The contractor vs employee decision isn't just about cost—it's about flexibility, risk, and workload. But let's focus on the money first.
The £350/Day Contractor
Daily rate: £350
Working 5 days/week, 47 weeks/year: 235 days
Annual cost: £82,250
Your costs: Zero employer NI, no pension, no benefits, no equipment, no workspace.
True cost: £82,250
The £40k Employee
Salary: £40,000
Full cost breakdown:
- Salary: £40,000
- Employer NI: £4,264
- Pension (5%): £2,000
- Equipment/software: £2,000
- Workspace: £3,000
- Training: £1,500
- HR/admin: £800
- Recruitment (amortized): £2,500
True annual cost: £56,064
Available days: 365 - 104 (weekends) - 28 (holiday) - 8 (bank holidays) - 6 (sick) = 219 working days
Cost per day: £56,064 ÷ 219 = £256/day
Break-Even Point
At what utilization do they cost the same?
Contractor: £350/day
Employee: £256/day effective cost
If you need someone 220+ days per year, the employee is cheaper per day.
But that assumes 100% utilization.
Real Utilization Rates
Contractor:
- You only pay for days worked
- 100% productive days (you don't pay for their admin, holidays, or downtime)
Employee:
- You pay for 219 days (after holidays/sick)
- But only ~70-80% is productive work (meetings, admin, breaks)
- Effective productive days: 155-175
Employee productive day cost:
£56,064 ÷ 165 productive days = £340/day
Suddenly the contractor and employee cost about the same per productive day.
When Contractors Win
1. Variable Workload
You need 2-3 days/week for 6 months: £350 × 60 days = £21,000
Employee: £56,064 ÷ 2 = £28,032 (for 6 months)
2. Short-Term Projects
3-month project needing 50 days: £350 × 50 = £17,500
Employee: £56,064 ÷ 4 = £14,016 (but you pay notice period and recruitment)
3. Specialized Skills
Need a specialist 20 days/year: £7,000
Can't hire a full-time specialist for £7k.
4. Low Management Capacity
Contractors need minimal supervision. Employees need management time (5-10 hours/week).
When Employees Win
1. Consistent 220+ Days/Year of Work
Employees are cheaper per day at high utilization.
2. Long-Term Projects (2+ Years)
Employee knowledge compounds. Contractors leave when the contract ends.
3. Company Culture Matters
Can't build culture with rotating contractors.
4. IP and Confidentiality
Employees have stronger legal ties and loyalty.
5. Client Relationships
Some clients prefer dealing with employees, not contractors.
The Hybrid Model
Smart businesses use both:
- 2-3 core employees (220+ days of work/year)
- Contractors for peaks, projects, or specialized work
- Total flexibility, optimal cost
IR35 Consideration (UK)
If your contractor works like an employee (fixed hours, your equipment, supervised), HMRC may treat them as an employee for tax.
This means:
- You pay employer NI
- Contractor loses ltd company tax benefits
- Their effective rate increases to £450-£500/day
Impact: Contractor costs rise 20-30%, making employees more attractive.
The Bottom Line
Contractor is cheaper if:
- You need <200 days/year
- Workload is variable
- Short-term or project-based
- Specialized skills
Employee is cheaper if:
- You need 220+ days/year
- Workload is consistent
- Long-term (2+ years)
- Building a team/culture
Use our calculator to model your specific scenario.