Earning?

[HRG]

Hello, I have finished my Cert 111, and have both licences. I wanted to find out what was a common starting rate for Factual, and where it would go too once some experience is gained?
Cheers HRG.

[Homer]

most i know of are paid about $35/hr to start, but i have heard the rate is much lower if paid as employee by big companies (not sure of figure but something in mid $20's ?). I know of someone in a regional area who charges $30/hr. Once established, the rate as a subbie could get to $45 for higher end complex work. There are different rates for travel fees, and that is too broad to comment on. Apparently some firms dont even pay for travel ! Obviously, if you work direct for client, you charge market value. All this can be influenced by location, demand and the stinginess or flexibility of principal !

[Cabal]

Those rates are seriously disappointing.

Even my standard sub rate over here in NZ is AU$56.00/h plus mileage etc (inc. GST) and, quite frankly, I'm quite loathe to take on sub work.

It's not like subcontractors are employees who are getting 40 hours work/week plus. There are operating expenses that must come out of that and if the sub rate is barely adequate as a wage, it's a losing proposition.

[Homer]

agree cabal. when i think it costs me $22 for a 10 minute haircut, that is a high hourly rate ! I won't disclose my rates as a principal, but i pay most of my agents across aust between $37-$40/hr. These agents mostly work for other big agencies and I pay them a bit extra per hr and higher rates for kms than they get elsewhere. i know they often don't get reimbursed by other firms for various expenses. i am aware of a medium size company in nsw that charges $50/hr then subbies out their work, so not much profit margin there.

[BigGeorge]

My two cents' worth:

Back in the olden days a wise selling expert taught me "a thing is worth what you can get for it". Think about it.

When I was subbying factual work in 1994 (whew! that long ago!) I was paying factual investigators $35 an hour. Because I was able to get $48 an hour from my clients.

That was definitely not the norm back then. The point is, no matter what the norm, you've got to set your own price and have the courage to stick by it.
 

Big George

[HRG]

thank you all for your responses, I am in the middle of some training with a company, so that's the progress to start working, re the earning - doesn't most of the work come through large firms who then sub it out? What work are you going to get otherwise? It seems that a lot of fees are not negotiable and set prices- either you accept them or not. cheers HRG

[Homer]

in perth it is probably the case that the big firms have majority of work. i suggest as u r starting out to work for those firms and get a good overall feel for things, pick their brains etc. i think that satisfies licensing requirements also. i have my own clients and therefore dont work for big firms. i cant really help you re negotiations nd rates etc other than what i mentioned earlier. good luck

[rrocade3]

HRG

I have my own clients and do work for firms as well but my work is the high end complex government factuals. I get $42 - $120 per hour or a  daily rate between $800 - $1000  depending on the job and client.

Again the work I do is high end factuals which are complex and protracted which require you to make decisions and findings with full referencing.

You have to spend more time on the supported or substantiated allegations as they are the ones that are subject to administrative challenge.  You have to work through all evidence both for and against (exculpatory and inculpatory) as a review process will overturn your decision if you don't take account of all of it.  The last thing you need  is a reputation of having your findings being overturned during a review as not only will your name be used amongst all the Ethical Standards Units, if your case makes reportable law, then your name will be up in lights for all the wrong reasons for all to read in admin law circles.  

This work comes from specilist clients and law firms and are usally protracted to 1 month or more. I had one job that went for nearly 6 months due to the nature of the complaints and the large volume of witnesses and subject officers.

When I was starting out it was about $35  an hour but I am in a regional area, and I know the rate in the big cities from the firms is between $30 -  $35 depending on experience and your right they have set fees and they do keep you on those fees for years. I worked my way up and get from the Big 4 as I call them between $40 -$42.00 an hour for a factual.

Hence why I prefer my private clients. Better money but you have to produce a more detailed report than general insurance factuals that have a pre-exsisting template. So this equals more stress and late nights. Some reports can take up to 4 days to write before you get to the review stage.

As Homer stated "i suggest as u r starting out to work for those firms and get a good overall feel for things, pick their brains etc and develop your skills."