I am in almost this exact scenario (client with two sites, about the same number of users, but remote site is a little bigger). I charge by the hour and have a scheduled time onsite each week.
1x = scheduled onsite time, or extra time onsite that I can plan in advance 1.5x = emergency onsite (server down, or an alert requiring me to go onsite ASAP) .75x = work done remotely (usually patching, user account maintenance, etc.) I also have a %dayjob%, and my client knows this - as does %dayjob%, so if this client has an emergency they know I might need to use PTO to run off. As an aside, I am at my fourth different %dayjob% since having this side job and each one has been totally cool with this arrangement. I have also worked in a standard monthly fee as I am their 24x7x365 support (they are 8x5 but I have monitoring for their stuff 24x7) so this fee is their cost for me checking helpdesk tickets and monitoring their gear during off hours. There are things here and there I do on their network that I don't charge for - typically learning something new and perfecting it, then billing for just how much time it would take for me to implement it without including the learning time. Dave From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of J- P Sent: Wednesday, May 14, 2014 5:05 PM To: [email protected] Subject: RE: OT: RE: [Exchange] RE: Labor rate for 2003-2010 migration While on the subject, How do most go about charging when a company wants to contract you as their "IT dept" do you charge by users or devices? Also do you charge any different if there are multiple sites? case in point, client has 60 FT employees Remote site 3 users and 2008 server (for DFSR) Main site; 5 physical servers 4 virtual virtual among them; EX2013 Citrix RDWeb/2X WSS SUS 3CX VOIP File server/DFSR Print OSX Server Servers, range from 2003 to 2012 45 desktops 10 MACs and pretty much everyone has a tablet and or laptop of some sort This is for mon-fri 9x5 support only ( Projects , emergencies, weekends not included) Jean-Paul Natola _____ From: [email protected] Date: Wed, 14 May 2014 09:26:39 -0400 Subject: Re: OT: RE: [Exchange] RE: Labor rate for 2003-2010 migration To: [email protected] I definitely agree with the points MBS has made. You have to be customer-focused, and you need at least one good customer that you can rely upon -- both for work and for payment of said work. I've done consulting on and off for years, sometimes as extra income, and sometimes in between jobs. For the past two years, it has been 100% full time, and I cannot envision going back. :) Broad experience can be helpful, but consulting incorporates all elements of the work (sales, marketing, accounting, etc), so be prepared to do these as well. Don't chase every job, but if you do, make sure you do it well. A bad reputation kills. ASB <http://xeeme.com/AndrewBaker> http://XeeMe.com/AndrewBaker Providing Virtual CIO Services (IT Operations & Information Security) for the SMB market. On Tue, May 13, 2014 at 11:04 PM, Michael B. Smith <[email protected]> wrote: Eh.. We used to have a consulting DL. This is OT for this DL. So I tagged it in the subject. J I started out working as a consultant - then spent over 18 years in the corporate world - and then have been back consulting for the last 15 years. I have about 150 customers. Usually I can schedule things between them all pretty easily. But I have explained to everyone that "emergencies win". It's been fine in the last 15 years (except when, 2 years ago, I had to check out for about 3 months when my Dad was very very sick - I lost 3 customers during that timeframe - but family always wins with me). The best thing I can suggest to you is to have at least one large customer lined up. And don't kid yourself - if you are not customer-service oriented, don't do it. From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of ccollins9 Sent: Tuesday, May 13, 2014 10:38 PM To: exchange Subject: Re: [Exchange] RE: Labor rate for 2003-2010 migration I currently work for "the man" but often ruminate on going independent. Do any of you have some good resources I could check out for prepping for a transition like this? I'm the "i don't know where to start" guy. In all of the places I have worked, I quickly rise to the top of the heap and become the primary tech on all major assignments, designs and projects. I've only worked in small places (less than 1,000 users) and sometimes wonder if I would be stretched too thin if doing independent work. Thanks! On Tue, May 13, 2014 at 7:44 PM, Adam Farage <[email protected]> wrote: Depends.. I never dealt with reselling hardware, so most orgs are only paying me for exchange services, not hardware / software (as you need a COS for that in NY, and I'm not touching that with a million mile pole). Adam F _____ From: J- P <mailto:[email protected]> Sent: 5/13/2014 7:39 PM To: [email protected] Subject: RE: [Exchange] RE: Labor rate for 2003-2010 migration " If you have no paperwork, getting your $$$ is not an easy task" :) Not really, don't give them the product key - once activation expires you'll get paid LOL Jean-Paul Natola _____ To: [email protected] From: [email protected] Subject: RE: [Exchange] RE: Labor rate for 2003-2010 migration Date: Tue, 13 May 2014 18:36:47 -0400 I agree with Mike.. I have worked at a few large companies as an exchange guy, and the first thing prior to any work is done would be a statement of work, and a scope RFS to outline the amount of time / hourly or flat rate you are going to charge.. I took this same practice when I did independent consulting.. If you have no paperwork, getting your $$$ is not an easy task My rate was about 150-200 /hr + travel expenses. Adam F _____ From: Michael B. Smith <mailto:[email protected]> Sent: 5/13/2014 5:48 PM To: [email protected] Subject: [Exchange] RE: Labor rate for 2003-2010 migration You did a migration without having a contract FIRST? Ay yi yi. I charge more if I go onsite vs. being able to work from my office. I charge even more if T&E aren't included. For my local area, I'm VERY expensive. But companies pay it, because I generally get it right the first time. J As an international consultant, I'm pretty inexpensive. The methodology I learned when I first started consulting (in the 1980's) was "butt-leaves-chair - clock starts". Then "butt-returns-to-chair - clock ends". For the most part, I still follow that philosophy. It's all about the value you provide. From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Kelsey, John Sent: Tuesday, May 13, 2014 3:17 PM To: '[email protected]' Subject: [Exchange] Labor rate for 2003-2010 migration Recently did an email migration for a fairly small shop (about 200 users) from Exchange 2003 up to 2010. Not really sure what/how to charge them. I was thinking of doing a flat rate charge since I didn't think it was fair to charge them an hourly rate while I figured some of the stuff out. They've basically said to send them the bill but I'm not sure what a fair price is. How much should the local market play in determining the price? There isn't anyone in our area that they could find to do the upgrade. 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