[AccessD] consulting fees

I do the same thing Rocky.  There are going to be bugs.  Part of the cost of
development is making the thing work such that all the remaining bugs (you
will NEVER find and fix every single bug) do not effect the operation of the
program.  I am writing the program for them and so they pay for ALL COSTS of
getting the program running.  Debugging is just a cost of doing business.
The fact that I do not find and fix every single bug before they get the
code is irrelevant to the fact that it has to be fixed and someone has to
pay for that.  

I NEVER implying that I write bug free code (except perhaps to you guys ;-),
and I make clear that debugging and fixing bugs is a normal part of
development that they pay for.

John W. Colby
Colby Consulting
www.ColbyConsulting.com 
-----Original Message-----
From: accessd-bounces at databaseadvisors.com
[mailto:accessd-bounces at databaseadvisors.com] On Behalf Of Rocky Smolin at
Beach Access Software
Sent: Thursday, October 04, 2007 10:17 AM
To: 'Access Developers discussion and problem solving'
Subject: Re: [AccessD] consulting fees

I charge straight time - including bug fixes. 

With many clients I tell them that when I write a routine I make it work
with a straight path through the code.  I'm the alpha tester. But there are
many ways to run a form from the outside, many sequences of operation, and
there will be bugs. And operational awkwardness that they want polished. 

So I give them the option - I can send it to them for testing and fix the
bugs they find and change the procedures to suit them, or I can spend a lot
of time testing all the combinations.  I tell them, and I believe this, that
it's more economical for them to test it.  And more effective.  I KNOW the
right way to do everything because I wrote the form and the code.  Users do
the craziest things.  And the program has to account for that.

All my clients prefer to be the beta tester.  They also understand that
there will be bugs.  And I've never had anyone complain about the additional
cost it takes to make a program work perfectly.  Time, yes.  Cost, no.  But
I make it clear up front so there's no dispute later.

Rocky

-----Original Message-----
From: accessd-bounces at databaseadvisors.com
[mailto:accessd-bounces at databaseadvisors.com] On Behalf Of Lawrence Mrazek
Sent: Thursday, October 04, 2007 7:01 AM
To: 'Access Developers discussion and problem solving'
Subject: Re: [AccessD] consulting fees

Jim mentioned bug fixes ... Do we have opinions on whether you charge for
them or not?  

Larry Mrazek
LCM Research, Inc.
www.lcm-res.com
lmrazek at lcm-res.com
ph. 314-432-5886
mobile: 314-496-1645