Programming Project Rates

[RudeBoie]

I've been asked to submit a quote for a project that involves migrating data to and creating schema for a databse in a sql server, creating a web frontend, and writing the glue that connects the two together. A robust security mechanism will need to be written to accommodate what user will view what information -- an ACL of sorts. A ticketing/issue system (a la bugzilla) will need to be incorporated into the overall design. I will be using Perl and PostgreSQL.

I have previous programming experience working as a student programmer and system administrator at the university level. However, I haven't done anything on an individual contract basis yet. What kind of rates should I be asking for? I'm thinking of at least 3 thousand, but I'm just not sure what's considered fair right now.

I can give more detail if that helps. 🙂

 

[boggsie]

Originally posted by: RudeBoie
I've been asked to submit a quote for a project that involves migrating data to and creating schema for a databse in a sql server, creating a web frontend, and writing the glue that connects the two together. A robust security mechanism will need to be written to accommodate what user will view what information -- an ACL of sorts. A ticketing/issue system (a la bugzilla) will need to be incorporated into the overall design. I will be using Perl and PostgreSQL.

I have previous programming experience working as a student programmer and system administrator at the university level. However, I haven't done anything on an individual contract basis yet. What kind of rates should I be asking for? I'm thinking of at least 3 thousand, but I'm just not sure what's considered fair right now.

I can give more detail if that helps. 🙂

A couple on angles ...

If you are going 1099 route, $3000 will probably net you around $1900 after SSI, Fed, State & Local

How long (effort, not duration) you think this will take you?

100 hours = $30/hr, but again, $30/hr gross on a 1900 nets you 'about' $18/hr after all your tax

 

[RudeBoie]

I will be going the 1099 route and it seems that I forgot about taxes and SSI. I'm going to have to factor those into the equation as well. It'll definitely take more than 100 hours to complete and I would like to make it worth my while though....

I'm giving them a quote on the project rather than on an hourly basis. Since this is my first time on a contract basis, I'm not too familiar with the price I can charge relative to me perl experience -- 2 years perl and 3 years SQL (Oracle/PostgreSQL/MySQL). How would I go about calculating an accurate quote?

 

[boggsie]

Originally posted by: RudeBoie
I will be going the 1099 route and it seems that I forgot about taxes and SSI. I'm going to have to factor those into the equation as well. It'll definitely take more than 100 hours to complete and I would like to make it worth my while though....

I'm giving them a quote on the project rather than on an hourly basis. Since this is my first time on a contract basis, I'm not too familiar with the price I can charge relative to me perl experience -- 2 years perl and 3 years SQL (Oracle/PostgreSQL/MySQL). How would I go about calculating an accurate quote?

Well, the thing about T&M contracts, is that they pay you for the hours that you work. If they want to go by deliverable, then they should expect to pay a little bit more up front, because you are assuming the risk if you come across something you didn't expect.

Where do you live? I ask, because that will factor into the rate. I know rates for my geographic region, but I could suggest a rate and if you live in NYC or the bay area, you'd be low-balling yourself.

 

[traxus]

I was posting under my friends login but since he isn't around I can't post a reply.

I live in the SF Bay Area.

I've been reading that the going rate is $40-50 / hr. However, I would need to calculate how much effort I will be putting into the project and multiply that against the rate to get a reasonable quote. Would you recommend doing that?

Thanks again for your advice Boogsie.

 

[boggsie]

Originally posted by: traxus
I was posting under my friends login but since he isn't around I can't post a reply.

I live in the SF Bay Area.

I've been reading that the going rate is $40-50 / hr. However, I would need to calculate how much effort I will be putting into the project and multiply that against the rate to get a reasonable quote. Would you recommend doing that?

Thanks again for your advice Boogsie.

_THAT_ is a TOUGH area for this kind of question. I say so, because there are so many highly-skilled H1's (H1 work-visa folks) who are willing to live seven or eight to a house and work for lower rates.

$50/hr sounds really low for that area, but if that is what the going rate is, you're going to have to settle for it, I would imagine.

I would recommend rate * estimated hours of effort plus contingency (10 to 25 %).