Tess...If this question is "illegal" you can virtually slap my wrist for it! I'm in hopes we can talk about PERCENTAGES and still be ok.

The question:

If you charge a priority rate for deliverables you'll have to work on over the evening or weekend at the request of your client what percentage of your usual rate do you charge? Example: If your normal rate is $2/hour and you mark-up 150% then you charge an hourly rate of $3/hr for priority service.

Do you use this same percentage rate regardless if the client is hourly or retainer?

If retainer do you submit an invoice for the mark up of hours at the end of the month or if hours are to be lost does that "lost hour amount" cover the priority rate?

Maybe you don't charge priority because you don't take work that needs to be expedited. I'd like to hear from you too!

Can you tell I've been up early this morning working on my contracts?

Make it a great weekend!

Sundi

LOL, yes - totally fine - the only thing we've got to be careful with is actual discussion of hourly rates, thanks Sundi!
Of course, we all know there's not a single VA working for $2 per....
I'll re-read the question and reply

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I have it written in my agreement that I charge a 25% premium for weekend work, but so far haven't charged it yet. I've done some weekends but charged my regular rate, but I usually tell clients that I don't work weekends. One actually said "kudos to you" for that attitude and she meant it. We still work together but I don't want to miss my time with my husband and be wiped out on Monday morning. I actually did two seven hour days over a Saturday and Sunday and was wiped on Monday, so I just don't do it anymore.

Nights are a different story. I don't charge extra for that because I take time during the day to do my own stuff - shopping, walking the dog, going to the gym (when I'm being good) so I don't mind working nights. We don't have children and my husband is a much of a workaholic as I am - he's a programmer in a department that is short on staff so he does a lot of work at home in the evening. We don't own a television so we have lots of time on our hands

Maybe you don't charge priority because you don't take work that needs to be expedited.

It's not so much that I don't take requests that might need to be expedited - although I don't work weekends or after-hours unless I'm particularly motivated to do so...I just make it clear in my letter of agreement and client info sheet at the outset of the relationship that there is a certain period of time in which things can be accomplished, that we always strive to be faster than that anyway...but clients must allow for that window.
If someone really needs something sooner than later and I can get it to them I don't charge extra - it's something that I can do to help my clients feel they're contracting a luxury service...but it doesn't happen often and I DO say 'no (you'll need to wait a bit)' if it's just not going to be possible.

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I work nights and weekends and don't charge a premium for it, but that is just because of MY schedule. The only time I would charge a premium is if they absolutely needed something right away to where I would have to re-arrange my schedule to accomodate it. Then it would be a minimum of 25% but could be higher depending on the situation (and my mood). I would also require a deposit prior to starting the job, if not all of it upfront.

I also charge a premium for clients that use bookkeeping programs I don't like, if I even take the job at all. I've become very finicky over the years and frankly am just not inclined to do things I don't like anymore without getting paid a premium to do it.

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Rebecka Melson ~ Virtual Business Services