Every Contractor’s Guide to Using an Umbrella Calculator

Step by step guide to using an umbrella calculator

How can contractors choose the best umbrella company to work with? It’s a question every umbrella contractor will ask. After all, it’s a crowded market out there. With lots of umbrella companies competing for your business, how can you cut through the noise to find the one that’s best suited to you?

It isn’t a decision to be taken lightly. When it comes to choosing the perfect provider, there are a lot of factors to take into consideration. From umbrella company fees, what services they offer, the benefits and perks available to what your take home pay will be under each company.

That’s why it’s so important that contractors do their research to cut through the clutter and find an umbrella company that best suits their needs.

Thankfully, it’s not as hard as it sounds.

Nowadays, there’s no need to spend hours of your precious time browsing the web searching for different umbrella companies that are well suited your needs and are within your budget. Instead, we’ve made quick and easy to compare umbrella companies with our award-winning umbrella calculator.

In today’s guide, we’ll share our step by step guide to how every contractor can use an umbrella calculator to find the best umbrella company for them. Ready to find your perfect match?

Enter your details in just 2 minutes

The first step is to head over to our umbrella calculator and input a couple of simple details. Unlike other umbrella calculators, we won’t take your details and say we’ll call you, we give you results straight away.

We simply ask for your:

  • Name
  • Mobile number (for verification)
  • Email address
  • Contractor day rate

Once entered, click Next Step and off you go.

 

Enter your contractor preferences and requirements 

At Umbrella Supermarket, we know that every contractor is different and needs different things from an umbrella company. That’s why we give you the opportunity to input your contractor requirements, to ensure we only show you a list of umbrella companies that are a great match for you.

Simply enter your preferences from our four options, whether you are after IR35 compliance, more money or service level.

Once you have entered these details, you can see your results and read more information on each option while also being able to request a more detailed illustration from the umbrella company of your choice.

Compare umbrella company fees

Now you have entered your details and contractor information, it’s now time to compare umbrella company fees.

In exchange for employing the contractor, offering them statutory rights such as sick pay, processing their tax payments through the PAYE system, taking care of invoicing, expenses and offering a further range of benefits and services, every umbrella company charges the contractor a fee.

However, umbrella company fees differ from company to company. It will generally depend on what level of service and benefits you require. Contractors that need extra levels of specific insurance as well as daily payments will inevitably pay more for the umbrella company’s services than a contractor utilising basic levels of umbrella company service.

It is also important to appreciate that the cheapest umbrella company is not actually always the most financially beneficial because sometimes a higher fee can bring you access to tax breaks and credits that far outweigh any cost incurred.

That’s why it’s important to compare umbrella company fees to ensure you are paying a fair fee. After all, no contractor wants to pay over the going rate.

With our umbrella calculator, we make it quick and easy to compare different umbrella companies’ fees at a glance, meaning you can make an informed decision.

View your payslip

Obviously, the umbrella company fees you will pay will impact your take home pay, but there are also other factors that impact your earnings.

As well as compulsory deductions that are taken from your take home pay, from income tax to National Insurance, other factors will also impact your pay, such as pension contributions.

With a myriad of factors to take into account, we know it can be confusing to work out what your income will be, which is why we offer a comprehensive breakdown of your pay in a handy payslip. What’s more, contractors can compare what their payslips will look like under different umbrella companies, to help you find the best deal.

Save and edit your details 

Having input your details and compared umbrella companies you can save your details to revisit at any point in time. After all, no contractor wants to rush into making a big decision.

As well as being able to head back to view your results at any time, we also allow contractors to edit and alter their details and preferences to see how it will change your results.

So, let’s say you want to see how your results will differ if you change how much you wish to contribute towards your pension, we make it easy to do so to help you find the best deal for you.

Ready to find the best umbrella company for you?

With our step by step guide, every contractor can find the perfect umbrella company for their needs, whatever their preferences and requirements, we make it quick and easy to compare companies so you can find the best one.

Umbrella Supermarket is not only searched more times every day than any other comparison website, we’ve helped thousands of contractors find their ideal umbrella company.

With our handy tool, contractors can directly compare umbrella companies side by side to find the one that best suits their needs. We work with reputable, trustworthy umbrella companies that have your best interests at the core of what they do, so you can rest assured you will receive the best deal.

So, whether you are looking for extra perks, IR35 compliance or more money, let Umbrella Supermarket’s award-winning contractor calculator help you find the best match in two simple steps. Ready to see what we can do for you today?

Would you like more information on Every Contractor’s Guide to Using an Umbrella Calculator?

