I usually break it down into data objects (tables but sometimes more). You usually need create, edit, delete forms for each data object, then you need display screens. Depending on your development method (I'm a fusebox nut) I usually recommend 3 days for each data object.
This covers any weird shit that happens with the client and gives you a breather as some objects will be quicker to implement than others. Also identify all actions you expect to have to perform on an object and increase cost appropriately. I would strongly suggest that you exclude requirements/design from your fixed costing. You will get very badly burnt otherwise. You need to know what you will be delivering before you commit to a fixed price. Agree with them that you will do the requirements analysis and design at cost. Implementation will then be at a fixed price. It also means if you have to deal with a new concept (say file management) you can price on a learning curve for yourself. You will get it wrong first time round or at least it will take you longer to be confident about what you have done. Adam > -----Original Message----- > From: Michael Kear [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] > Sent: 06 January 2003 12:19 > To: CF-Talk > Subject: How do you estimate development time? > > > I have a question that probably gnaws at most development houses at some > stage - what is the process you use to estimate the number of hours > you're going to need to complete a project? > > > Do you use a method that boils down to "we had a similar job to that > last month and that took us 55 hours and this job has that extra tricky > bit so it'll probably take us 58 hours" or are you more scientific than > that? > > > I have to change my methodology for billing my major client from a > hours-worked basis to a job-by-job basis which means I'm going to have > to be more accurate in estimating how much a job is going to cost me. > > > Cheers, > Michael Kear > Windsor, NSW, Australia > AFP Webworks. > > > > > > > > > ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~| Archives: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/index.cfm?forumid=4 Subscription: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/index.cfm?method=subscribe&forumid=4 FAQ: http://www.thenetprofits.co.uk/coldfusion/faq Signup for the Fusion Authority news alert and keep up with the latest news in ColdFusion and related topics. http://www.fusionauthority.com/signup.cfm Unsubscribe: http://www.houseoffusion.com/cf_lists/unsubscribe.cfm?user=89.70.4
