Wage portage: setting and negotiating your rates

Wage portage: how to establish your rates and negotiate your assignments?

In wage portage, what attracts entrepreneurs the most is the ability to maintain their autonomy while benefiting from the social advantages of employee status. In this legal form, the ported consultant is free to choose their assignments, set their rates, and conduct negotiations. At the beginning of their activity, calculating their average daily rate (ADR) is not always straightforward. What criteria should be considered? How much does wage portage actually cost? How can one negotiate their assignments without undervaluing their expertise? Let's clarify.

What is an ADR?

The Average Daily Rate (ADR) is an indicator used to estimate the income of a freelance worker. The ADR is therefore the amount billed per day. It serves as a basis for negotiating rates with clients. This indicator must take into account the targeted revenue, the client's budget, market prices, the duration and stakes of the assignment, and the necessary skills. We will help you.

What is the cost of wage portage?

The definition of wage portage is a tripartite contractual relationship involving three parties: a consultant/ported employee, a client company, and the wage portage company.

The ported employee carries out the assignment for the client company. The wage portage company, on the other hand, invoices the service, handles collections, and pays the consultant a salary after calculating social and employer contributions.

The wage portage company may offer additional services to the consultant, such as providing a platform to optimize administrative, accounting, and legal tasks, offering assignment opportunities, or integrating them into a network of consultants. To cover these services, the wage portage company deducts management fees from the consultant's revenue, which range from 5% to 10% of the turnover.

After deducting management fees and social contributions, the net salary represents between 47% and 52% of the pre-tax turnover, depending on the consultant's activity.

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How to properly set your rates in wage portage?

In wage portage, it is essential to accurately calculate your ADR. It is advisable to set a realistic monthly income goal. The rate of the independent worker should neither be too low nor too high and must take into account several criteria.

The first thing to do is to research market rates considering your experience and skills.

The ADR should also take into account the added value of the freelancer. What is their level of expertise? Their references?

Moreover, it is essential to consider the costs associated with the activity. This includes social contributions, professional expenses, management fees of the wage portage company, etc.

Finally, the ported consultant must consider the number of working days. Indeed, not every day of the month is billable. You must account for weekends, holidays, leave, or even days dedicated to prospecting or training. A consultant generally bills between 15 and 20 days per month depending on their activity.

How to negotiate and adjust your ADR in wage portage?

You know your ADR and the market rates? It is important to negotiate and adjust your rate for each new assignment to value your work and maximize your remuneration.

The ADR in wage portage should be adjusted based on the stakes and complexity of the assignment, the time it requires, or the assignment costs. For example, a strategic assignment requires more specialized experience. A long assignment or one that demands many hours of work should be priced accordingly. Additionally, frequent relocations should be billed to the client. All these elements are arguments that will help you negotiate your rates.

You should also consider that your experience and skills evolve over time, which will require an adjustment of your ADR. Do not hesitate to highlight your achievements and added value. Finally, your clients may try to negotiate downwards, prepare concrete arguments while remaining flexible without going below the minimum threshold you have set.

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