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Posted by Shelly on 11/29/06 00:49
"Krustov" <me@privacy.net> wrote in message
news:MPG.1fd6bcf896c0787198a241@news.newsreader.com...
> <comp.lang.php>
> <>
> <27 Nov 2006 17:17:50 -0800>
> <1164676670.203859.35720@f16g2000cwb.googlegroups.com>
>
>> Our development team has been offered a project that's far bigger than
>> anything we've done previously.
>>
>> The client wants time estimates and quotes, but has only provided a
>> fairly brief outline of requirements.
>>
>
> Thats a bit like walking into a car showroom and asking how much a car
> is without actually saying what model your interested in .
>
> Unless they are willing to give you accurate details of what they do or
> dont want - then walk away - for that sort of client is often more
> trouble than they are worth .
I agree. Did you ever see "Johnny Dangerously"? Well, I was caught in that
trap once. ONCE!
The worst thing you can do is to promise them delivery on a poorly designed
spec. They will come back later with "Oh, that was supposed to be in Phase
I, not Phase II". You won't have anything in writing and so you will either
have to eat it or fight to get paid for Phase I.
The project that taught me this lesson was my first with PHP. My son sold
it very cheaply. I figured that it would take a certain amount of time and
I would wind up getting paid about $10 and hour -- but it was a learning
experience so that was OK. Normally, I would get between $40 and $60.
Well, it kept growing and growing and growing because we didn't have that
spec well defined. In the end I wound up working for $2 an hour. Of
course, that led to contracts where I started getting $60 an hour, but the
lesson was learned about clearly defining the requirements UP FRONT!
The temptation to snag the big one is great. So, I would recommend to
either demand definite requirements so that you can price it properly OR
either walk away or YOU define the requirements and overbid it somewhat. If
they buy into your statement of work in your proposal, you can always say
that this new requirement that they just foisted upon you is "out of spec"
and requires and additional fee of $X. Get it in WRITING!
One more thing, get a significant percentage up front. I try for half, but
will take as low as a quarter for a large contract.
Shelly
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