I have a client who has committed some of his projects to me and the first project I did last 13 days, with alot of phone conferencing to get the project together. If I charge the hourly industry rate it becomes too costly for the small business. Could someone advice me on how to charge for payment. I wanted to offer a project rate.

Let's use the hourly industry rate as an example. The project consisted of 61 pages, 20 pages of statistics included, scanning was also involved.

Should I also offer a retainer and bill for project consultation.

Thanks.


Sherrie

Did you not decide all of this up front before the project started?

__________________
Sarah
Accurate Office Help

That is really something only you can answer. You have to decide how much your time is worth.

You noted that "it becomes too costly for the small business," I ask "Who's small business?" Yours? Aren't you in business?

If a plumber comes to your home to change out a washer in your bathroom sink you are going to pay $75 per hour, something you could do for $2.50. How you think of yourself in comparison to that plumber will tell you how you view your time.

Many plumbers go to a trade school, you may think. So what. Most VAs have more than two years on-the-job training. Many have at least a two-year college degree or the equivalent.

I don't intend to sound mean, but I probably do. My point is that you need to charge based on what your training, skills, abilities and resources are worth. If you only charged $7.50 per hour and spent 13 eight hour days they would owe you $780.00. I suspect you are worth more than $7.50 per hour.

Anyway -- enough lecturing. Use this experience as a lesson on billing. Cut the company a one-time break and let them know that this is a pre-Labor Day special and next time you will charge X dollars per hour or X per project with 1/2 up front, no exceptions. If they are a reliable company that you want to keep it may be worth it in the long run.

__________________
Robin A. Holstein
Robin's Desktop Virtual Administrative Services
My Blog

Originally Posted by sherrie

I have a client who has committed some of his projects to me and the first project I did last 13 days, with alot of phone conferencing to get the project together. If I charge the hourly industry rate it becomes too costly for the small business. Could someone advice me on how to charge for payment. I wanted to offer a project rate. Let's use the hourly industry rate as an example. The project consisted of 61 pages, 20 pages of statistics included, scanning was also involved. Should I also offer a retainer and bill for project consultation. Thanks. Sherrie

I'm a bit confused. I am assuming a rate was not set before you began the project? If so, that was the first mistake. In the future when you are not sure how long a project will take you MUST do this per hour to avoid situations like this.

I understand your "looking out for the small business". I find myself guilty of that at times as well, but YOU are the small business and you spent legitimate hours on this project and now must be paid for that. If you offer a project rate, the client will never know that you cut your hourly rate, but will assume that the project took less time than if really did. What is most important to you when working with this client again?

__________________
Tamika R. Johnson, MBA, Principal
administrative partners, llc
www.administrativepartners.net | http://adminpartners.blogspot.com

I agree with what's already been said. I also understand your feelings about looking out for the small business owner. Having said that, I've done work in which I was reluctant to charge the full amount for fear the client would complain about the expense. In fact, the reaction was the complete opposite. Client's are happy to have found someone who can do the work the client can't and my client's consider my hourly rate well worth the money. I suspect your client might feel the same.

Robin's analogy about plumbers is a good one.

__________________
Shari Sultana
Online Business Manager (marketing for retail ecommerce)