5 ms·

It varies by client and job. 12+ years on my own mostly doing asp.net web stack stuff, SQL Server etc. Mobile with Xamarin quite a bit now. Rate between 125 an

It varies by client and job. 12+ years on my own mostly doing asp.net web stack stuff, SQL Server etc. Mobile with Xamarin quite a bit now. Rate between 125 and 195 depending on various terms. Also more interesting, I have been able to convert nearly all my projects to a retainer based - pay ahead - model. Usually in 100 hour blocks. In Louisville KY and most of my clients are elsewhere. 5-7 years ago the expectation was largely on-site. Now 100% remote save the occasional meeting.

tocomment 13y ago
That's really cool. Can you explain the retainer thing a bit more?
- keithwarren 13y ago
  In 12 years I have had 3 clients go bankrupt on me and as a contractor you are simply an unsecured creditor. Good luck getting anything. I explored invoice factoring but the companies who do that want 3-5% which over the years is quite a lot of money. I also learned that the net payment terms on my contracts with clients were as meaningful as toilet paper. Getting paid in 30 days was surprising, 60-90 was more the norm. Ultimately I just started changing the terms with new clients - telling them that we could work on a typical net 30 arrangement at a top tier rate or I would give them a discount to buy hours ahead of time in 100 hour blocks and I would burn down against this. Most heard 'discount' and nothing else mattered. It is difficult to change a client to this model but if you can start a relationship from this perspective things get much easier.
  - DanBC 13y ago
    > Getting paid in 30 days was surprising, 60-90 was more the norm. I've seen this before on HN. It's frustrating that it still happens. Obviously, if they can delay paying you to 60 or 90 days (but still get paid themselves at 30 days) they make money, but it's sleazy. Perhaps people should start naming and shaming companies who do that? Luckily, the EU has law about this. (http://www.wragge.com/analysis_7177.asp#.UaFeT9LryDE http://www.wragge.com/analysis_7177.asp#.UaFeT9LryDE)
    - jacques_chester 13y ago
      Slow-paying clients are pretty much a universal constant of business. I have the good fortune to be billing a large bureaucracy with weekly payment cycle, so they do in fact pay within 30 days. All I had to do was spend 2 months on paperwork and a thousand bucks on insurance :) For small businesses, putting off payments to suppliers can be the difference between making payroll and going bankrupt. You can hardly blame them. I make a point to pay as soon as possible, on the theory that this will improve the service I'm getting from other professionals ("Let's do Jacques's file first, he always pays promptly and we need the cash").
      - USNetizen 13y ago
        That's a benefit of working with the government, too - the payments are predictable. Also, the 60 to 90 day payments are typical for companies that like to keep things "lean" ... they want to generate revenue before they pay. Dell was known for this with their hardware purchasing - they would maintain a negative cash conversion cycle because they could sell a computer before its components were even paid for.
    - logn 13y ago
      I wouldn't name and shame them. Then any company seeing you do that would be fearful if they're late on a payment they'll be embarrassed publicly. If they pay you in 90 days I don't think it's too sleazy. My condo board used to prioritize bills by late fees (or lack thereof). Just the way it is.
      - mkmkmmmmm 13y ago
        Yeah, I would include late fees in a contract. But delaying 90 days is sleazy.
jacques_chester 13y ago
I've done prepaid hours. It's good for cashflow and gives a lot of safety. And I greatly dislike it. For some reason I don't understand, I am bugged by having to work down hours rather than simply work hours.
- chc 13y ago
  I'm guessing you're the sort of person who doesn't like debt in general. Because that essentially what it is: a debt that you can't immediately repay.
  - jacques_chester 13y ago
    Correct, it's technically a liability on my balance sheet.
colemorrison 13y ago
Keith - off topic - I'm in Louisville KY as well. I'd love to get in contact with you (fellow developer/designer).
- powersurge360 13y ago
  Hey! I am a developer based in Louisville, Ky as well. I don't know what sort of things you develop/design for, but we have this thing called build guild that a lot of us attend each month. It's mostly for web, but there's been a handful of mobile guys there as well. You just missed it this month (it was this last Tuesday), but maybe you'll consider coming next month? I hope so! http://louisville.buildguild.org http://louisville.buildguild.org

tocomment 13y ago

That's really cool. Can you explain the retainer thing a bit more?

