Andy Lacey
andy at minstersystems.co.uk
Wed Jan 14 07:43:53 CST 2004
Another brummie! Or are you an interloper? Me. I escaped long ago before the city was gentrified. Hope you're a Villa fan. Anyway I digress. Firstly good luck if you do it Paul. I took the plunge many, many years ago. Never regretted it but that's not to say there won't be bad days ahead - Just that for me the advantages outweigh the diadvantages. I would say, however, that you shouldn't go it alone if you're of a nervous disposition. Not knowing when you'll next earn a bean can be pretty stressful. You have to trust to lady luck and believe that the next contract is round the corner. And definitely don't do it, as I overheard someone once say, in order to "get more time on the golf-course". Ha, ha, ha is all I can say to that one. As to advice on costing, I'm afraid I still find it difficult. I would though refer you to an article William wrote in the first Many2Many newsletter (see dba site) in July 2001 called 'Consultant's Corner'. Some good stuff there. Like William my experience is that it's damned difficult, if not impossible, to raise your rate much once you're in at a customer. If you quote low for one project and they have a second one they will not accept you quoting high for that one. Once you're perceived as cheap you're stuck with that perception. So always (I know it's obvious) pitch your quotes as high as you possibly can. If circumstances (no money to pay mortgage, kids on the streets begging, etc) dictate that you have to go low to get a contract then you must fully understand the implications of doing so. Try to make it clear it's a special deal - it's probably a waste of breath but still worth saying - and, as William says, keep the rate high and reduce the time you're quoting. You may know full well it's going to take much longer, and you certainly want to make it clear it did so, but better that than letting the customer think your rate is laughable. The problem comes when you knowingly quote a short time and they jump on that and want it delivered next day/week/whatever. Then you think on your feet and talk quick (other calls on your time, several family funerals in the next few days etc). As to calculating just how long you actually think it will take.....well I've always found a blindfold and a pin useful. Seriously though, only time and experience will tell you. HTH a little bit. Andy Lacey http://www.minstersystems.co.uk > -----Original Message----- > From: accessd-bounces at databaseadvisors.com > [mailto:accessd-bounces at databaseadvisors.com] On Behalf Of > paul.hartland at fsmail.net > Sent: 14 January 2004 13:03 > To: Access Developers discussion and problem solving > Subject: Re: RE: [AccessD] OT - Starting On My Own > > > I live in Birmingham, England > > > > > > Message date : Jan 14 2004, 12:54 PM > >From : DJK(John) Robinson > To : 'Access Developers discussion and problem solving' > Copy to : > Subject : RE: [AccessD] OT - Starting On My Own > Whereabouts, Paul? You seem to be somewhere between the UK > and Central Europe... > > John > > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: accessd-bounces at databaseadvisors.com > > [mailto:accessd-bounces at databaseadvisors.com] On Behalf Of > > paul.hartland at fsmail.net > > Sent: 14 January 2004 11:10 > > To: accessd > > Subject: [AccessD] OT - Starting On My Own > > > > > > To all, > > > > I’m in the process of thinking about starting up on my own > > (part-time at first to see how it goes) as possibly a > > freelance Database Developer, I know some of you on this list > > are self-employed and just wondered if you would have any > > advice etc especially with regards to costing a project etc. > > > > Thanks in advance for any help you can give. > > > > Paul Hartland > > > > P.S. feel free to contact me off-list > > Freeserve AnyTime - HALF PRICE for the first 3 months - Save > > £7.50 a month > > www.freeserve.com/anytime > > _______________________________________________ > > AccessD mailing list > > AccessD at databaseadvisors.com > > http://databaseadvisors.com/mailman/listinfo/a> ccessd > > Website: > > http://www.databaseadvisors.com > > > _______________________________________________ > AccessD mailing list > AccessD at databaseadvisors.com > http://databaseadvisors.com/mailman/listinfo/a> ccessd > Website: > http://www.databaseadvisors.com > Freeserve > AnyTime - HALF PRICE for the first 3 months - Save £7.50 a month > www.freeserve.com/anytime > _______________________________________________ > AccessD mailing list > AccessD at databaseadvisors.com > http://databaseadvisors.com/mailman/listinfo/a> ccessd > Website: > http://www.databaseadvisors.com > > >