RE: RE:FLASH: Hyperride - Ft. Lauderdale

[Dorian Nisinson]

Gregg,

	It is a tricky problem and I think we all evolve our own ways of dealing

with the situation. I have my solution that seems to work for me.

	I created a job spec form with as many different aspects and details of

what I am likely to be doing on any given job. When a prospective client

calls and wants to discuss a project, I open the form, fill in the clients

contact info and take it to the meeting with the client along with several

blank sheets of paper for sketches or other notes that don't fit into a

specific category.

	At the meeting we talk and, using the form's questions as a reminder as

well as a record, I fill in the data. The client and I do this in

collaboration. I have found most clients I have ended up working with have

been pleased at the attention to their job. Total time for a meeting,

barring travel time, is a maximum of one hour. The form itself is very

detailed and when it is filled in, I have 2 very valuable things. The client

and I both know exactly what work they want done and it helps some clients

to put a clearer focus on what they want.

	I use this form to fill out my estimate form that includes all the info

from the job spec form plus my statement of what I would charge. I send a

copy of the job spec form along with the estimate. That way everything is

clear. The estimate form also states that the client pays between 33% and

50% in advance, depending on the nature of the project and the relationship

established with the client. I sign 2 copies of my estimate and send it to

the client to sign and return 1 copy to me with a check. The client and I

both know exactly what they are paying me to do because it is all clearly

spelled out. This helps to minimize the "just one little thing we would like

to add- it won't take any time at all" trap. I am working on putting this

form into a PDF that I could point prospective clients to who do not live

near enough for a face to face meeting. I plan to set it up so that data

filled in by the client will be sent to me.

	One additional thing, I have found this process a great filter for bad

clients. If they don't want to take enough time to give me the facts I need

to do justice to their job, they are likely not serious. This system took a

bit of time to set up at first but it was worth it.


Dorian



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-----Original Message-----

From:

ownerchinwag [dot] com

 [

ownerchinwag [dot] com]On">mailto:ownerchinwag [dot] com]On

 Behalf Of Gregg

Caines

Sent: Thursday, May 11, 2000 11:04 PM

To:

flasherchinwag [dot] com

Subject: Re: RE:FLASH: Hyperride - Ft. Lauderdale



One thing I'd love to know is how people deal

with the contracts where the design has to be

done before there is a signing.


We often run into situations where the contract

should not be written until a complete

requirements analysis and specification is

complete, but since this a big portion of the

development, it is a little unnerving to do it

before the contract is signed.


It would be nice to write this into the contract

too, but most clients want to pay on a per-project

basis, so they want to know how much it will cost

before they sign the contract.


The catch-22 is that it is difficult to calculate the

cost without first doing the planning...


How do others handle this?


---------------------------------------------------

Gregg Caines

n e o m e t r i x  systems inc.

http://www.neometrixsystems.com

gcainesneometrixsystems [dot] com

>

> What other problems / solutions do independents have?

>

> Phillip




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