keithwarren 13y ago
In 12 years I have had 3 clients go bankrupt on me and as a contractor you are simply an unsecured creditor. Good luck getting anything. I explored invoice factoring but the companies who do that want 3-5% which over the years is quite a lot of money. I also learned that the net payment terms on my contracts with clients were as meaningful as toilet paper. Getting paid in 30 days was surprising, 60-90 was more the norm. Ultimately I just started changing the terms with new clients - telling them that we could work on a typical net 30 arrangement at a top tier rate or I would give them a discount to buy hours ahead of time in 100 hour blocks and I would burn down against this. Most heard 'discount' and nothing else mattered. It is difficult to change a client to this model but if you can start a relationship from this perspective things get much easier.
- DanBC 13y ago
  > Getting paid in 30 days was surprising, 60-90 was more the norm. I've seen this before on HN. It's frustrating that it still happens. Obviously, if they can delay paying you to 60 or 90 days (but still get paid themselves at 30 days) they make money, but it's sleazy. Perhaps people should start naming and shaming companies who do that? Luckily, the EU has law about this. (http://www.wragge.com/analysis_7177.asp#.UaFeT9LryDE http://www.wragge.com/analysis_7177.asp#.UaFeT9LryDE)
  - jacques_chester 13y ago
    Slow-paying clients are pretty much a universal constant of business. I have the good fortune to be billing a large bureaucracy with weekly payment cycle, so they do in fact pay within 30 days. All I had to do was spend 2 months on paperwork and a thousand bucks on insurance :) For small businesses, putting off payments to suppliers can be the difference between making payroll and going bankrupt. You can hardly blame them. I make a point to pay as soon as possible, on the theory that this will improve the service I'm getting from other professionals ("Let's do Jacques's file first, he always pays promptly and we need the cash").
    - USNetizen 13y ago
      That's a benefit of working with the government, too - the payments are predictable. Also, the 60 to 90 day payments are typical for companies that like to keep things "lean" ... they want to generate revenue before they pay. Dell was known for this with their hardware purchasing - they would maintain a negative cash conversion cycle because they could sell a computer before its components were even paid for.
  - logn 13y ago
    I wouldn't name and shame them. Then any company seeing you do that would be fearful if they're late on a payment they'll be embarrassed publicly. If they pay you in 90 days I don't think it's too sleazy. My condo board used to prioritize bills by late fees (or lack thereof). Just the way it is.
    - mkmkmmmmm 13y ago
      Yeah, I would include late fees in a contract. But delaying 90 days is sleazy.

jacques_chester 13y ago

I've done prepaid hours. It's good for cashflow and gives a lot of safety. And I greatly dislike it. For some reason I don't understand, I am bugged by having to work down hours rather than simply work hours.

chc 13y ago
I'm guessing you're the sort of person who doesn't like debt in general. Because that essentially what it is: a debt that you can't immediately repay.
- jacques_chester 13y ago
  Correct, it's technically a liability on my balance sheet.

colemorrison 13y ago

Keith - off topic - I'm in Louisville KY as well. I'd love to get in contact with you (fellow developer/designer).

powersurge360 13y ago
Hey! I am a developer based in Louisville, Ky as well. I don't know what sort of things you develop/design for, but we have this thing called build guild that a lot of us attend each month. It's mostly for web, but there's been a handful of mobile guys there as well. You just missed it this month (it was this last Tuesday), but maybe you'll consider coming next month? I hope so! http://louisville.buildguild.org http://louisville.buildguild.org