[thelist] What would you do? -- pricing and estimating
Erik
gozz at gozz.com
Wed Apr 11 22:25:38 CDT 2001
Well, it's working out groovily now because we had decided that the
client would add the HTML for a Flash navigation movie to the site
themselves, but it ended up they wanted me to do that as well ... and
there is still room to the ceiling. So there's no one getting upset
about having to do work for free, or having to pay "extra" for the
work-product.
To me - the developer - the value of the work is based on how much
time goes into it - but to the client the value of the work is in the
end product - they think of it more like buying a car rather than
compensating for the time it takes to make it.
If a range in dollars is given, it allows me to be compensated
accurately for my time without putting a whole ton of effort into
finding out exactly what the client needs and estimating how long it
is going to take (and wasting time putting together an appropriately
specific bid/quote/contract), and it gives the client a comfort level
as well because they know the final bill will not exceed $X dollars.
And gives some leeway to change the nature of the work performed
without making either party unhappy.
If a potential client can't be really specific about what they
want/need but want to know how much it will cost, you can use that to
lead into asking for an hourly rate: "What we could do is put a cap
of $X on the project - we could say they project will cost between
$2000 and $3000 and I'll keep track of my hours and bill you for
whatever the hours are, but it won't go over $3000 and from what
you've told me it will probably be somewhere in the middle anyway."
And even if the client knows EXACTLY what they want, if it involves
anything with graphics or layout there is still a big unknown in the
number of changes it will take before they like it. That way you'd
put it as, "We'd probably have to change things a bit after you see
what I come up with, but if we put a ceiling on it, neither one of us
has to watch the clock too much and we can concentrate on making it
look good."
This is the wording I use in the contract:
"Notwithstanding any prices listed in literature or on Web pages, the
Client and Gozz agree that the services described above shall be
rendered at a rate of $_______, the total not to exceed $______ or be
less than $______. Work will commence upon the payment of $_____ as
an advance against the hourly rate."
So that's what I mean by a ceiling/floor thing.
>| I've been doing a "ceiling/floor" thing recently, which has been
>| working out way groovy ...
>
>would you mind explaining the effects of "ceiling/floor" things.
>especially those working out groovy.
--
- Erik Mattheis
http://gozz.com/
(612) 827 3963
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