Subj : Re: How much should I charge for fixed-price software contract?
To   : comp.programming,comp.lang.java.programmer,comp.lang.lisp
From : Phlip
Date : Fri Jul 29 2005 04:16 am

Scott Ellsworth wrote:

> Right, but if you have a good idea how they make their money, then you
> can adjust your pitch.  For example, if a client of mine is working on
> drug discovery focussed on lab work, I do not really push how much time
> we can save their IT staff, or how we have written robot control
> software.

My goodness. That sounds like my advice (via /Parachute/) to research and
respect your interviewer's potential concerns.

However, I think Robert has successfully pissed off every head-hunter in
town. Recruiters can be a close-knit community, meaning "incestuous",
_especially_ in a post-apocalyptic region like The Bay Area.

If Robert's interactions with this newsgroup are similar to his interactions
with them...

> > So anyway, you say I should demand $30-50 per hour, and the other guy
> > says I should demand at least $80-100 per hour and not take anything
> > less, because anything less than $80/hr shows I'm completely worthless.
> > (Yes, I'm paying attention to the various advice I get in this thread.)
>
> Fair enough.

I have started charging per line-item in the feature request list. That
means if I estimate X to take 30 minutes, and it does, I win.

This fits the strategy of coaching the client to produce a steady stream of
small feature requests.

And it shows my confidence in my estimates.

-- 
  Phlip
  http://www.c2.com/cgi/wiki?ZeekLand

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