they should. In that case, can't you deduct
> those expenses from your taxable income on your tax return? (I realise
> that's not much help to your cash flow in the short term.) I would also
> consult a tax accountant about the expenses of finding accomodation, phone
> costs, etc; quite possibly they are deductible too. Or have you done that
> and been told they aren't?
>
> You mentioned high accommodation costs in Canberra. I suggest you look in
> Queanbeyan, which is the town just across the ACT border to the east.
Costs
> are typically very much lower there than for any short-term accommodation
> in the ACT, and some motels have rooms with kitchenettes. I'm not sure
> about serviced apartments as such in that area.
>
> Aside to Steve Hudson -- Steve we know you're a grot, but sleeping in the
> car in a Canberra winter? That's a bit much!
>
> Regards, Jean
> Jean Hollis Weber
> jean@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> The Technical Editors' Eyrie http://www.jeanweber.com/
>
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