Bonnie:

Cool!!
NP on the late reply ... we're even? :o)

Mal

P.S. Have a Happy New Year.


>Hi Mal,
>
>Now it's my turn to apologize for the late reply < g >.
>
>I have it relatively easy in marketing my product. It's an interface to a specific brand of cash register, so I've simply obtained a list of dealers nationwide from the corporate office, and I now have a list of companies to contact. I have tried the mailings and faxes, but IMHO they don't work well (at they didn't for me) ... what seemed to work best was persistent phone calls.
>
>Another tactic is to hire a marketing guy on a commission basis (if you're anything like me, you're not a marketing guy ... you like to write software, not try to sell something ... we're geeks, after all < g >) That didn't work well for me, cuz I hired an idiot (he worked for me for 9 months and got me only 3 sales ... I had to fire him), but if you hire a good guy it'll help if you don't personally have the time to devote to a million phone calls < g >.
>
>~Bonnie
>
>>Hi Bonnie :o)
>>Sorry for the late reply, I was not able to check UT till tonight.
>>Like Stephen, you're reselling something you've created.
>>That's what I want to do - would like to do.
>>
>>In Honolulu??? Hey, that makes you competition ... no? :o)
>>
>>How are you getting the word out regardig you product?
>>
>>Regards,
>>
>>Mal
>>
>>>Hi Mal,
>>>
>>>Yep, all you have to do is find the right niche and vertical market software is not a bad business to be in. That's basically how I got started in this business too ... I wrote some cash register interface software back in '91, I worked for practically nothing to develop it, but now I've been selling it nationwide ever since (not a big moneymaker at the moment, but it's not bad). In fact, one of my customers is a cash register dealer there in Honolulu <g>
>>>
>>>~Bonnie
>>>
>>>>Steve:
>>>>
>>>>Resale, eh? Never thought of that: good idea.
>>>>So, you charge less than you would hourly and reserve the right to resell the software. It that it? I Love It!!! Something for me to think about.
>>>>
>>>>Let me know when you're web site is up, k :o)
>>>>
>>>>Mal
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>>>Bob/Steve:
>>>>>>
>>>>>>Though things cost a lot more in Hawaii,than in most other states. I have not heard of custom programming costing more than $95/hr. That's a fee that you can charge if you have the customers some what "cornered" ... i.e. You sell them SBT, than you say "if you need customization, the fee is $95/hr".
>>>>>>
>>>>>>It could be becuase I'm not in the "main stream" professional programmer business that I haven't heard of $100/hr plus rates. I'm just getting started in this an can't bring myself to charge that much - not enough confidence, I guess. Am also very happy to get a programming job - love doing it.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>I would love to make a living from programming. It is a very exciting career. Presently, I get jobs from "word of mouth" - could be because I'm not expensive. I seem to be getting more and more jobs, however, sometimes I sit and think that I'd make more money working at McDonald's if they let me put in all the overtime I wanted. The reason I'm looking into a Framework is becuase I'd like to finish jobs faster.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>I'm looking to become a professional like you guys(& gals <s>). I'm also looking forward to a day when an attorney calls me and I tell him "I charge $200/hr. but you get the first hour of consultation free" :o)
>>>>>>
>>>>>>I will be studing the frameworks carefully.
>>>>>>
>>>>>>Thanks for you advice(s).
>>>>>>
>>>>>>Mal
>>>>>
>>>>>As your name goes out, and the new people call you, you have to do a "advertsing survey" How did you hear about me?....
>>>>>
>>>>>If you are selling SBT then getting 100 / to make it fit a business is SOP around here in Memphis. Other places are trying geting it and if the going rate is 95, then so be it! I won't lose 95 over 5 that's stupid over the long run.
>>>>>
>>>>>When someone wants you to do a job for them and it's not off the self software then you have to figure out what it is worth. To your client as well as to his competition.
>>>>>
>>>>>I am doing a Repo Man app these nights, as well as a Car Title Loan app.
>>>>>
>>>>>Not off the self software. So I see resale in these apps? yes. So I exploit that in my initial pricing, sure. I'm going for 1500 each and I will lose my shirt on both vs the seed money. But over the next 5 years I will have more assets in the till to resell. Will I use the Web for my repo man app? Yep!
>>>>>
>>>>>I am a one man business, and I have to figure that R&D on some of these new verticals will pay off. I have a "Used Car" one today and I get a call a month for a new install. That nightmare started out just about 10 years ago.
>>>>>
>>>>>__Stephen