[AccessD] RE: [dba-OT] Contract Work - Time Sensitive Questio n : x-posted d ba-OT

Mitsules, Mark S. (Newport News) Mark.Mitsules at ngc.com
Thu Aug 19 10:53:48 CDT 2004


This gives me confidence that I was headed in the right direction.  I was
planning on a short investigative meeting at "no charge".  I remember
hearing in the past phrases to the effect "...if we are discussing the job
or my rate then you are paying me for that time", but I didn't feel that I
was in a position to be that bold.  I spoke with someone today who warned me
that persons in the medical field were notoriously cost driven and reluctant
to pay for someone's time.  I found this ironic considering that when I go
to a doctor's office and he refers me to a specialist, I still have to pay
the doctor for his time even though he did 'nothing';)


Mark


-----Original Message-----
From: John W. Colby [mailto:jwcolby at colbyconsulting.com] 
Sent: Thursday, August 19, 2004 11:14 AM
To: 'Access Developers discussion and problem solving'
Subject: RE: [AccessD] RE: [dba-OT] Contract Work - Time Sensitive Question
: x-posted d ba-OT


If this truly is "once off" then it is better to lose the job than get it
and get sucked into a quagmire.

Ask them over the phone BEFORE any meetings to get together the data that
needs to be looked at, draw up a report structure they would like to see,
the list of tables and databases that it comes from.  If they know it is
"coming from several databases" then they must have some knowledge of this.

Schedule a meeting.  GIVE them one hour free of charge, plus travel time.
Look at what they need and try to nail down in your own mind what is
involved.  At the end of that hour you should be able to tell them roughly
how big a job it is.  Tell them.  Be prepared BEFORE you go in with what you
want on an hourly basis.  Then you can tell them X hours times Y dollars.  

Don't worry if they never call back.  If they don't call back you don't want
to work for them.  The biggest thing to remember is that clients who "don't
want to pay much" are a royal PITA with no real concept of what is involved
and you are well done with them.

John W. Colby
www.ColbyConsulting.com 

-----Original Message-----
From: accessd-bounces at databaseadvisors.com
[mailto:accessd-bounces at databaseadvisors.com] On Behalf Of Mitsules, Mark S.
(Newport News)
Sent: Thursday, August 19, 2004 9:44 AM
To: 'Access Developers discussion and problem solving'
Subject: RE: [AccessD] RE: [dba-OT] Contract Work - Time Sensitive Question
: x-posted d ba-OT


There are a myriad of potential problems I see going into this...I'm just
hoping I don't talk myself out of it before I give it a chance.  Primarily,
I'm assuming that the work will have to be done on-site due to the sensitive
nature of the data.  That alone raises time issues...I have a 40-hour job
already...are they going to be willing to allow me to work late into the
evening or on weekends outside of "their" normal working hours?

Mark


-----Original Message-----
From: Pickering, Stephen [mailto:Stephen.Pickering at caremark.com] 
Sent: Thursday, August 19, 2004 9:16 AM
To: 'dba-ot at databaseadvisors.com'; [AccessD]
Subject: [AccessD] RE: [dba-OT] Contract Work - Time Sensitive Question :
x-posted d ba-OT


<kidding> Danger, Will Robinson!  Danger!! </kidding>

I don't know how universal it is, but for me, a good rule of thumb has been
this:  If the client thinks it should be easy, it will be very complex; if
the client thinks it will be really hard to do, it will be very easy, and
the client will be easily impressed.

I would give them an hourly rate for you to do an analysis of what they need
and what the environment is.  Take this information to give them an
estimate, based on time and materials, for you to complete the task. Provide
an additional estimate for your time with beta testing issues and support,
if need be.

This sounds like a lot, I know, for what seems like a simple task.
Sometimes, however, it is the simple tasks that mutate from scope creep, and
you find yourself in a never-ending quagmire where you don't get paid for
your work, and neither you nor the client is happy.

HTH,

Steve



----- Mark S. Mitsules' Original Message-----
 
If anyone has 5-10 minutes to spare, I'd appreciate your thoughts on the
following scenario.  A co-worker has just given my name/number to a small
medical office that is looking for some custom work. The 2 second
description was "create a report based on data from several databases".

Now many of you, I'm sure, have been approached by clients who have received
several quotes of hourly rates and were put off at the high prices and no
estimation as to time of completion.  First question, how do you address the
customer's concern knowing full well that without a fairly accurate scope of
work, you would most likely have answered similarly to everyone else?

At face value, the project seems like a cake walk;)  However, the unknown
variables have me concerned.  I'm sure many of you, when you first began,
may have started out this way, without the structure of business licenses,
contracts, insurance, etc.  What I'm politely asking is, what is an
acceptable way for me to approach this?  At the moment, this is a one-off
situation that I would like to handle in the simplest manner possible.
Again, politely, what I'm not asking for is suggestions to hire an attorney,
an accountant, set up an LLC, etc.  In the short term, many people have
worked this way in the past successfully...I'm just hoping to get some idea
of best practices.

Thank you,


Mark
 
-- 
_______________________________________________
AccessD mailing list
AccessD at databaseadvisors.com
http://databaseadvisors.com/mailman/listinfo/accessd
Website: http://www.databaseadvisors.com
-- 
_______________________________________________
AccessD mailing list
AccessD at databaseadvisors.com
http://databaseadvisors.com/mailman/listinfo/accessd
Website: http://www.databaseadvisors.com



-- 
_______________________________________________
AccessD mailing list
AccessD at databaseadvisors.com
http://databaseadvisors.com/mailman/listinfo/accessd
Website: http://www.databaseadvisors.com



More information about the AccessD mailing list