6
votes
Accepted
How to help a client understand that 16-hour effort doesn't mean deliver the next day?
So you told the client it would be 16 hours of effort to complete, and that you need 3 weeks to complete it... What the client hears is "I need 16 hours ... to complete".
This comes down to the ...
- 6,943
4
votes
Managing client expectations when estimated time is more than expected
While the answers provided effectively address the bulk of your question, I wanted to address your last statement:
"I really don't want to lose this client since it looks like an excellent long term ...
- 275
3
votes
Marking up hardware costs
Customarily you do not charge interest. If you finance the purchase(s) that's on your shoulders, not the clients. In addition, you should be able to pay off any balance when you receive payment from ...
- 17.5k
3
votes
Accepted
How to estimate as self-employed for gov't contract?
Taxes are a percentage of your income and that percentage varies based upon the amount of your income. There's no way anyone can tell you what you may owe without specific figures regarding your ...
- 17.5k
3
votes
Charging for Project (Strategy) Research before signing a contract
I think the technical term for what you're doing is called a, "feasibility study."
And it's not unusual to do this.
Your expertise and analysis is valuable. The client should respect your approach ...
- 131
3
votes
Accepted
How to estimate project costs - Mail (Postal) survey?
This is something I've done myself...
First, make sure you've got "letter stuffing" as part of the costs. Some places are happy to print, but won't stuff envelopes. I managed around 4/minute at peak ...
- 1,040
2
votes
How to help a client understand that 16-hour effort doesn't mean deliver the next day?
I think it's fairly simple..
Sorry [client],
It doesn't work that way. The 16 hours needed to complete your project must be scheduled and coordinated with other ongoing projects. I will need 3 ...
- 17.5k
2
votes
Managing client expectations when estimated time is more than expected
Here's the thing.... can you do the work in 2 weeks?
If you can't then what possible benefit is there to trying to retain a client with such unrealistic expectations? Or in other words, if someone ...
- 17.5k
1
vote
asset management - inventory and tagging
I mean, 300 minutes, for 250 items, is a little more than 1 minute to
fetch, access, handle the next one
writing the information by hand or printer
handle unexpected things
etc.
Wishful thinking is ...
- 184
1
vote
Charging for Project (Strategy) Research before signing a contract
Your approach is valid - that's what a lot of consultants do; working under contract to produce a specification for the client. The deliverable is the specification, and then the consultant becomes ...
- 207
1
vote
Managing client expectations when estimated time is more than expected
As you have mentioned "After spending some hours doing an estimate" I guess you would have created a detailed task list and hours for each task for estimating the final duration.
My suggestion would ...
- 11
1
vote
Managing client expectations when estimated time is more than expected
It seems you have two choices:
1) Accept an impossible deadline and thus disappoint the client
2) Risk pricing yourself out of getting the client
This could be a case of right client, wrong time. ...
- 3,967
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