Comments
By Volundr 2026-02-096:03 That’s the contract agent, something I wished existed years ago. Some interesting discussion: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=32838336
I am working on contract work through a third-party company, and I proposed them such a solution: I employ them, pay them a percentage [1], they keep me busy with work, just like any serious actor has an agent. It is a great business model for everybody, and their workload is small enough they can represent a dozen people with ease.
They actually liked the idea, have spoken of switching to such a model eventually, but the sad reality is that they make much more money the “classic way”: the big client gives them the contract, and they subcontract to me. This way they can skim 30-60% off the amount paid to the sorry bugger that does all the work at the bottom, without lifting a finger.
It is very sad no one seems interested to serve this need, except very few examples (there’s that NY management agency people have been recommending for the past 10 years, which have such a backlog of candidates there’s no real chance of getting in). If I had any interest in being a salesman and recruiter, I’d build such an agency in a heartbeat.
1: I’d pay for an actual agent 10-15% of my daily rate for the duration of the contract, which is much more than the numbers presented in the article.
By weitendorf 2026-02-099:221 reply The difference between a 10% agent and a 30-60% subcontractor is what's being purchased, and from whom. Actors and other famous creatives are selling their particular work, which is unique and demanded by clients mostly independently of details like who their agent is. When a client pays 2x to an agency that pays the subcontractor implementing the work 1x to complete it, what's being purchased is the agency's work - working directly with the client, finding developers to complete the work, and managing the process of delivery (and all the related bits: making sure their subcontractors know what they're doing and are appropriate fits for the project, keeping work on track, being accountable for delivery/operational execution to the client).
If that extra 20-50% were so easy/useless that it can be grabbed "without lifting a finger", why aren't you finding enough work on your own to keep yourself busy, or, why are you still working with that third-party company to begin with? Oh, you would, if you "had any interest" in doing that. That level of accountability to the client and attention to their needs is literally what clients are paying the agency for, and why they're the ones handling the demand for work rather than their subcontractors.
If clients aren't seeking out your particular involvement in their project, you're the guy working the mic, not the movie star.
You said it yourself - they make more money and have more control doing it the other way.
Put differently - why wouldn’t you do it?
By wildzzz 2026-02-0923:52 I used to work for a guy that did government contract work as a two person company. His wife got him jobs and did the administrative work while he solely focused on the technical work. She obviously wasn't doing this full time and had some other administrative consulting business she spent most of her time on. One major upside was that his wife was the owner so she was able to claim it as a veteran, minority woman owned small business which gave them some preferential treatment when submitting proposals. I'm not entirely sure what the structure of it was to make it legit but they did it for years until she got a bigger opportunity for her other business.
Set up your two person firm in a HUBZone and I think you've checked nearly all the boxes.
By mvid 2026-02-106:23 This is literally what 10xmanagement.com does. They operate as a talent agent, do contract negotiation, handle payment, etc. The main drawback is they keep a relatively tight roster (to make sure the work is consistent) and they take 25%
As a client, I could just hire a consultant. There’s no shortage and they have reputation to uphold / less risky to me potentially.
It’s basically the same. I pay hire rate for labor knowing only a portion reaches the laborers. I can select based on the exact expertise I need which consultants would be most appropriate
By fock 2026-02-098:12 well, maybe you should own your agent and fund a cooperative for that purpose?
By samiv 2026-02-099:04 They're going to turn this into a double dip model where the client and the freelancer both pay them.
If you think the labor market is tough now, just wait until if/when the claims AI aficionados come to fruition.
This seems like such an easy way to create perverse incentives and profit off people who are already down on their luck. Imagine being told that the only way to get considered is to pay a fee. Then later on you get told to pay the gold fee for priority. Oh you're still not getting hired? Go for our platinum package that will definitely make the difference! Not enough money? No worries, we'll take 30% of your salary for the first few years. Or maybe we'll just give you some a fixed debt at a high interest rate. Aren't you glad you used us?
By 627467 2026-02-0918:39 1. What you describe already happens (has always happened?) in some blue collar jobs, its just the agencies dont call them gold or platinum plan, they call them "mandatory traning sessions" or "medical checks" that has built in admin fees.
2. Even linkedin upsells their plans "to increase you visibility"
