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Bill your clients for estimates and still give ranges. The more they want to dial in those ranges, the more billable time you spend estimating. "How long will i
by thomk 9y ago
Bill your clients for estimates and still give ranges. The more they want to dial in those ranges, the more billable time you spend estimating. "How long will it take to estimate" is a question you should be able to answer because you will control the deliverable in this case. Also, if you spend time with them asking questions and helping them discover the complexity of their request, they will soon see the benefit of this process.
Alternatively what I'll do is point out that their request is simply incomplete and I can help them create a better request, which I will then estimate (it's all still billable though).
- redler 9y agoIt's critical to position yourself (or your company) to be able to bill for discovery (a separate project, or at least a day-rate engagement). You're a consultant working with the client to figure out what the project actually is. Amazingly, the client often doesn't really know, as can become apparent during that first gathering around a whiteboard. And if they don't know, you're well on your way to a "now that I see what you've done, it's not really what we had in mind" moment.
- rboyd 9y agoGreat point. Also worthwhile is to consider the overall likelihood of success for projects you take on (and what it implies for future work, quality of life while working with the client, etc). I wasted a lot of time early in my career on projects that I knew were doomed just because someone agreed to pay my rate.