[mdlug] How Much Should I Charge?

[Peter Bart]

On Mon, 16 Jan 2012 15:48:29 -0500
"A. Zimmer" <andrew.zimmer at comcast.net> wrote:

> Hello,
> 
> I just got a small programming project thrown into my lap.  I didn't
> ask for it but I might as well just do it.
> 
> The work should only involve three or four evenings and certainly
> no more than a week.
> 
> How much should I charge for the work?  I have never been involved
> in a free-lance project before and perhaps the members of this list
> can indicate the market rate.
> 


	A word of advice from an old cranky pipe stretcher. Rather than
	charge the "going or market rate", figure out what it actually
	costs you to produce the piece, mark it up and bill it. Don't
	fall into the trap that you can't charge more (or less) than
	the going rate. Yes it's a pain in the ass the first few times
	you do it, but in the long run you'll thank me. Your customer
	will know when you're picking numbers out of the sky and will
	challenge them. If you don't know what it actually costs you to
	produce something, you'll never know when you're making money.
	Or as Kenny Rodgers puts it, know when to hold out and know
	when to run.

-- 
Best Regards,

Peter The Plumber
<petertheplumber at att.net>