I have no idea where I could even post this. Anyway, I was approached
by a client to do a maintenance contract. How much do I charge them?
What do they get with it? How many hours a week? Does anyone provide
this, or uses this contract that can enlighten me?

To start with, it would be a monthly visit right after MS releases the
updates. How much do you charge and hour? How long would it take to do the
updates?
Keeping the virus software up to date should be included. Disk defrags, disk
space usage, server upgrades when needed. Do they want you to keep the
software they use updated also?

hth
DDS

"nick" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:02bf94fc-f83a-41e7-b6aa-(E-Mail Removed)...
>I have no idea where I could even post this. Anyway, I was approached
> by a client to do a maintenance contract. How much do I charge them?
> What do they get with it? How many hours a week? Does anyone provide
> this, or uses this contract that can enlighten me?

On Apr 11, 10:03*am, "Danny Sanders" <DSand...@NOSPAMciber.com> wrote:
> To start with, it would be a monthly visit right after MS releases the
> updates. How much do you charge and hour? How long would it take to do the
> updates?
> Keeping the virus software up to date should be included. Disk defrags, disk
> space usage, server upgrades when needed. Do they want you to keep the
> software they use updated also?
>
> hth
> DDS
>
> "nick" <cipher7...@gmail.com> wrote in message
>
> news:02bf94fc-f83a-41e7-b6aa-(E-Mail Removed)...
>
>
>
> >I have no idea where I could even post this. Anyway, I was approached
> > by a client to do a maintenance contract. How much do I charge them?
> > What do they get with it? How many hours a week? Does anyone provide
> > this, or uses this contract that can enlighten me?- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

Well, I just started out on my own. I used to work for someone, and
they charged 110 per hour. For the senior tech it was like 150/hour.
He had support contracts, but I never knew what he charged. He said
disk defrags, server updates, and monitoring were included. But we
never did any of that. (Which was one of the reasons I resigned). I
charge 90/hour. If I connect remotely, or work from home I charge 70.

My work policy is like this, if you call me in to reconfigure a
router, and I can't figure it out, I stop charging after a certain
time. Let's say Joe Blow could've done the configuration in two
hours....then I charge two hours, and eat the rest until the deed is
done. I figure that the knowledge is good payment, and why charge a
client for something you don't know? Most of the clients run Windows
2000. Some are on Windows 2003. They aren't real big on updates.

Don't I want to limit myself to a certain number of hours a month?
Let's say one place pays 500 a month. Three more pay the same. I don't
want to work 40 hours a week for 2000 bucks a month! I need guidance,
man! Help! (Okay, I'll take my nerve pills now....)

"nick" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:92e8f864-b702-40a2-9a17-(E-Mail Removed)...
On Apr 11, 10:03 am, "Danny Sanders" <DSand...@NOSPAMciber.com> wrote:
> Let's say one place pays 500 a month. Three more pay the same. I don't
> want to work 40 hours a week for 2000 bucks a month!

I am!...ok,..maybe it might be about $2500.

I'm not a consultant though,..just an hourly lowly IT Guy that is a
"one-man-IT-Dept".

You sound better organized than I am.


--
Phillip Windell
www.wandtv.com

The views expressed, are my own and not those of my employer, or Microsoft,
or anyone else associated with me, including my cats.
-----------------------------------------------------

nick wrote:
> On Apr 11, 10:03 am, "Danny Sanders" <DSand...@NOSPAMciber.com> wrote:
>> To start with, it would be a monthly visit right after MS releases the
>> updates. How much do you charge and hour? How long would it take to do the
>> updates?
>> Keeping the virus software up to date should be included. Disk defrags, disk
>> space usage, server upgrades when needed. Do they want you to keep the
>> software they use updated also?
>>
>> hth
>> DDS
>>
>> "nick" <cipher7...@gmail.com> wrote in message
>>
>> news:02bf94fc-f83a-41e7-b6aa-(E-Mail Removed)...
>>
>>
>>
>>> I have no idea where I could even post this. Anyway, I was approached
>>> by a client to do a maintenance contract. How much do I charge them?
>>> What do they get with it? How many hours a week? Does anyone provide
>>> this, or uses this contract that can enlighten me?- Hide quoted text -
>> - Show quoted text -
>
> Well, I just started out on my own. I used to work for someone, and
> they charged 110 per hour. For the senior tech it was like 150/hour.
> He had support contracts, but I never knew what he charged. He said
> disk defrags, server updates, and monitoring were included. But we
> never did any of that. (Which was one of the reasons I resigned). I
> charge 90/hour. If I connect remotely, or work from home I charge 70.
>
> My work policy is like this, if you call me in to reconfigure a
> router, and I can't figure it out, I stop charging after a certain
> time. Let's say Joe Blow could've done the configuration in two
> hours....then I charge two hours, and eat the rest until the deed is
> done. I figure that the knowledge is good payment, and why charge a
> client for something you don't know? Most of the clients run Windows
> 2000. Some are on Windows 2003. They aren't real big on updates.
>
> Don't I want to limit myself to a certain number of hours a month?
> Let's say one place pays 500 a month. Three more pay the same. I don't
> want to work 40 hours a week for 2000 bucks a month! I need guidance,
> man! Help! (Okay, I'll take my nerve pills now....)

