> > > Now take the amount you want to make and divide it by the number > > > of hours you came up with above ($40,000 / 1,000). You get $40. > > > That's your target hourly rate. > > > > $40K as a consultant is much less spendable money than $40K as an > > employee. > > Yes, that's an additional 7.5% for social security. In addition, you > have to take care of your own benefits, etc. > > I'd recommend that you start to inch up your rate with new clients, > and that you try and see what your market will bear.
I agree with this; but at the same time take your own circumstances into consideration: If you're young, don't live a profligate life- style, and like people and work, then don't worry about the money so much. Someone suggested charging $100/hour - more for mod_perl work. I have a different slant. I like mod_perl and like to encourage its use. I charge the same rate to everbody whether it's mod_perl or not. And I also usually try to work training into contracts; i.e., I try to work things out so that I not only cut mod_perl (or Emb- perl) code for clients, but also get to train their people on what I'm doing, if they aren't already intimately familiar with the tech- nology. Sometimes, actually, training is all the client wants. Another thought: For clients who keep coming back for more work, and who are flexi- ble about schedules, you should consider charging a lower rate. It is extremely valuable to have clients around that you can go to when you're "between" other jobs. Hang onto them. Give them a break if that helps. My _family_ actually sometimes pressures me to lower rates. I've been doing work lately for (among others) a big environmentalist nonprofit near Washington. My fifteen year-old son, who is a rabid environmentalist, said I should charge them less because the work they are doing is so valuable to the community. I told him it meant less money in his pocket as well as mine. He said he didn't care, so I dropped my rates ten percent :-). The bottom line is that it's really not about the money. If you're good and you like people, and you don't think God put on earth to drive a BMW and eat out every night, then you'll find you can get along quite well charging reasonable rates. Your clients will love you. You'll be a happy guy. And you'll help spread open-source technology all around. -- Richard Goerwitz [EMAIL PROTECTED] tel: 401 438 8978
