Yeah, flat rate is a minefield. You need to have an ironclad scope in the contract, and anything outside of that costs the client extra and is processed through formal change orders. It's a significant administrative burden.

I also don't provide free estimates for anything significant. In a lot of cases the potential client doesn't even know what they don't know, so an estimate lets them know what they should be thinking about - that has real value to them. Sometimes I'll frame it as a "technical evaluation" or defining "terms of reference" but in any case they are aware such work is chargeable at my rate. It's unpleasant when you provide a free detailed estimate, and then the client uses that as the basis for an RFP and someone else gets the work.

>That sounds right to me too. One thing that I've learned to try to avoid is the 'flat rate' mess. Last time I did that I told the client it would cost them $2,000 to do what they were asking. Of course by the time I was done I probably make like $15 an hour off it. The infamous 'scope creep' kept happening and I didn't have a very good contract drawn up and ....well you see what happened lol.
>
>
>>It all depends on the many factors; one of them is a confidence. Let me present another example. From the world of tennis.
>>Most tennis coaches of recreational players charge from $50 to $100 per hr. A lot of them, IMHO, are not worth it. They may have been good players but do not know how to teach. And yet I know a coach who charges from $200 to $300 per hour for his lessons. He is confident that what he offers is 2-3 times better than other coaches. In his opinion, I guess, the student learns more in 1 hour than if they take 3 lessons from a "cheap" coach.
>>What I am trying to say is that you may want to show them (or convince them) that you can deliver 2-3 times more from your work than someone who charges $35.
>>
>>>Hello Dmitry,
>>>
>>>So far I've never seen a director that evaluated precisely how many hours it would take to complete an assigment.
>>>
>>>During development there are always surprises ;-)
>>>
>>>I understand what you mean with doubling what I will be asking for. That would be logic if I got around 35$ in the past. But hardly justifiable if it was 50$ per hour for example.
>>>
>>>Regards
>>>
>>>
>>>>Hi Denis,
>>>>
>>>>Many people here gave you a good advice. My input is as follows:
>>>>Whatever number you have in mind, double it. Then start negotiating from the higher number.
>>>>Another thing to keep in mind is, if you will be paid 40 hours a week regardless of what you do. Or they will give you an assignment and tell you how many hours. This makes a difference since often time (at least in my case), you may spend more hours on a "project/assignment" than they pay you. You have to account for it.
>>>>HTH.
>>>>
>>>>>Hello all,
>>>>>
>>>>>I've ben offered a consultant job with VFP.
>>>>>
>>>>>Considering that the demand is much higher than the offer how much per hour am I worth?
>>>>>
>>>>>Also considering that I used to work there for almost 2 years, so training should be minimal.
>>>>>
>>>>>I have a number in my head but I'd like to have your feedback.
>>>>>
>>>>>Regards