Re: Pricing for PHP programming???

>Ok, I just started my own company and finished work for my first client >(shameless plug here: http://www.alamosawinecellars.com). The >problem I >had wasn't in pricing my work by what it's worth and how much time I put >in it, but pricing it in a way that would work for my client. I ended >up making roughly $10/hr., maybe less, for the effort, but I ended up >with an extra $1000 in the bank. Actually when thinking about the projects which I`m making for one company, they end up being 10/h (not $) as well. >The part of the >project that took all my time is in a backend admin tool that allows the >client to update their pages whenever they need. The data is all stored >in a mysql db. I know, that part takes most of my time as well, but I`m working on some good template which would make my future jobs easier and cheaper as well (for the clients). >Anyways, I have noticed that for some clients, like my >first, charging too much will lose them. Right. Usually, when dealing with companies I aleady know, I first listen them out, give my suggestions and views about it, ask what they think about them, and then ask if the sum is ok for them (the sum that I have thought about). I usually give a bit higher one first, I guess quite many of us do it, many companies like to get the price lower, even if it wasn´t high at all, so now as I have the possibility to lower the sum, I will do it. But still, you can´t set the price too low, I would suggest never to do it, maybe only for friends (for them, why not for free). >For other clients, like medium >sized companies, charging too little will send them hunting for someone >else. You are probably right. But as a freelance, you can sometimes afford asking them maybe even 3-4times less than some big web development company would. >And also, everything can be negotiated. One of my mottos:-) Siim Einfeldt itpunk@itpunk.com