How much for php-mysql programs

[Rowboat]

Do web designers do php database type stuff? The application is kinda out there so I've not seen an off shelf solution. How much does a php programmer usually charge?

 

[troytime]

depends on the project
anywhere from $95/hour to $195 for me

 

[Rowboat]

Wow thats cool, how do you keep up with it? Do you time out each hour or just estimate? Do you use software?

Edit: I mean software to track time

 

[Hyperblaze]

Web Designers can do web development, but not always necessaryily the case.

For example, I'm decent at Web Design (look and feel), but my strength lies more in the development of the application (functionality)

Web Developers vary in their price range. Depending on quality of product and skill level, as well as speed.

What we tend to do is quote how much time we believe we'll take in order to accomplish the tasks given out in order to achieve the functionality requested by the client (in this case, you)

Quoting is a dangerous game. If we underquote, we lose money, if we overquote, we get more money. But client always needs to agree to the quote for it to work too.

I built my own project planner (in order to keep track of time)

 

[troytime]

Originally posted by: Hyperblaze
Web Designers can do web development, but not always necessaryily the case.

For example, I'm decent at Web Design (look and feel), but my strength lies more in the development of the application (functionality)

Web Developers vary in their price range. Depending on quality of product and skill level, as well as speed.

What we tend to do is quote how much time we believe we'll take in order to accomplish the tasks given out in order to achieve the functionality requested by the client (in this case, you)

Quoting is a dangerous game. If we underquote, we lose money, if we overquote, we get more money. But client always needs to agree to the quote for it to work too.

I built my own project planner (in order to keep track of time)

well said.
I can design, but i'm not very efficient at it. I usually end up frustrated, past deadline, and with a design that resembles some other site due to a weird psychological blunder.

I'm a really efficient developer. I can bang out quality php/mysql projects at a really good pace. I can take a design and a set of content and have an html buildout done within a couple hours.

Underquoting sucks...especially when there's a contract that has a set price rather than a contract that allows adjustments.
I've eaten thousands of dollars worth of underquoted work (usually the result of miscommunication)

 

[drebo]

Originally posted by: troytime
I've eaten thousands of dollars worth of underquoted work (usually the result of miscommunication)

I rewrote a project three times once due to miscommunications.

First it was "we don't have access to anything but ASP/Access so build it in that".

Then it was "we lied, we have PHP too, build it in that".

Then it was "oops, we want to put it on our ColdFusion server, build it in that".

So I did. Thankfully, I overbid the contract initially, but it still pissed me off. However, I don't think they ever ended up actually using it.

For smaller projects, I typically bill by the hour. My rate is $120/hr. For larger projects, I'll estimate a time and we'll agree to that amount.

 

[Hyperblaze]

Originally posted by: drebo

Originally posted by: troytime
I've eaten thousands of dollars worth of underquoted work (usually the result of miscommunication)

I rewrote a project three times once due to miscommunications.

First it was "we don't have access to anything but ASP/Access so build it in that".

Then it was "we lied, we have PHP too, build it in that".

Then it was "oops, we want to put it on our ColdFusion server, build it in that".

So I did. Thankfully, I overbid the contract initially, but it still pissed me off. However, I don't think they ever ended up actually using it.

For smaller projects, I typically bill by the hour. My rate is $120/hr. For larger projects, I'll estimate a time and we'll agree to that amount.

This is why you need a written down contract stating exactly what you plan on doing.

If they say "oh, change this to that because we want this now!", charge them for "out-of-scope" items.

Make them pay for changes which are not your fault.

You have better things to do then rewrite code that is is caused by their management or decision process.

 

[drebo]

It was a contract with a local government, otherwise I would have billed them extra.

We wanted "in" with them, so my superiors made me bend over sideways. Oh well.

 

[KLin]

Originally posted by: drebo
It was a contract with a local government, otherwise I would have billed them extra.

We wanted "in" with them, so my superiors made me bend over sideways. Oh well.

They'll probably do the same thing for any future projects though. 😉