Advice for quoting a client a price
Romel Lindsey
I need advice on how to provide pricing as a computer contractor. The
job requires minimal support of 8 workstations and 1 server (file
server) in an NT environment. I am assuming that support is on call.
Does anybody have any input on this? Thank you so much. My email is
rl1...@yahoo.com.
Charles Calvert
<r.lind...@gmail.com> wrote in
<5f83fb1b-1471-460f...@g1g2000pro.googlegroups.com>:
>I need advice on how to provide pricing as a computer contractor. The
>job requires minimal support of 8 workstations and 1 server (file
>server) in an NT environment. I am assuming that support is on call.
>Does anybody have any input on this?
Are you going to be doing remote support (e.g. via Kaseya), on-site
support, or both? Either way, you need to structure an agreement so
that you don't lose your shirt. Some options:
1. Get a retainer at the beginning of every month. This would be the
expected number of hours of work multiplied by your rate. Give them a
discounted rate for paying in advance. Let them accumulate the hours
up to a maximum. If they approach the maximum, then you revisit the
arrangement. If they exceed the number of hours built into the
retainer in a month, you bill the excess at your regular rate.
2. Give them a service level agreement (SLA) where you guarantee some
sort of response time. You'll bill in arrears, but charge them your
normal rate.
Make sure that you have an emergency rate that is significantly higher
than your regular rate. You'll put it in the contract that they'll
pay the emergency rate after hours, on weekends and holidays, or if
you have to bump an appointment with another client to service their
emergency. Then, when they call with an emergency, remind them that
it will be at the higher rate. You'll be surprised how fast they back
down.
You might find these articles useful:
<http://www.celticwolf.com/useful-information/business?layout=default>
Also see the following old threads from this group on setting rates:
<http://groups.google.com/group/alt.computer.consultants.moderated/browse_thread/thread/838bd6642266e5e5/d26c7f373d1fad78?lnk=gst&q=1000#d26c7f373d1fad78>
<http://groups.google.com/group/alt.computer.consultants.moderated/browse_thread/thread/3f2a9ec185e5d731/9d5abf2c2de2fee1?lnk=gst&q=1000#9d5abf2c2de2fee1>
<http://groups.google.com/group/alt.computer.consultants.moderated/browse_thread/thread/2395c83b1b793812/3fb3d5a55a8c0a9f?lnk=gst&q=1000#3fb3d5a55a8c0a9f>
<http://groups.google.com/group/alt.computer.consultants.moderated/browse_thread/thread/ceecd66727cdb75/102f170c94071d37?lnk=gst&q=1000#102f170c94071d37>
> My email is rl1...@yahoo.com.
FYI, I don't know if you were asking for emailed responses, but that
what it looks like. If you post here, you get your answers here.