Contingent 1099 offers

Occasionally, a company may reach out to you wanting to make a "contingent offer."

In certain scenarios, a company will be bidding on a contract and want to include attractive resumes (like yours) but can't risk offering you an actual job unless they win it.

So, they will make you an offer that says "if we win and you still want to work for us, we will pay you X."

This is a good opportunity to pitch a 1099 arrangement. You can say "hey if you win, I'd like to be a 1099 subcontractor on this project for a rate of X."

Because everything is hypothetical at this point and their first priority is to win the thing, they are more amenable to the arrangement.

Now, this doesn't help you in the short term. Contracts get delayed all the time and you don't know if this particular prime will win it. It's also possible they don't honor the agreement.

BUT, if they do win and do honor the agreement, you have a 1099 gig.

If you're looking to increase the odds of getting a 1099 gig in the mid-future, consider negotiating a contingent 1099 offer.

Want the full playbook? Check out Going 1099.