RE: FN-FORUM: Charging

date posted 26th September 2005 22:00

A good bit of advice I heard (might even have been here) is that any
business deal basically consists of two people trying to screw each other.

I think that's the way a lot of people look at it (in a friendly way
obviously).

Ross is right that it's what the job is worth to the customer, if a website
is really important to their business you can charge a lot more for what may
actually be a fairly simple job, than you can charge someone who really
isn't that bothered about whether or not they even want one.

regarding get an accountant, I'm just doing my first tax return without an
accountant. I work from home, I keep track of my mileage and reciepts from
staples, any hosting fees, a portion of my rent and electric (not gas cause
there's no heating in my office) and advertising - basically any outgoings,
and that's about it. I don't really see how an accountant can help there. So
long as you'd be happy to justify it in person to the IR when they audit
you, then you can claim it.

I do know that you can't claim things like lunch, even if you go to a
clients site - basically stuff you'd have to pay for normally if you wern't
self employed.

>
>
> Charging - always a tricky one.
>
> 1. Usually the client has NO idea of cost - either way, up or
> down but they
> generally think the lower
> 2. They've been advised by people they know (generally if you're starting
> out this happens) - who actually know very little - and tend to say 'that
> shouldn't take too long'
> 3. Agencies (Ad agencies) may or may not give you a budget or ask for a
> quote - hence always know someone within the agency (which helps
> ;) to know
> their true budget or generally we tend to go low - because
> they're an agency
> not a direct client. So on first job because they've thought of
> you go in at
> mid range rate - not too high to scare them, not too low to make
> them think
> you're too amateurish.
> 4. Always look for the 'follow on' work. You may do something cheap
> (pricewise)to start with but you know that you have something bigger that
> will happen next. THIS DOESN'T ALWAYS WORK!
> 5. Unfortunately pricing comes with experience - sometimes a job
> will take a
> lot longer than you think and then it's down to you, other times a job may
> seem complicated and you hit it first time - quids in.
>
> Generally it's ups and downs - I really hate to say it sometimes,
> it's what
> the jobs 'worth' to the client, rather than this is what the job is gonna
> cost so much. So here is an scenario - let's say you're
> fantastic at 'logo
> design'
>
> Soooo... a logo may take you - initials 1/2 day - client says 'That's the
> one!!!!' but you've quoted a few days work for finals but it's there - you
> have no more work to do! So original quotes stand! Clients happy, you're
> happy and you have a day and a half to do more work for someone else!
>
> In the end the end it's all down to judgement on how long you
> think it will
> take; how much learning time you're willing to incorporate into
> it - if it's
> not your bag, what do you need and do you want to do the job.
>
> But to be honest this summer has been shit. I now have more work all of a
> sudden than I know to shake a stick at.
>
> I may have burbling through this - but NO I can't tell you how much to
> charge. Freelance can be very good or very bad!
>
> Hope it goes well
>
>
>
> --
> No virus found in this outgoing message.
> Checked by AVG Anti-Virus.
> Version: 7.0.344 / Virus Database: 267.11.6/111 - Release Date: 23/09/2005
>
>
>
> --
> Freelancers, contractors earn more with Prosperity4
> Call 0870 870 4414 or visit www.prosperity4.com
> and benefit from Inland Revenue approved expenses today.
>
> To advertise here: http://www.freelancers.net/advertising.html
>
>