This is a pretty common practise here in Australia as well. I've been contracting through an umbrella company - certainly takes the headaches out of paperwork.

This is a pretty common practise here in Australia as well. I've been contracting through an umbrella company - certainly takes the headaches out of paperwork. Don't quite know how they manage it but usually their fee is added on top of my negotiated daily rate rather than taken out of my rate. Works for me :)