Think about setting up "Hour Blocks." Clients can purchase
a block of 10 hours for $850 and they expire after 1 year if
not used.

They can pay by the hour @ $90 per hour.

Create different categories of support;
1. Troubleshooting = $X per hour = Block of 10 hours = $X
2. Flat rate System Maintenance = $X monthly per PC, $X monthly per
Server
3. After Hours Emergency Support = ($X per hour * 1.5)
4. Remote support = ($X per hour * .75)
With more remote support, you can work on more than one ma
machine at a time and get two support fees; albeit the fee
will be lower.
5. Add mileage to your fees (IRS is giving $.50 per mile I think)

You can still stick to your own work policies.

I would suggest that you come up with a "What is Support" document.
This will dictate to your clients what type of support is covered
under each situation. Make sure your clients clearly understand
the lines between the different support rates.

Hope some of these ideas help.

moncho

On Apr 12, 9:21*am, moncho <mon...@NOspmanywhere.com> wrote:
> nick wrote:
> > On Apr 11, 10:03 am, "Danny Sanders" <DSand...@NOSPAMciber.com> wrote:
> >> To start with, it would be a monthly visit right after MS releases the
> >> updates. How much do you charge and hour? How long would it take to do the
> >> updates?
> >> Keeping the virus software up to date should be included. Disk defrags,disk
> >> space usage, server upgrades when needed. Do they want you to keep the
> >> software they use updated also?
>
> >> hth
> >> DDS
>
> >> "nick" <cipher7...@gmail.com> wrote in message
>
> >>news:02bf94fc-f83a-41e7-b6aa-(E-Mail Removed)....
>
> >>> I have no idea where I could even post this. Anyway, I was approached
> >>> by a client to do a maintenance contract. How much do I charge them?
> >>> What do they get with it? How many hours a week? Does anyone provide
> >>> this, or uses this contract that can enlighten me?- Hide quoted text -
> >> - Show quoted text -
>
> > Well, I just started out on my own. I used to work for someone, and
> > they charged 110 per hour. For the senior tech it was like 150/hour.
> > He had support contracts, but I never knew what he charged. He said
> > disk defrags, server updates, and monitoring were included. But we
> > never did any of that. (Which was one of the reasons I resigned). I
> > charge 90/hour. If I connect remotely, or work from home I charge 70.
>
> > My work policy is like this, if you call me in to reconfigure a
> > router, and I can't figure it out, I stop charging after a certain
> > time. Let's say Joe Blow could've done the configuration in two
> > hours....then I charge two hours, and eat the rest until the deed is
> > done. I figure that the knowledge is good payment, and why charge a
> > client for something you don't know? Most of the clients run Windows
> > 2000. Some are on Windows 2003. They aren't real big on updates.
>
> > Don't I want to limit myself to a certain number of hours a month?
> > Let's say one place pays 500 a month. Three more pay the same. I don't
> > want to work 40 hours a week for 2000 bucks a month! I need guidance,
> > man! Help! (Okay, I'll take my nerve pills now....)
>
> Think about setting up "Hour Blocks." *Clients can purchase
> a block of 10 hours for $850 and they expire after 1 year if
> not used.
>
> They can pay by the hour @ $90 per hour.
>
> Create different categories of support;
> * *1. *Troubleshooting = $X per hour = Block of 10 hours = $X
> * *2. *Flat rate System Maintenance = $X monthly per PC, $X monthly per
> * * * *Server
> * *3. *After Hours Emergency Support = ($X per hour * 1.5)
> * *4. *Remote support = ($X per hour * .75)
> * * * * With more remote support, you can work on more than one ma
> * * * * machine at a time and get two support fees; albeit the fee
> * * * * will be lower.
> * *5. *Add mileage to your fees (IRS is giving $.50 per mile I think)
>
> You can still stick to your own work policies.
>
> I would suggest that you come up with a "What is Support" document.
> This will dictate to your clients what type of support is covered
> under each situation. *Make sure your clients clearly understand
> the lines between the different support rates.
>
> Hope some of these ideas help.
>
> moncho- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

They definitely do. Thanks.

I've found that I need to clearly define what is expected. I had one
client whose hard drive crashed. Their entire medical clinic was lost.
There was no way to check patient appointments, bill patients, etc.

