Thread

I’v been doing freelance work for quite a while mostly PSD to xHTML/CSS. what i don’t under stand s how you bill the customer. iv seen people making offers to do a job that I would probably ask for $70 to code for something they would ask for $15 or $20. At the same time, iv seen people ask for $100 to $150. Is it about the quality of the work, or how soon they will code it ? and with PHP I honestly have no idea how to bill someone. If by hourly then how would that be calculated? I mean the actual thing.. like it takes 5 hours for me to code a basic eCommerce system and someone here says “no way i can code it in 3 hours its easy” then the customer will think “oh so it can be done in 3 hours, so why can’t this other guy(me) do it in 5 hours and much cheaper? because it is doable in 3 hours and im in no rush” So the only way im getting the job is if i lower my hourly rate.

On a side note, whats with all theses Indian companies taking freelance jobs and asking for rock bottom prices O.O i can’t survive on their pricing system.

3 hours for ecommerce? 5 hours? What planet are these programmers from?

IMO they only install an e-commerce package (like magento etc…), and I’m sure that the design won’t be anything cool.

Although I don’t freelance (yet) I like the Fast, Cheap, Good quality pricing model
You can only pick 2 of the 3, so
fast + cheap = crap
fast + good = expesive
cheap + good = slow

3 hours for ecommerce? 5 hours? What planet are these programmers from?

haha, it was just an example XD
honestly would take weeks.
thought therer might be some who can do it in hours =X

Even seting up an off the shelf e-commerce package will take more then a few hours of setup, so there’s no hope of coding one in a few hours 😉

If you keep getting into situations like this then you’re going after the wrong type of client. Sites like elance, getacoder etc are all bottom of the pile stuff. You need to suss out what type of client you want first then you can go after them and get decent work.

Where would you guys recommend to find jobs at ? where do you go to ?

i know i know 😛 tricks of the trade 😛
but I know i’m no where near experience with CI as anyone else here 😊

Build a solid portfolio/resume, do as much networking as possible, etc. I think most people are able to freelance after a few years at an agency where they gain the contacts they need to go out on their own.

Build a solid portfolio/resume, do as much networking as possible, etc.

and probably some luck too finding the right clients.

Build a solid portfolio/resume, do as much networking as possible, etc. I think most people are able to freelance after a few years at an agency where they gain the contacts they need to go out on their own.

Thanks for the advice. Working on my portfolio XD gotta design something.

You can do it hourly or by project just depending on what you and the client agree to.  In some cases, it will be hourly with a set minimum and/or maximum (e.g., $40 an hour but no more than $500 dollars).  Make sure you have very clear specifications and answer all questions before starting.  The quality of your portfolio is going to do a lot against the “so-and-so can do it in five minutes” problems.  If you stick to a particular expertise area, you can swell your portfolio in that direction, and clients will see that you’ve done quality work and your estimate reflects that.