Calculate Project Price
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- e-wo
I'm writing a proposal for a substantial project, and would like the avoid past pitfalls of underbidding and overworking.
I've yet to diligently time track 100% or even 50% of a project, so my estimates as to the time-money continuum are rough.
I recall there being a helpful form that will calculate your project total based on some rough numbers. Any help or links to such? Thanks
- e-wo0
To clarify, I'm not trying to figure my hourly rate, I'm trying to apply it to an appropriate span of time to create a project flat rate.
- monNom0
1. Find out their budget
2. Write a proposal for services you can render that meets their needs and their budget
3. protect yourself from overworking by outlining clearly what is and is not included in 2.If you can't do 2, you probably shouldn't be taking on this big of a project right now. You can't go from 0-100 without a few steps in between. And if you make commitments you can't deliver on, you're going to get sued.
- Miesfan0
for how many years will you work on that project?
- e-wo0
Sure. Step 1 is actually the missing link. They've been coy about it. So I suppose I'll hit them with what I'd ideally charge and then pare down some services if they balk.
- e-wo0
I see it as a 12-week project with some development & CMS integration outsourced.
- boobs0
Well, if it's twelve weeks, take what you want to earn in a year, add in your yearly overhead (rent, computer costs, internet, software, etc.), and divide the whole number by 4.
- vaxorcist0
beware the stop-start nature of scheduling, where you might quote 12 weeks of a standard rate, then find out it's 3 weeks on, 2 weeks off, 3 weeks on, 1 week off when you're in "wait for client decision or materials hyperspace" every so often, and you have to decide how to make money on other clients or bill the client for waiting or eat the empty time cost...
- vaxorcist0
Simply asking them abut their budget may give you a random number iwthout much context and probably lower than you may need to remain in business..... the "budget" for something without any connection to business priorities is often very low...
So, ask them what their business priorities are, find a way to make your project fulfill at least one or two of them in a major way, then talk to them about what they need, what they value and how they percieve business value.... suddenly the ability to committ to more spending may be a possibility, and you may get the $$.... as long as you remain committed to what seem to be their priorities, and offer not just a budget of a "cost expense" but rather a "business value" that can make them money rather than just be a spending nightmare for somebody to justify to their bosses....
Rather than just doing the "RFP-like-thing" where they send out a list of specs and you try to guess, I highly suggeest trying to be more of a solution-solving-partner than a "spec-fulfilling vendor"