Cost of writing a program

[DerpiesFreud]

An aquaintence of mine runs a spaza shop.
He wants me to write a stock/Pos system for him.
Its not too big,probably a few days of work.
I`m a decent programmer but a bad entrepenur
I`m wondering what would be a fair price to charge him?
R250? R500? R1k?
A maintaince contract too perhaps?

Oh and I HAVE A JOB!!!
Well my first proper job doing what I love

 

[TheHiveMind]

40 million.

 

[Joker]

There is loads of free POS software out there, why does he need something custom to begin with?

Otherwise to keep it simple just charge a standard hourly rate (depending on your experience) for development and any maintenance.

 

[DerpiesFreud]

40 million.

I meant rands not zim dollars

There is loads of free POS software out there, why does he need something custom to begin with?

Otherwise to keep it simple just charge a standard hourly rate (depending on your experience) for development and any maintenance.

Yeah I`m going tommorw to see his requirements.
He requested something custom,but I`l see if there`s a better solution available.
Hourly rate seems like a good idea too.

 

[Avenue]

Dude, you need to think out every screen, every menu and every database table you are going to need before you begin. Otherwise I promise you it will run at least 4-10 times longer than you initially estimate and you'll end up doing it for below minimum wage. So work it out and figure out how much you are willing to work for per hour and how much you are willing to donate to your friendship because you're never going to turn a profit on a single spaza shop.

That said there are a number of free POS software options out there that he can also look at

Edit* people may not be happy with an hourly rate because it could run off indefinitely. May be better to break it down into sections. X for this functionality etc then he can choose what he wants and doesn't.

 

[DerpiesFreud]

Dude, you need to think out every screen, every menu and every database table you are going to need before you begin. Otherwise I promise you it will run at least 4-10 times longer than you initially estimate and you'll end up doing it for below minimum wage. So work it out and figure out how much you are willing to work for per hour and how much you are willing to donate to your friendship because you're never going to turn a profit on a single spaza shop.

That said there are a number of free POS software options out there that he can also look at

Edit* people may not be happy with an hourly rate because it could run off indefinitely. May be better to break it down into sections. X for this functionality etc then he can choose what he wants and doesn't.

Well he`s an aquantence I didn`t really say friendship...
Tommorw I`m going through his current system then I`l decide,I haven`t signed or agreed to do anything except have a look.
if it isn`t worth it I`l turn him down....

Off the top of my head there`s 3 tables :
Employees
Stock
Transactions
and I really do mean Spaza shop in a tin shack with 50c chappies

but again I haven`t commited,I`m just going to have a look.... and possibly become like an abused web designer :erm:

 

[DominionZA]

There are more than 3 tables.
You need menu item configurations. Menu items will link to stock either directly or via recipe setup (even more tables).
He may try rope you into managing suppliers too if he wants to manage his stock pricing. Stock may also include stock takes.
This could be really simple or really complex. Don't commit to anything until you have thought it out.

Reporting? Cash ups?

If you like, drop me a PM and I will try advise as best I can. I wrote the software running in Debonairs, Steers, Scooters, hotdog cafe, etc... Also own a high level franchise management system that stores store sales country wide as well as manages menus, stock, suppliers, gp reports, etc... from the head office side. I got a little experience in this industry.

 

[^^vampire^^]

Think this project is a lot bigger than you think.
I developed a POS system about 10 years ago for a restaurant and back then I charged 40k.

 

[Hamster]

Well, whatever you do make sure there is a document which both of you sign stating exactly what you need to do. Because as soon as you start the client comes with "It would be nice if..." and "Please add this..." etc etc.

 

[BLIXEMPIE]

Lol @ R500 for writing a program.

 

[Bona Botse]

Lol @ R500 for writing a program.

Even bigger lol @ 3 database tables

 

[bvonfintel]

There are more than 3 tables.
You need menu item configurations. Menu items will link to stock either directly or via recipe setup (even more tables).
He may try rope you into managing suppliers too if he wants to manage his stock pricing. Stock may also include stock takes.
This could be really simple or really complex. Don't commit to anything until you have thought it out.

Reporting? Cash ups?

If you like, drop me a PM and I will try advise as best I can. I wrote the software running in Debonairs, Steers, Scooters, hotdog cafe, etc... Also own a high level franchise management system that stores store sales country wide as well as manages menus, stock, suppliers, gp reports, etc... from the head office side. I got a little experience in this industry.

