Hi Dennis,
>Please be patient with my newbie questions because I'm completely unfamiliar with contracting.
>
>What hourly rate range would be typical for a company to pay a high quality VPF contractor?
In your area I think you can count on $75-$125 an hour. A lot of that depends on the nature of the work and length of contract.
>What other costs would the company typically pay (e.g. travel, lodging, etc.) for out-of-town contractors?
Generally, travel and lodging. Travel time is usually billed as well. Meals are negotiable, a per-diem is usually reasonable.
>What methods are most effective for finding high quality contractors?
VFUG (
www.vfug.org) has a job bank; here on the UT are classifieds with "Available" listings. Heck, you can always look at those listed here as small business owners or independents and send them email.
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John Koziol, ex-MVP, ex-MS, ex-FoxTeam. Just call me "X"
"When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro" - Hunter Thompson (Gonzo) RIP 2/19/05