Explore More Resources

Decision Making

Is PAYE Better Than Umbrella?

If you are considering contracting you will need to decide on PAYE or umbrella.

It can be a difficult decision to make and contractors will inevitably be questioning which option will be the best for them.

To help every contractor get on the right track for them, in this guide Umbrella Supermarket looks at PAYE vs umbrella, outlining the key differences and how this will impact you.

using an umbrella company

Why Should Contractors use an Umbrella Company?

There are many reasons that contractors across the UK opt to work under an umbrella company.

Umbrella companies offer an easy way to contract and remove the need for the contractors to worry about the burdens of admin, finances, tax and IR35, all things that limited company contractors have to deal with.

For this reason, many contractors will be weighing up their options and questioning whether it is worth using an umbrella company in 2021. To help make the decision that little bit easier, Umbrella Supermarket has put together this guide on the pros and cons of using an umbrella company.

 

umbrella company fees

Does an Umbrella Company Charge Fees?

Any contractor that is considering operating through an umbrella company in 2021 will need to understand Umbrella Company fees - from why an umbrella company charges fees, how they are paid to how much the contractor will pay.

In this guide, Umbrella Supermarket answers those all-important questions to help every contractor know exactly where they stand when it comes to umbrella company fees.

 

What makes a good umbrella company

What Makes a Good Umbrella Company?

If you’ve made the decision to contract through an umbrella company in 2021, you will next need to find an umbrella company that’s right for you.

After all, there are lots of umbrella companies out there, so how do you know which one to choose?

To help you find the best umbrella company for you, in this guide Umbrella Supermarket outlines what makes a good umbrella company, so you can rest assured you’re making the right move.

umbrella company pensions

Guide to Umbrella Company Pensions

One of the many advantages to operating through an umbrella company for contractors is that they become an employee of their chosen provider.

In turn, this means that the contractor will be automatically enrolled onto the umbrella company’s workplace pension scheme.

To help contractors find out more about umbrella company pensions Umbrella Supermarket has put together this handy guide.

 

using an umbrella company

Beginner’s Guide to Using an Umbrella Company

If you are considering contracting through an umbrella company you will naturally have questions and queries over how they work.

After all, making the move to umbrella can be a big step for contractors. To help, in this guide Umbrella Supermarket explains how to get started with an umbrella company and share our top tips for using one in 2021.

 

PAYE and Umbrella

Guide to PAYE vs. Umbrella

PAYE or umbrella is a question asked by every contractor. Which one you opt for will have a big impact on your contracting career and lifestyle. So, it's important to make the right decision for you.

To help makes things a little bit easier, Umbrella Supermarket has put together this guide on PAYE or umbrella, outlining the key differences between each, to help you make the best and most informed decision for you.

Holiday Pay for Umbrella Contractors

Complete Guide to Holiday Pay for Umbrella Contractors

One of the many benefits to working through an umbrella company is that you will receive holiday pay as well as a range of other statutory benefits including sick pay, maternity and paternity pay.

To find out more about umbrella company holiday pay, and how to calculate how much you will be entitled to, Umbrella Supermarket has put together this handy guide.

umbrella company

When Shouldn’t You Use an Umbrella Company?

Contractors must make several decisions throughout their contracting careers. One big decision contractors have to make is how they will operate.

One way that contractors can work is through an umbrella company.

Umbrella companies have become an increasingly popular way to contract in the past few years, offering many benefits to the contractor. But, how do you know whether this option is right for you?

To help every contractor make the right decision for them, in this guide, Umbrella Supermarket explains when not to use an umbrella company.

umbrellas

The truth about HMRC approved Umbrella Companies

There are tons of benefits to using an umbrella company, which is why they have become such a popular option for contractors in recent years.

After all, an umbrella company takes away the stress and hassle of operating through a limited company whilst offering contractors a range of advantages, such as statutory rights, paying them a salary, deducting correct tax levels and National Insurance, and taking care of tasks like expense processing and invoicing.

However, as more and more contractors opt to use the services of an umbrella company, more providers have started to claim that they are HMRC approved.

To bust the myths around HMRC approved umbrella companies and get straight to the facts, in today's guide Umbrella Supermarket look at whether HMRC approved umbrella companies really exist, so you know exactly where you stand.

umbrella company costs

How Much are Umbrella Company Costs?

If you're considering making the leap to contracting, you will understandably want to know how much you will have to pay in umbrella company costs. After all, this amount comes directly out of the contractor’s pocket, so it’s important to be clued up on how much you should expect to pay.

To help contractors, in this guide Umbrella Supermarket answer the all-important question of how umbrella companies cost in 2021.