Serving the Seattle market since 1980, Murphy & Associates has built a deep network of clients and consultants. We currently work with over 25 different companies including Microsoft and Boeing. Murphy & Associates has an uncommon perspective on the industry. Our philosophy can perhaps be best summed up this way:
the more you share, the more you have to share.
This "Insider's Guide to Consulting" is a handy way to see how Murphy & Associates stacks up to the competition. Take the following questions to any other agencies you're considering – and compare their answers to ours.
Questions
Print these questions to ask and compare with other firms.
Will you tell me my billing rate?
Yes, always. Murphy & Associates is a full disclosure firm, which means you always know how much we're billing for your time. Starting with our first meeting and continuing on with each pay stub, we account for every penny – total billings, your salary, our fees, and government taxes.
Full disclosure firms are not common, but we believe it’s the fairest and smartest way to do business. Full disclosure builds trust between you and Murphy & Associates; trust helps create a long-term relationship, which profits both you and us. Full disclosure means the time you’d spend playing guessing games with your agency can be put to better use.
How much will you pay me?
Our formula is the same for everyone: 85% of the bill rate minus corporate taxes (FICA, FUTA & SUTA). Murphy & Associates shoots for market value on bill rates. Our fee is only 15%, not the 30% to 50% (or more!) that many consulting firms take. The result is more money in your pocket.
We also cap our take at $85 / hour. This means you will receive 98% of any bill rate amount over $85 / hour, minus the corporate taxes. For example, if your bill rate was $100 / hour, you would get 85% of the first $85, and 98% of the $15 between $85 & $100, minus corporate FICA, FUTA & SUTA. Murphy & Associates believes if you've developed your skills to deserve the higher rates, you should get rewarded for it.
At your first meeting with us, we'll break it all down for you and even give you a spreadsheet to take home and study.
Do I have to sign a "non-compete" agreement with you?
No. Murphy & Associates never asks you to sign a non-compete agreement. Our consultants are our partners and restricting their work options doesn't serve the partnership. We want you to stay with us because you like working with us – not because you signed some non-compete.
We think Murphy & Associates is the best consulting firm in town, but we also know we're not perfect. If something goes wrong in our relationship, we'll work with you to resolve it. If we can't work it out, does this mean you could switch consulting firms mid-contact? If it came to that – yes, you could.
Even if you never work with us, we recommend that you not sign another agency's non-compete agreement. It's a bad deal for you. If you refuse, most contracting firms will not force the issue.
Who controls my benefits?
You do. Murphy & Associates offers a number of benefit options – including the option to say “no, thanks.” It's your money; you should be able to decide how to spend it.
Want a retirement account? We have a 401(k) plan administered through EPIC Advisors with a self directed option offered through Charles Schwab. Need health insurance? We partner with a number of brokers that can provide you options for an individual health insurance plan. We even offer you a pre-tax way to get your medical expenses reimbursed through an optional Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA). Want to handle these matters on your own? Like we said, it's your money.
At Murphy & Associates, you're paid for the hours worked, including overtime. Vacation and sick time are unpaid. You're not forced to take X number of sick days or vacations each year, or risk losing them. You have the flexibility to take time off when you need to, as long as it works for your project.
Will you pay me a fat referral fee if I refer my friends?
Nope, and here’s why. It’s true that over the years, Murphy & Associates has grown on word of mouth and solid referrals. And, yes, we absolutely want our people to refer strong IT & Business consultants over to us. But we don’t pay referral fees for two reasons:
- We need to protect the integrity of the referral. We want people to refer their friends and co-workers to us because they believe in our company, not to make a little extra cash.
- We want our consultants to stay focused on their assignment, not working as a part-time Murphy & Associates recruiter. That's good for your reputation, and ours.
How many interviews will you send me on a month?
Only the ones that are absolutely right for you.
Murphy & Associates receives a steady stream of job requests from a variety of companies, including the two largest companies in the area: Microsoft (we're an MSVP Preferred Vendor) and Boeing (we're a preferred vendor there, too). Thanks to our great reputation, companies often turn to us first. That means if you're a great match for a position, you'll get an early crack at it.
When we get a job opening, we present it to the consultant we think best matches the specifications – making this match is a skill we excel at. Of course, we always give first priority to our current employees and sub-contractors.
Many consultants find positions on their own and need a firm to represent them. We're more than happy to help out and work in partnership with you.
Once I've started the job, will I ever hear from you again?
Sure. Every two weeks, our management and staff hand-deliver your paycheck (or pay stub if you're on direct deposit). It's a great way for us to touch base and to make sure the assignment is going smoothly.
We're also never more than a phone call or e-mail away. When you contact us, we'll get back to you in 24 hours and resolve issues quickly.
Do I have to work for you on a W2?
In most cases, no. While most of our consultants choose to work as regular W2 employees, we realize that some consultants have their own corporation set up. For most assignments we have the flexibility to pay you as a corporation, on a 1099 basis.
The requirements for working on a 1099 are:
- A federal tax ID number
- A WA State UBI number
- $1 Million in general liability business insurance
- Company business cards
- Company letterhead