Hello everyone, I am a new member and would like to ask your opinion on something. This is a 2 part question.

Part 1

I have a Real Estate Investor, who also is an owner over a hundred properties. He is wanting me to take his calls from his tenants 24/7.

What I am trying to figure out is how to bill for something like this. I was going to go with like a set amount weekly since it was 24/7. But not sure really what to charge for something like that.

Then he asked me if I had a way to track how many calls are coming in and how long I am on a call. Which brings me to my Part 2 of the question. Does anyone know of any thing I could put on my Iphone to track this informaiton and then be able to give him a report on this. He wants to forward his phone to my cell. There use to be a program I had similar for this on my blackberry but I can't find anything for the Iphone.

Any help, it appreciated.

1) Do you REALLY want to be available 24/7? Wouldn't an answering service make more sense?

2) Sorry, can't help there.

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Lily Chambers, The Virtual Office Goddess, LLC
Author "How to Do Your Own Small Business Bookkeeping"

I'm with Lily - I'd seriously re-think that 24x7 thing. Is he going to compensate you for being "generally available" even though you are not actually taking phone calls?

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Lezly Harrison
Laserdog Productions - Code that Doesn't Bite

I agree and that is what I am trying to figure out if I really want to do this and we are trying tofiugre out how many calls from his tenants he is getting a day to see if he wants to go on a flat fe rate.

As a newbie offering telephone answering service to the beauty/spa industry, I was wondering how to charge for 24/7 service also. Did some research online and found answering services offering this service for $1-3/hr. I don't know how they can charge so little.

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Laraine Montgomery
Expert Virtual Office Services

I offer the option to pay per minute, per call, or per day similar to this price set up (it is in £££ though) http://www.alldaypa.com/prices/

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Telephone Answering virtual assistant
alldaypa.com

Great advice! this pricing would allow those who perhaps do not need answering service on a daily basis. Thanks Jackie

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Laraine Montgomery
Expert Virtual Office Services

I actually think it would depend a LOT on how many calls he is expecting! First of all, I would definitely charge a monthly fee - and a good one - to be compensated just for being available! If it were just a few calls a month you could get away with charging less...but if you're going to be on the phone on and off all day long then you should get paid! I would use your hourly rate to calculate a rough estimate.
As for your second question - I'm sorry I don't know of an app off hand that times your calls...but I bet there is one!

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www.thebrainygal.com

Just my 2 cents, but if you are expected to be available 24/7, then I would say anything outside your normal 9-5 working hours would be at time and a half. Even if it is just a small amount. I'd say if you are going to charge a per minute rate and have him pay in advance with a retainer, track your after hours calls and charge more to the retainer.

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&rea and Associates, LLC
"Dedicated to Helping Small Businesses Compete"