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It's incredibly important to have a clearly defined scope prior to entertaining fixed pricing. If expectations are not established with the client, they will ma

It's incredibly important to have a clearly defined scope prior to entertaining fixed pricing. If expectations are not established with the client, they will make assumptions and they won't be in your favor.

CuriousCosmic 3y ago
Also have pre-established policy for revisions. Like 2 minor revisions included in the cost but then have further revisions priced by how complex they are.
- PaulWaldman 3y ago
  It's best to shy away from explicitly including things like "2 minor revisions". Who determines if the change is minor or not? The client will always assume minimal effort is required. If the change is in fact minor, then just implement it. If the change is significant, then provide a price for its implementation. Specifying that minor revisions are included in the agreement provides too much ambiguity.
- swader999 3y ago
  Then your interacting with your client in a rigid contractual way instead of a collaborative creative nature. Not nearly as fun and you spend a lot of time being very careful with your written words and your sign offs.
Goronmon 3y ago
If expectations are not established with the client, they will make assumptions and they won't be in your favor. I think you can shorten this statement even more. Clients will make assumptions and they won't be in your favor. The goal is to limit those as much as possible, but they'll still happen. "Fixed price" is largely not fixed anyways, as you should always account for change requests and other budget altering mechanisms. I don't think I've ever seen a non-trivial project not have some level of change once work has started.
- PaulWaldman 3y ago
  >The goal is to limit those as much as possible, but they'll still happen. "Fixed price" is largely not fixed anyways, as you should always account for change requests and other budget altering mechanisms. I don't think I've ever seen a non-trivial project not have some level of change once work has started. These need to be handled as separate change orders. Following the model, price the scope changes appropriately based on clearly defined requirements. This part takes some finesse. Many clients may not realize how they can achieve their goals in the most cost-effective manner.
tonyedgecombe 3y ago
In my experience the more they push you to do fixed price work the more wary you should be.

CuriousCosmic 3y ago

Also have pre-established policy for revisions. Like 2 minor revisions included in the cost but then have further revisions priced by how complex they are.

PaulWaldman 3y ago
It's best to shy away from explicitly including things like "2 minor revisions". Who determines if the change is minor or not? The client will always assume minimal effort is required. If the change is in fact minor, then just implement it. If the change is significant, then provide a price for its implementation. Specifying that minor revisions are included in the agreement provides too much ambiguity.
swader999 3y ago
Then your interacting with your client in a rigid contractual way instead of a collaborative creative nature. Not nearly as fun and you spend a lot of time being very careful with your written words and your sign offs.

Goronmon 3y ago

If expectations are not established with the client, they will make assumptions and they won't be in your favor. I think you can shorten this statement even more. Clients will make assumptions and they won't be in your favor. The goal is to limit those as much as possible, but they'll still happen. "Fixed price" is largely not fixed anyways, as you should always account for change requests and other budget altering mechanisms. I don't think I've ever seen a non-trivial project not have some level of change once work has started.

PaulWaldman 3y ago
>The goal is to limit those as much as possible, but they'll still happen. "Fixed price" is largely not fixed anyways, as you should always account for change requests and other budget altering mechanisms. I don't think I've ever seen a non-trivial project not have some level of change once work has started. These need to be handled as separate change orders. Following the model, price the scope changes appropriately based on clearly defined requirements. This part takes some finesse. Many clients may not realize how they can achieve their goals in the most cost-effective manner.

tonyedgecombe 3y ago

In my experience the more they push you to do fixed price work the more wary you should be.