I was called in to fix it. I told her it was about the worst that
could happen since her billing software is in 4 parts which uses SQL
and Oracle. Anyway, I assumed that I would charge what my boss used to
charge, but with a discount. (She was used to dealing with my boss).

After about 50 hours of work she got the bill. I told her she could
pay it over a month, and gave her a heavily discounted rate. She
flipped and told me she wasn't paying it. She told me she never wanted
to deal with me again because I charged her for connecting remotely.
Her clinic is an hour away! By connecting remotely I was able to do
work ASAP without her having to wait for me to arrive. I even charged
her a lot less since it was remote. She still got mad!

On Apr 11, 1:58*pm, "Phillip Windell" <philwind...@hotmail.com> wrote:
> "nick" <cipher7...@gmail.com> wrote in message
>
> news:92e8f864-b702-40a2-9a17-(E-Mail Removed)...
> On Apr 11, 10:03 am, "Danny Sanders" <DSand...@NOSPAMciber.com> wrote:
>
> > Let's say one place pays 500 a month. Three more pay the same. I don't
> > want to work 40 hours a week for 2000 bucks a month!
>
> I am!...ok,..maybe it might be about $2500.
>
> I'm not a consultant though,..just an hourly lowly IT Guy that is a
> "one-man-IT-Dept".
>
> You sound better organized than I am.
>
> --
> Phillip Windellwww.wandtv.com
>
> The views expressed, are my own and not those of my employer, or Microsoft,
> or anyone else associated with me, including my cats.
> -----------------------------------------------------

That was me over at a yacht supply company I used to work for. I was
the network administrator, desktop support, help desk, cellphone/radio
guy, PBX phone system guy, and security camera setup guy. All that for
14/hour!!! When I started to complain after a few months I was told I
didn't appreciate the opportunity given to me! AMAZING!!

nick wrote:
> On Apr 12, 9:21 am, moncho <mon...@NOspmanywhere.com> wrote:
>> nick wrote:
>>> On Apr 11, 10:03 am, "Danny Sanders" <DSand...@NOSPAMciber.com> wrote:
>>>> To start with, it would be a monthly visit right after MS releases the
>>>> updates. How much do you charge and hour? How long would it take to do the
>>>> updates?
>>>> Keeping the virus software up to date should be included. Disk defrags, disk
>>>> space usage, server upgrades when needed. Do they want you to keep the
>>>> software they use updated also?
>>>> hth
>>>> DDS
>>>> "nick" <cipher7...@gmail.com> wrote in message
>>>> news:02bf94fc-f83a-41e7-b6aa-(E-Mail Removed)...
>>>>> I have no idea where I could even post this. Anyway, I was approached
>>>>> by a client to do a maintenance contract. How much do I charge them?
>>>>> What do they get with it? How many hours a week? Does anyone provide
>>>>> this, or uses this contract that can enlighten me?- Hide quoted text -
>>>> - Show quoted text -
>>> Well, I just started out on my own. I used to work for someone, and
>>> they charged 110 per hour. For the senior tech it was like 150/hour.
>>> He had support contracts, but I never knew what he charged. He said
>>> disk defrags, server updates, and monitoring were included. But we
>>> never did any of that. (Which was one of the reasons I resigned). I
>>> charge 90/hour. If I connect remotely, or work from home I charge 70.
>>> My work policy is like this, if you call me in to reconfigure a
>>> router, and I can't figure it out, I stop charging after a certain
>>> time. Let's say Joe Blow could've done the configuration in two
>>> hours....then I charge two hours, and eat the rest until the deed is
>>> done. I figure that the knowledge is good payment, and why charge a
>>> client for something you don't know? Most of the clients run Windows
>>> 2000. Some are on Windows 2003. They aren't real big on updates.
>>> Don't I want to limit myself to a certain number of hours a month?
>>> Let's say one place pays 500 a month. Three more pay the same. I don't
>>> want to work 40 hours a week for 2000 bucks a month! I need guidance,
>>> man! Help! (Okay, I'll take my nerve pills now....)
>> Think about setting up "Hour Blocks." Clients can purchase
>> a block of 10 hours for $850 and they expire after 1 year if
>> not used.
>>
>> They can pay by the hour @ $90 per hour.
>>
>> Create different categories of support;
>> 1. Troubleshooting = $X per hour = Block of 10 hours = $X
>> 2. Flat rate System Maintenance = $X monthly per PC, $X monthly per
>> Server
>> 3. After Hours Emergency Support = ($X per hour * 1.5)
>> 4. Remote support = ($X per hour * .75)
>> With more remote support, you can work on more than one ma
>> machine at a time and get two support fees; albeit the fee
>> will be lower.
>> 5. Add mileage to your fees (IRS is giving $.50 per mile I think)
>>
>> You can still stick to your own work policies.
>>
>> I would suggest that you come up with a "What is Support" document.
>> This will dictate to your clients what type of support is covered
>> under each situation. Make sure your clients clearly understand
>> the lines between the different support rates.
>>
>> Hope some of these ideas help.
>>
>> moncho- Hide quoted text -
>>
>> - Show quoted text -
>
> They definitely do. Thanks.
>
> I've found that I need to clearly define what is expected. I had one
> client whose hard drive crashed. Their entire medical clinic was lost.
> There was no way to check patient appointments, bill patients, etc.
>
> I was called in to fix it. I told her it was about the worst that
> could happen since her billing software is in 4 parts which uses SQL
> and Oracle. Anyway, I assumed that I would charge what my boss used to
> charge, but with a discount. (She was used to dealing with my boss).
>
> After about 50 hours of work she got the bill. I told her she could
> pay it over a month, and gave her a heavily discounted rate. She
> flipped and told me she wasn't paying it. She told me she never wanted
> to deal with me again because I charged her for connecting remotely.
> Her clinic is an hour away! By connecting remotely I was able to do
> work ASAP without her having to wait for me to arrive. I even charged
> her a lot less since it was remote. She still got mad!

