How to Charge a Client for Web and flash work ?

I am confused on this matter, as there are many ways on how to charge. Lines of Code, total time spent in development, quality of work, and obviously many more things do matter.

Well currently i have created a small 3D Flash intro for a "Hazard Prediction Software" . I was given a situation and i created the animation accordingly. I have just created a prototype which you can check here http://vampirehosts.com/project7.swf

Now they are asking me for my Charges, Every time i do such projects i feel like i need some properl Tariff Charges and should charge different clients accordingly.

As this project is one of the fine Animation works i did, so i am looking for professionals Suggestions and views on how to charge and how they do this ?

What would be the best Charges for this Flash Animation (its just a prototype yet) ?

Anyone got an idea ? any estimates ? am not getting replies may be no one on the Bisiness Help forums currently

I would personally go by time spent if you haven't settled on a fixed price. Quality of work is too subjective (and your clients can always find problems), and LOC isn't too meaningful. You are providing a solution to the clients problem and the longer it takes you to solve it, the less time you have to work on other opportunities. Time is money, so charge for it.

Well if somebody can finish a particulat Job in 5 hours and other in 10 hours or if some one takes more time then the professional and expert who finished the job in less time will obviously get less Money for the same work.

The client is not concerned with the time spent because it depends upon the developer or coder how educated and experienced he is. the client wants the job to be completed, and obviously clients expect quality from you and quality obviously needs more time. may be some one who don't give quality, and takes more time then you can make good money and yeah more money then you.

Ahh this is all confusing. Somebody please Explain me with facts and ideas how to deal with a situation when you don't know the exact value of your work. and have a look at the flash i did and suggest me some price for this little quality work i did last night. The client is asking for money, and am still looking for a cool reply here. Hurry Up please.

Well, all of the expert coders I've worked with who have done contract jobs give a fixed estimate. That's because they know how much time the project should take, what they are worth, and have a iron-clad agreement that avoids any feature creep or scope changes. The less experienced I've seen generally take an hourly wage (with an understood max cost acceptable) or a fixed price (that has some room to vary if it takes too long).

When it comes to pricing, I'm sorry I can't help. For general contracting I'd recomend reading "The Secrets of Consulting". Don't be afraid and undervalue your work, though, as the more you charge the more they respect you. Companies spend a lot of money if you can solve their problems and don't even blink an eye. You feel guilty about it until you meet guys doing basic PC repair (read spyware removal) for $60-$80 per hour and making a small fortune.

Okay NovaX, i think giving an estimate before actually developing a project is a good idea but how am i going to do this, Well i am doing some research on this and wanted a superb solution. i am not sure about the value of this flash intro but i think charging 50$ will be fine or am i under estimating the value of this presentation. hey why don't you have a look at the Animation and give me your Opinion, what would be the best price for this http://vampirehosts.com/project7.swf

I've never used flash so I quite honestly can't put a price on it, nor have I acted as a contractor (only been around and dealt with others). If this animation is what they wanted and you feel that $50 is a just price for your work, then I'd say its fair. If you would have any regrets, and by this I don't mean regretting you aren't paid handsomely but fairly for your efforts, then charge more. You have to find a price that both you and the customer can be happy with, and have both of you walk away smiling (and hopefully continuing the relationship). Its really a gut feeling in many ways.

If you continue to do freelance work, again I strongly recommend that book - its a classic and well known by seasoned developers. Here are his rules on the subject, which should give you some food for thought. Read over each, think about it, and when you are done set the price to what you feel is the fairest for everyone involved.

Weinberg's Laws of Pricing:
1. Pricing has many functions, only one of them is the exchange of money.
2. The more they pay you, the more they love you. (Or: The less they pay you, the less they respect you)
3. The money is usually the smallest part of the price.
4. Pricing is not a zero-sum game.
5. If you need the money, don't take the job.
6. If they don't like your work, don't take their money.
7. Money is more than price.
8. Price is not a thing; it's a negotiated relationship.
9. Set the price so you won't regret it either way.
10. All prices are ultimately based on feelings, both yours and theirs.

Wow what a great Chain of Laws, yeah i really got the food . thanks brother and you are a Newbie so let me Welcome you to Dev Shed. happy Learning

No0000... the client is not an individual, its a company who is supposed to give me more projects and they asked for the Quotes today so its necessary to manage all this.

How much you can get for something isn't based on how much it costs you to produce, but on how much the buyer can afford. Something like a translucent cell phone case costs about 5 cents worth of plastic to make, but sells for $20. Why? Because this is the amount people will pay for it. Don't sell yourself short.

Yeah thats absolutely right.

I had the same problem wapindya, before I was employed I made logos and websites freelance. The trouble was, I didn't know how to price myself.

I did some research and priced my work based on what the local competition was charging, sometimes a bit more, sometimes a bit less depending on how I felt I performed in a particular project. I undervalued my time by basing the price on what I thought the product was physically worth at first, but then learned that that wouldn't make me any money.

The main thing is to have an agreement with the client before you start the project. This will ensure they don't pay you less based on what they think the value of the product is without knowing what goes into making something as nebulous as a website.
Remember that usually a client hasn't got a clue what goes into your product, they just see the end result and base their pricing on that.

When a client asks you to do a project for them, make sure you get the exact information you need from them - what it is they require - to the last detail. This will normally require a lengthy chat over a drink or something, but you will be able to quote them accurately and fairly based on the time you think all the elements will take you to build.

If you haven't agreed a price with the guys you've done this project for, then you're going to find it difficult to decide on one - especially as you're hoping to get work from them in the future, because they will always expect a similar price - and if you don't give it to them for that price, they will go somewhere else!

Good luck dude

sometimes it's difficult to make sure the client **pays** on time, so in artistic deals and programming etc, it may be prudent to set a percentage owed prior to the start of the project.

I know a caterer who asks for 20% up front to cover costs of presentation and cooking etc. This kind of idea might also help price yourself in the market without getting burned by useless clients (they do exist).

I submit this to also give yourself the impression that you are a professional and want to be paid and respected for your work. If future clients balk at a 20% upfront fee, then they're not going to pay at the end of the project either.

Billing is a bit tricky, but comes down to : not "what do you want to be paid per hour?" but instead "what are your real living and business costs?" Now what is the hourly rate? If you multiply this by 75%, what do you get? (the 25% unbilled here is generally called..."unbillable hours" and exists in every business).

If you can live on the 75% of the hourly wage that pays all your bills and services, then you're in the right ballpark. If said amount prices you out of the market then you may have to set packages for a flat price, then having one-on-one projects with negotiated rates.

That way clients know what to expect before they talk to you, and you've not created barriers to your success either.

Special Note: Never price yourself downwards. Reliability and Quality are not cheap commodaties. Always go upwards. State your price and if not taken, move on, and save your work as a nice portfolio piece to attract more work for your business. If you do price yourself down once, the client will remember and you will always be pegged downwards. If done even once, your business by definition, can never grow.

hope that helps
sf2k