Topic: When to say no?

[Steve]

:sigh:

I have a tough decision to make. I have been asked to complete an already existing project. A group know as "The American Swingers Association" has a website, but they need the backend done. To sum it up they want to be able to take data from users, compiule it into a database, and sned it out as an RSS feed. Thats the majority of it, anyway.

Its not the type of site that has me wondering if i should decline, its the work. I CAN do it, with some research and some learning along the way. It's SHOULD i take on something i have not done before when there is a deadline? The company has a convention that has been planned for 8 months coming at the end of next month, and they need this done ASAP. They have had other start the project, but no one has finished it. Most notably the last guy, who is their sons 20 year old "computer whiz".

I'm also not sure what to charge. We are talking alot of hours, on short schedule doing php and mysql with some other stuff thrown in. For example they want a zip code locator and a  maps system (map/calander/planner system).

Right now the quote i have in my head is $1500.00. I am meeting with them at 2PM for a sit down to get a real grasp of this, but i want input based on what i do know.

[Steve]

Also note that some of the DB is already done. Im looking at the page and the actual site is 95% done so it may be something i should do.

[charlie]

Can you charge them per hour and estimate the number of hours? if you're not completely familiar with the work I'd be worried about quoting a specific price and then working twice as hard as expected on it.

[ober]

Go hourly and charge actuals.  Can't go wrong there.  But don't do it if you can't get it done in time.  I hate missing deadlines.

[Dumah]

So you want $1500 to work on some swinger's back-end. Sounds reasonable...

[Steve]

lmfao @ dumah

I normally dont do hourly so i had not really trhought of that. And yea i can make the deadline. I do all my repairs and stuff during the day and the webstuff at night and in downtimes. Right now my webdesign plate is clear. I cant sleep at night so on average im up at 8AM and run straight thru till bout 3-4AM so yea im confident i can make it.

What would you guys charge hourly? I'm really not sure. I dont think i would go any lower then 50/hr. and this is rush so im thinking more like 75-80

[Steve]

I could totally see you doing that.

[ober]

I typically charge between 40 and 60/hr.  I'd only charge 75-80 if you think you're worth it and from what you've said, you're not.

[Steve]

So i'll just call it $50. I think im woirth it so long as they get the product they desire when they need it. Having to learn on the fly seems irrelevant when its completed.

Im going to have a hard time keeping a straight face in this meeting, though. Theres porn all over the site and they have "things to show me" hehe

[micah]

I'm in a similar boat with a client I've had for a few years now. He e-mailed me while on vacation with ideas for a new project... but he wants the back end done in Access which I *CAN* do but really don't want to do.

I could use the money (as this is all side work) but it takes a lot of time and its just a hectic summer. So I haven't gotten back to him yet.

[Steve]

The time i have. I'm going to quote him at $50/hr and if he asks for an estimate ill say that generally this type of work is 10-15 hours could be more could be less.

[charlie]

But that's a lot less than $1500. I'd estimate 20 hours at least if you were thinking of charging $1500 total.

[Steve]

Yea i know. Well i have to go meet them, brb

[charlie]

Good luck, but now that I think about it 20 hours seems small too. That seems like a lot more work than 2.5 work days, no?

[drakkenkorin]

You better be careful - they may try to get you to join their club in order to rub off a discount from you.

[pun intended]