CompuServe Messages

I haven't read the other replies yet (been out of town) but have a suggestion for you. Most consultants in other forms of business charge by the hour based on a minimum amount of time (normally 10-20 hrs). They get the equivalent of "expert" fees or in the range of $100 to $200 per hour. There is one other way, give them an "outrageous" fee schedule such as $300 per hour with a 10 hour minimum and negociate downward from there. If they accept the $300 @ 10 minimum—-you were too low to start, wait 6 months an push for more. Well, there is really a 3rd way, charge them a fixed fee based on what you feel is a fair estimate of your "worth" to the company and the amount of time you expect spend on each project. Normally a retainter is in the neighborhood of 10% of expected fee but not always. All of this is based on fees for things other than software (such as legal fees, expert opinions based on analysis of a problem, etc.) but it should carry over.