I maintain the POS system that Mike wrote, so I have some experience in after "probably a few days of work". Believe me, even a simple Stock/POS system is going to start out as a couple days of work and end up being a lot more. By the time you've finished, he probably could have paid for a commercial product or customised one of the free ones adequately.

 

[TelkomUseless]

Lol @ R500 for writing a program.

Even bigger lol @ 3 database tables

I loled at it all too.

+
I`m a decent programmer ...

(then you should know it's going to take a massive amount of time).

 

[guest2013-1]

Define "a few days of work"

Are they full days? So 8 hours. Let's assume "a few days" amounts to 3 days (since you didn't say "couple")

3 * 8 = 24 full hours

You want to do it for R500. So your time is worth R20 an hour?

How much does your full-time job pay? Because you'd be making R3200 a month if you did it for that much.

My going rate is R500 per hour. And for a POS system it would take at LEAST 100 hours depending on the spec/client changes/wants/needs for something basic.

 

[krycor]

Exactly as @AcidRaZor says.. cost per hour needs to be defined 1st, typical cost per hour for a developer resource is about R480-520.

Then you need to work out the hours involved for Design, Development, Testing, and Deployment.. 1 work week yields about 40 hrs, 8am-5pm(excl 1hr breaks/lunch).

Note this all excludes cost of support, so given the choice of dev or pre-made product.. u can see why the product is cheaper

 

[froot]

Exactly as @AcidRaZor says.. cost per hour needs to be defined 1st, typical cost per hour for a developer resource is about R480-520.

Then you need to work out the hours involved for Design, Development, Testing, and Deployment.. 1 work week yields about 40 hrs, 8am-5pm(excl 1hr breaks/lunch).

Note this all excludes cost of support, so given the choice of dev or pre-made product.. u can see why the product is cheaper

This.
I'm busy writing a software package for a client on the side, and yeah, design the program on paper, what it needs to do, etc, and figure out how long you need for each segment/ phase, and quote based on that. Add time for meeting with the client.
Then work out how support/maintenance will be done, and how that will be paid.

 

[DerpiesFreud]

I loled at it all too.

+
I`m a decent programmer ...

(then you should know it's going to take a massive amount of time).

Yeah I know 5-6 hours a day for probably what will be a week.

Define "a few days of work"

Are they full days? So 8 hours. Let's assume "a few days" amounts to 3 days (since you didn't say "couple")

3 * 8 = 24 full hours

You want to do it for R500. So your time is worth R20 an hour?

How much does your full-time job pay? Because you'd be making R3200 a month if you did it for that much.

My going rate is R500 per hour. And for a POS system it would take at LEAST 100 hours depending on the spec/client changes/wants/needs for something basic.

Well I`m not sure what the industry norm is...
I don`t have a day job,I`m a student.

Exactly as @AcidRaZor says.. cost per hour needs to be defined 1st, typical cost per hour for a developer resource is about R480-520.

Then you need to work out the hours involved for Design, Development, Testing, and Deployment.. 1 work week yields about 40 hrs, 8am-5pm(excl 1hr breaks/lunch).

Note this all excludes cost of support, so given the choice of dev or pre-made product.. u can see why the product is cheaper

Yoh thats a lot of money.

This.
I'm busy writing a software package for a client on the side, and yeah, design the program on paper, what it needs to do, etc, and figure out how long you need for each segment/ phase, and quote based on that. Add time for meeting with the client.
Then work out how support/maintenance will be done, and how that will be paid.

Yeah

I see a couple of red lights!!
1. Owner doesnt know if he`s making a profit or a loss = He might not be able to pay me

2. Owner told me to 'whip something up and go from there' :erm:, How am I supposed to know what he wants if he doesn`t know what he wants :erm:
He said he`l pay for the prototype model but again I doubt it

3.He says he wants me because I live nearby and they can just call me when something goes wrong
= I`l have to be free tech support(he`l probably throw an excuse to not pay me) :erm:

4. He claims to know people in high places who can get me a lot of work and stuff
also he seems to be leaning towards non monetary compensation(fame,cupcakes,spaza stock)
:erm:

5. He`s well versed in terms of Free POS/Stock systems & Excel spreadsheet stuff but he still wants a custom program,yet a free program can fulfill his requirements :wtf:

I`m 95% sure that accepting the job is a bad idea...

 

[adsl2]

Where are you studying?

 

[HavocXphere]

I'm sure there is a wordpress theme you can sell him for a million percent markup...

 

[DerpiesFreud]

Where are you studying?

Stalk me and take a guess
Cape Town