I work in NYC and charge a sliding scale rate. And while every client is unique and has special circumstances, there is a limit to how low I will go. If youre going to someone's dirty, dusty house, futzing with cables, organizing their life, listening to their tech problems, identifying solutions and making things work - there is no way Im charging less than $60 per hour and its usually $80 for the first hour. People expect it will cost money to get a technician in their home - so its no surprise to them. I always say if its gonna go over 2 hours, I usually know right away and we can work something out... Almost always they are fine with this straight-forward, yet open-ended approach. They want it to work and they want to have a good experience with you...
This rarely happens, but if I cant fix the problem in a fair amount of time I dont charge or refer them to someone else.
Id say 80% of my business is interpersonal/ hand-holding - People want to know someone is listening to their needs and giving them great value. Of course you have to deliver on the tech end and thankfully that usually happens.
so - about the rate... occasionally a friend throws me clients (for which I make $45 an hour). but here there's a real danger of feeling like a cheap whore - This is a tough business to navigate - you have to really work around a ton of different personalities and keep your eye on the ball - real hustling skills are involved - while I know its not "rocket science" as someone posted (and there's a shitload I dont know!) I usually have to have a reason - either to help him out or learn a new trick or something to go below $60 and feel good about myself and my work...
If I was in a smaller city or in the country, I know Id probably feel differently about the rate, but Ive heard a ton of horror stories about terrible tech help (terrible CHEAP help). I work almost exclusively on referral - so I must be doing something right - even when those craigs list kids are charging an inexplicable $20 an hour!! I just dont know how you can fly around manhattan/ queens / brooklyn and do that. my time and skills are more valuable than that.
make it known that its a side business. then its your choice whether or not to charge. I work around NYC doing freelance tech support (by referral) - all my friends and family know and some actually offer to pay or trade haircuts or whatever. If you dont talk about how you're a 'consultant', you'll be letting them use you until your a dried up old husk
Slashdot Mirror
ok - had to pipe in here...
I work in NYC and charge a sliding scale rate. And while every client is unique and has special circumstances, there is a limit to how low I will go. If youre going to someone's dirty, dusty house, futzing with cables, organizing their life, listening to their tech problems, identifying solutions and making things work - there is no way Im charging less than $60 per hour and its usually $80 for the first hour. People expect it will cost money to get a technician in their home - so its no surprise to them. I always say if its gonna go over 2 hours, I usually know right away and we can work something out... Almost always they are fine with this straight-forward, yet open-ended approach. They want it to work and they want to have a good experience with you...
This rarely happens, but if I cant fix the problem in a fair amount of time I dont charge or refer them to someone else.
Id say 80% of my business is interpersonal/ hand-holding - People want to know someone is listening to their needs and giving them great value. Of course you have to deliver on the tech end and thankfully that usually happens.
so - about the rate... occasionally a friend throws me clients (for which I make $45 an hour). but here there's a real danger of feeling like a cheap whore - This is a tough business to navigate - you have to really work around a ton of different personalities and keep your eye on the ball - real hustling skills are involved - while I know its not "rocket science" as someone posted (and there's a shitload I dont know!) I usually have to have a reason - either to help him out or learn a new trick or something to go below $60 and feel good about myself and my work...
If I was in a smaller city or in the country, I know Id probably feel differently about the rate, but Ive heard a ton of horror stories about terrible tech help (terrible CHEAP help). I work almost exclusively on referral - so I must be doing something right - even when those craigs list kids are charging an inexplicable $20 an hour!! I just dont know how you can fly around manhattan/ queens / brooklyn and do that. my time and skills are more valuable than that.
xo
j
make it known that its a side business. then its your choice whether or not to charge. I work around NYC doing freelance tech support (by referral) - all my friends and family know and some actually offer to pay or trade haircuts or whatever. If you dont talk about how you're a 'consultant', you'll be letting them use you until your a dried up old husk