How much should I charge?

[0pTicaL]

A client of mine is asking me to do a conversion of one accounting software to Quickbooks 2012. Just curious on how much I should charge?

 

[Zepher]

$95/hour

 

[sygnus21]

Something to think about: If you go for an elaborate charge, you could wind up taking charge of the whole thing - tech support for example.

If you do charge such a fee it's best to state what is and isn't included and have some type of signed agreement. It doesn't have to be so elaborate, but people will expect some level of support for say $95 bucks an hour.

I'm not saying don't charge, I'm saying be wary of what you charge, and the expectations that go with such a charge. Charging someone $10 bucks an hour is one thing, $95 is another.

Just something to think about.

 

[zigzag3143]

As important as what to charge is to spell out EXACTLY what is to be done for that amount,

It can bite you later if you dont.

 

[Barman58]

If you possibly can and the customer will stand it, (always think of return business ), charge as the local going rate for the type of work. Always provide full details of work proposed and what you expect to receive from the client to meet any estimate of time needed to complete, you may give, This should include access to information and resources.

One tip I always give is the use of delay notices ....

If a client asks for a change to spec part way through a job get them to sign a document stating the estimate of additional time this change will take. You should also give a change notice when they come back and say they want it back to the original spec this way you have an additional estimate plus a set of signed agreements to extensions of that estimate (Clients always seem to see the words "Fixed Quotation" when they read "estimate")

 

[whs]

It does not say where you live. $95/hour may be OK in NYC - but if you try that in North Dakota, they will probably chase you with the dogs.

 

[0pTicaL]

I live in San Francisco, CA and the local rate here is around $130/hr for residential and $150/hr for small businesses.

I agree with everyone that stated I have to be very specific on what I'm charging my client as to avoid any friction or disputes.

As a matter of fact, I will be taking over tech support for the business after conversion. Which leads me to the question, should I offer a annual plan or pay as you go rate for same day business hours tech support.

 

[thefabe]

It may be worth your while to take the time to draw up contracts offering services both ways and let them choose which way they prefer.
JMHO
Fabe

 

[The Howling Wolves]

It may be worth your while to take the time to draw up contracts offering services both ways and let them choose which way they prefer.
JMHO
Fabe

I agree with thefabe.............draw up two contracts and let them choose.
Make sure there is a disclosure if something happens to you, then contract is terminated, or their business.
Also include in disclosure there is a guaranteed amount like a quarterly, semi-annual or annual dollar figure. JMHO

 

[rubyrubyroo]

i charge $35/quarter hour in St. Petersburg, FL of course that leaves me room to help them out as appropriate. When a Vet clinic needs help, I pretty much charge what I say, a friend maybe shave 25% off the labor or better even....One customer was a teacher that just got layed off, and her deaf daughter computer died, I have no gripes just charging for parts there, or even a rare no charge, it all averages out

mike

 

[The Howling Wolves]

i charge $35/quarter hour in St. Petersburg, FL of course that leaves me room to help them out as appropriate. When a Vet clinic needs help, I pretty much charge what I say, a friend maybe shave 25% off the labor or better even....One customer was a teacher that just got layed off, and her deaf daughter computer died, I have no gripes just charging for parts there, or even a rare no charge, it all averages out

mike

Mike,
Great job in fixing the layed off teacher's computer.
You are honest and considerate and rewards will come back to you.
THW

 

[rubyrubyroo]

It was for explanitory purposes, not patting myself on the back. Anyone who wouldn't at least give her a massive slice of their charge, need's to spend a day in her shoes. Decent people are getting rare, I am proud to admit I am one, but unfortionatly it much of a commodity, but to those who need help.

Sorry for the rant, but Thank You for the kind words, its cool to get em when you don't really realize your "sounding like your fishing for them", if that makes sense


Mike

 

[0pTicaL]

i charge $35/quarter hour in St. Petersburg, FL of course that leaves me room to help them out as appropriate. When a Vet clinic needs help, I pretty much charge what I say, a friend maybe shave 25% off the labor or better even....One customer was a teacher that just got layed off, and her deaf daughter computer died, I have no gripes just charging for parts there, or even a rare no charge, it all averages out

mike

That sounds about right.

I know how hard it is sometimes for some less able people to pay the high rates involved. Depending on the customer sometimes I do work for free. I believe in karma, good and bad deeds will come around one day.

Out of curiosity how much is the going rate for OS format/reinstall and hardware upgrades (GPU, RAM, HDD, etc.)? Over here it's $120 and $100 respectively.

 

[rubyrubyroo]

hmmmmmmmmmm..........

Roughly the same here, like at Best Buy/Geek-Squad type prices esp. Then there's the techs with little shops but opened doors 10 years ago and have solid clientele base who are nearly the same price, often charging considerably higher for professional offices (doc's, vet's, law offices)[a tech charged a law office I know well $500/ea.+tax to upgrade DDR1 mem from 256MB to 1GB on two OLD machines, nothing special about the sticks, he just didn't know that was a tad high], the struggling shops are starting to get close to half that, but can occasionally be shady (finding other "problems" needing fixed, or swapping out cords for problematic ones, to get repeat biz) I truly see it more with the struggling ones than the greedy higher paid techs!? odd. The smalltime or new shops that stick to their prices, move to a smaller shop in a month or so, then you'll be lucky to see a flyer on a telephone pole a month later. And then the ones that post online to get clients, are ether trying to use their skills to keep food on the table, or what you'd basically call a full out con artist, like a computer virus, exploiting any vulnerability in each customer on a person by person basis. No Idea of the "ratio" of the later/former but I discourage online solicitors of this type. I don't know how many of "my type" fly somewhat dark or "under the public radar", I started with a job, did it right, and was pleasant (rare apparently) listing to the cust's concerns,and explained to the best of my ability, all I could. I ended up with 4-5 ref's from the first cust, each of which grew exponentially, 100% word of mouth, and this is probably my first "weekend off" and it was "by choice", in...hmm 4-5 years, I can't even hire decent tech (degree, no degree, highly experienced or zero experience newbies) and I basically could have and treed to pay ridiculous wages/cash/under counter/whatever - they either show up 2 days late, never return calls, treat customers unacceptably, etc - I stop taking computers when I backlog ~10, I can work 2-6 a day and I'm nearly always back at 10 by the end of the day! A tech comes to work for me, walks out at the end of a day with 500 USD in his pocket, and I never hear from him/her again!


(BTW - although i usually try to get them to allow a remote connection setup for easier/therefore cheaper repairs from then on...almost all are fine w/it, and i can check out many problems on hundreds of computers at any given time, unless the issue prohibits it. And if a customer calls say at 3:45am "some new virus protection installed itself and found 34 viruses, should i enter my CC# to pay them for the service?" I say "NEVER, please don't touch the computer whatsoever, I'll be right over" and I get dressed and get in my car and go fix it. I know of none else who does this, yet I probably drive by 5-6 shut-down repair shops on the way to her house. No secrets here, please copy my methods, anyone, everyone. I haven't taken the time (or technically the need) to make a single biz card, that i agree is unprofessional, but I hate making people wait and I cannot fix 10-15 computers a day, so why spread the word "OVER HERE!"


sorry for the lengthy post, and if i sound like I'm gloating, I'm not, but you may believe as you choose! I could photograph the 16 computers I am backlogging over the weekend if I come across as untruthful (of course i have ~40 stocked computers as well, so a picture will prove little.) My sole point besides answering your Q, is in my experienced opinion, service quality/reliability trumphs all but the complete absence of technical knowledge. period.

 

[0pTicaL]

Amen to that brother.