I have a question...say a new client wants to inquire about your services and then offers you work. You accept but the client has more questions about the project and wants to set up an appointment to discuss it in more detail. Do you charge for that time?

I know the initial consultation may be a wash since you're still yet to have them sign a non-disclosure agreement, but I'm wondering how to set all this up. If you have a client already ready to go, do you send them the W9 AND the agreement up front before you start discussing work?

Thanks for any feedback!

Kathya

Kathya, I would make sure to get everything signed first before starting ANY work at all. When you know they are going to work with you, start that process of making them aware of your 'rules', tell them what you will need to get started (contract, etc). If you need to meet with them to sign papers, whatever you have to do prior.. I would start charging when they actually give you a project to do. Thats just me.. that is how I have done business for the past 5 years (not VA) and it worked for me.

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www.sageva.com
Shelley Halpain,

I generally don't charge for phone calls. Having said that, if they abuse that or if the call goes over 15 minutes, I would charge them. You are, technically, on their dime at that point, I think. I fully expect people I hire to bill me for the time they spend talking to me about the project (but not about what their grandma gave them for Christmas, ya know?)

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Candy Beauchamp, OffAssist

Thanks Shelley and Candy. Much appreciated. I think I have a good understanding now.

Kathya

I dont charge for calls either, unless they total more then 15 minutes or unless the client calls me for EVERY little thing...and they know that and they respect that (one client will tell me, "start the clock cuz it is gonna be a long call"). I have weekly wrap up meeting with my clients on Fridays that I set up, which I don't charge them for, and it is our time to just talk about the week and what they have going on the next week, so that everyone is on the same page.

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Rebecca Thompson
CLR Virtual Connection * fanTABulous fan pages

I absolutely agree. When they begin to abuse it's hard to get them to stop.

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Michelle Hill-Smith
www.OnTaskAssistants.com