If at all possible, I would offer an estimate. I know
you may not have foreseen 50 hours of work, but you would
have been fine if you estimated the work to be at 20 hours
full pay.

Create a statement of work (SOW) with estimated work hours,
yours and theirs responsibilities, and sign-off sheet.

In addition, if you are restoring a hard-drive, I would not
have put the hours of copying the data (the "run time") on
the hours used. This is if there were "run time" hours. I
do this a lot if it needs an operating system reload.

This is a valuable lesson learned though and many others here
will learn since you mentioned it.

moncho

nick wrote:
> On Apr 11, 1:58 pm, "Phillip Windell" <philwind...@hotmail.com> wrote:
>> "nick" <cipher7...@gmail.com> wrote in message
>>
>> news:92e8f864-b702-40a2-9a17-(E-Mail Removed)...
>> On Apr 11, 10:03 am, "Danny Sanders" <DSand...@NOSPAMciber.com> wrote:
>>
>>> Let's say one place pays 500 a month. Three more pay the same. I don't
>>> want to work 40 hours a week for 2000 bucks a month!
>> I am!...ok,..maybe it might be about $2500.
>>
>> I'm not a consultant though,..just an hourly lowly IT Guy that is a
>> "one-man-IT-Dept".
>>
>> You sound better organized than I am.
>>
>> --
>> Phillip Windellwww.wandtv.com
>>
>> The views expressed, are my own and not those of my employer, or Microsoft,
>> or anyone else associated with me, including my cats.
>> -----------------------------------------------------
>
> That was me over at a yacht supply company I used to work for. I was
> the network administrator, desktop support, help desk, cellphone/radio
> guy, PBX phone system guy, and security camera setup guy. All that for
> 14/hour!!! When I started to complain after a few months I was told I
> didn't appreciate the opportunity given to me! AMAZING!!

Knowing this, I would at least charge a minimum of $75 per hour if not
more. After taxes and all your other expenses, $75 per hour will
become $14 per hour; albeit net instead of gross pay.

moncho

"moncho" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:mA3Mj.8372$(E-Mail Removed)...
> Create different categories of support;
> 1. Troubleshooting = $X per hour = Block of 10 hours = $X
> 2. Flat rate System Maintenance = $X monthly per PC, $X monthly per
> Server
> 3. After Hours Emergency Support = ($X per hour * 1.5)
> 4. Remote support = ($X per hour * .75)
> With more remote support, you can work on more than one ma
> machine at a time and get two support fees; albeit the fee
> will be lower.
> 5. Add mileage to your fees (IRS is giving $.50 per mile I think)
>
> You can still stick to your own work policies.
>
> I would suggest that you come up with a "What is Support" document.
> This will dictate to your clients what type of support is covered
> under each situation. Make sure your clients clearly understand
> the lines between the different support rates.

If I was comming from the customer side of it,..I'd say don't make it to
complicated,..if I could not look over it at a glance and be pretty sure I
understand it,...I would look for someone else. I wouldn't want to feel
like I had to get a lawer to interpret it for me. If it were too complex
I'd feel you were trying to "hide" costs within the complexity. Remember it
will have to prove to still be cheaper for them to call you than to just get
thier own in-house IT guy,...and in-house IT jobs are paying less than they
used to do, especially if they can pay some fresh college grad at a fairly
low rate.

--
Phillip Windell
www.wandtv.com

The views expressed, are my own and not those of my employer, or Microsoft,
or anyone else associated with me, including my cats.
-----------------------------------------------------