> similar clients have paid $x-(x+20%) That's key. A small business like his is probably not all over the place, they must be hired for a limited categories of

> similar clients have paid $x-(x+20%) That's key. A small business like his is probably not all over the place, they must be hired for a limited categories of problems. After 12+ years doing it, the author should be able to ballpark something within a set of assumptions that will be confirmed during the discovery phase. I have seen companies with vastly different price point. There is a huge difference hiring a company that charge $2000/manday vs one that charge $200. ( not to say that you don't get your money worth with the $2000 guys but you don't need the Apple vs Samsung lawyers to represent you against the plumber that fucked up your office kitchen tiles when fixing the sink )