CompuServe Messages

I used to work for a company that did consulting work, and we used to simply bill the client on a per diem rate. This could work for you if this is the only project you are working on at the time. As far as travel goes, we would bill the client for travel time as well, since you can't work on anything else while travelling you should bill the client you are travelling for. As to what rate to charge, I have seen "consultants" charging everything from $15/hour (friend of a friend situation) to $300$400/day for the high priced guys from Cooper Lybrand. You will have to set a rate based on what you think your services are worth and what you think the client will pay. Why not use your usual programmming rate * 7.5?