How much would you charge the client?

A

Amida

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For the following work:

1. Install WIN XP, Office, Anti-Virus, Skype and Adobe reader on a MacBook
2. Upgrade Satelite phone to latest firmware and configure Macbook for Data connections via the Satelite phone
3. Install and configure 3G Card on the Macbook
4. Order and configure BIS service for Blackberry
5. Fix 3G connection problem on a different laptop
6. Install and configure Apple TV
7. Design and install of Home network including setup and install of ADSL router, powerline adapters and Access point.
8. Setup 3x laptops and 1x Desktop for connecting to the Wireless Network.
 
I would say it took roughly 10 Hours of Work and driving around.
 
For the actualy work you did = R 100+Fuel

Let's be honest that isn't work :D

But going rate, prob about R 1500 ?
 
Nope, going rate for techie is around 180-280 ex vat

I'd charge R200 ex vat + materials & charge for km's driven (probably work it into the price itself)
 
I recently charged a client R700 for #1, so with 2 to 8 thrown in as well, I'd double that at least. So as Pitbull said, probably R1500 at the minimum. Doesn't matter if it's easy work, drudge work, or even if you enjoy it. Fact is, client couldn't do it themselves, and contracted you to do it for them. So they expect to pay. So charge them.
 
I'd also go for R200-R300 p/hr + "callout fees" if you actually had to go to the client. That's what Incredible connection will charge you for the same sort of thing [go check, if you hand in your PC for them to fix, it's like R250 p/hr rounded up] .

Heck, even Mechanics and Plumbers charge R250+ per hour for fixing stuff in your house or on your car, it's time people realize IT is no different than calling an electrician to come out and crawl around your kitchen...they charge the living crap out of you...R600 just for coming out, regardless of whether they even fixed anything.
 
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I was paid R230 by a client the other weekend for fixing her ADSL connection, which took about 2.5 hours because of account issues and Telkom keeping me on hold for over an hour. I actually charged her R150 and she thought I meant per hour. Eventually we settled on the R230.

/sigh. Should have taken the R350.
 
diabolus said:
I'd also go for R200-R300 p/hr + "callout fees" if you actually had to go to the client. That's what Incredible connection will charge you for the same sort of thing [go check, if you hand in your PC for them to fix, it's like R250 p/hr rounded up] .

Heck, even Mechanics and Plumbers charge R250+ per hour for fixing stuff in your house or on your car, it's time people realize IT is no different than calling an electrician to come out and crawl around your kitchen...they charge the living crap out of you...R600 just for coming out, regardless of whether they even fixed anything.
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I also don't want to charge too much as I'd like to keep the client so I can get extra work via word of mouth.
 
Well amida you must think of the future, so i think you charge them 175 bucks an hour.

If you charge to much you won't get more business so in the ong run you are hurting yourself. I think 175 bucks an hour is more than enough.
 
Amida said:
I also don't want to charge too much as I'd like to keep the client so I can get extra work via word of mouth.
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Of course, i think the main catch is how long some of those things in your list should take if you've been doing it over and over. If you took say 10 hours , but are aware if you had to do it again, you can do it in 3 hours, then you charge them based on 3 hrs and not 10 hrs etc etc.

So even though R300 p/hr * 10 sounds way too much , you basically have to consider whether it will always take 10 hours? What will happen if you get to next client with the exact same thing and suddenly you do it in 3 hours? Will you charge them R500 or R1500? What will happen if they talk to each other?

You will kind of need to build in a learning curve , so you don't end up charging a client with a "new" issue more than one with an issue that you've handled before...things like that. It's almost like R&D Costs if you know what i mean, sometimes you take a bit of a loss to learn something and improve your speed.

Once you have an idea how long common tasks -should- take, you can probably derive from that a decent hourly rate. You will need one if you ever want to quote...
Also you need to consider with installation tasks, companies that specialise with that actually do it in parallel/unattended ..you know even though Windows can take an hour to install, you can actually do other things [like installing windows on 4 pcs at the same time] .

So in this particular case, i guess instead of costs, i'd first look at -time- . How long -should- those tasks take if done by a professional?
 
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tco21 said:
I was paid R230 by a client the other weekend for fixing her ADSL connection, which took about 2.5 hours because of account issues and Telkom keeping me on hold for over an hour. I actually charged her R150 and she thought I meant per hour. Eventually we settled on the R230.

/sigh. Should have taken the R350.
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If a client is willing to pay that price, why would you argue with them to pay less?
 
IC corruption charge R250.00/hour minimum (lawst I checked was two years back) with minimum charge 1 Hour. That is the bare minimum.

OK. Plus spares and consumables.
 
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