Mero55
Hey!
Very recently someone asked me to give them my technical advice concerning an issue they had with a product they're developing, and before I know it I was being asked to come up with demo for a solution they proposed.(Note: they dont have a technical team)
The demo(more like a dummy) I did was really nothing more than a Blank PCB just to show what the final form factor would look like.
But then I proposed a better solution which I've been asked to develop.
Speaking with him on the phone he mentioned he wanted to meet to discuss the solution I was developing and so we can Tune in the final details and see how much he should pay me and thats where i'm a bit confused
Keep in mind this is more of a hobby to me(which is most likely turning into a profeesion), and i'm below 18.
I designed a PCB board (simple I guess), will program the onboard MCU and probably develop a simple desktop app(probably use Processing).
I thought I take around 100$ for my PCB design and MCU code and maybe 50$ or so on the desktop app(if requested).
So what do you think I should ask for?
Salloum
This is a good experience for you to have at your age so I wouldn't be too greedy at this point. Try to benefit from the experience and see the value that will add to your CV later on. Also keep in mind that you should keep them happy in case they want to call you for future projects.
user
Salloum wroteThis is a good experience for you to have at your age so I wouldn't be too greedy at this point. Try to benefit from the experience and see the value that will add to your CV later on. Also keep in mind that you should keep them happy in case they want to call you for future projects.
I disagree with that personally. I think sales skills and business skills are just as if not more important than technical skills, and he should test to see what is the most he can make out of this.
But I have no idea what you should ask for. If it is a dead end one time task with nothing later attached to it, take the risk, try to negotiate something you consider as a surprisingly high amount on this.
I'd say try 1000$.Does your client know what a PCB or MCU is?
chosen2k
It is a good experience however it does not mean you have to get screwed for it.
Break down the project into the below phases:
Information Gathering
Planning
Design
Development
Testing and Delivery
Maintenance
Estimate in days the above phases except the maintenance.
Each working day = 9 hours.
Get the estimate of numbers of hours spent and multiply by your hourly rate.
Now you need to know something: A dude working at MC Donalds makes around 4$ an hour. An engineer makes around 20$ an hour.
The above figures are based on the calculation: 9 hours per day, 22 days per month (MC DO Guy: 4*9*22=$792/month, Engineer: 20*9*22=$3960/month)
For the maintenance you can just make a deal with the guy lump sum for X hours of work or something.
Now beware of people, not everyone is nice and when it gets to money some people have difficulties paying their dues. In other words some people (not all of them) will try to rip you off. So what you need to do is ask for 50% at the beginning of the work, 25% at the testing phase and 25% at the delivery phase.
rolf
When in doubt, just charge by the hour.
Estimate how much you're worth hourly.
There are many overheads to being a freelancer, so don't be cheap. You could for example calculate how much you would earn per hour for a full time job, and double that.
You can find other tips on the internet.
Good luck.
nuclearcat
Estimate according your qualification and time spent. Try to calculate all possible expenses, for example if customer are expected to be trouble, sometimes i charge such 10x times, just or he dont order from me (and i dont lose nerves on him), or if he orders - it is really worth a hassle. If you will get publicity and/or it is really good experience - you might drop price almost to self-cost (but keep in mind some "risk assurance")
If you are hobbyist, and it is not professional design - your estimations might be good.
If you are pro and know how to design what customer needs, software + hardware even for simple pcb start from $600 (it is my real experience, even i can do myself, due lack of time i ordered 2 complete design from "aside", with 3d model (to fit in ready DIN enclosure), pcb, and 2 samples, it costed me $600 + shipping + parts/pcb manufacturing cost).
nuclearcat
And i forgot, for electronics products, usually development time are not few hours, it is not like programming web/app.
You might need to spend 1-2 month, if it is proper PCB, not just soldered breadboard, and customer should really understand it. And especially he should understand, that after his requirements are done, with electronics it is really hard to add "just one more feature", to compare with programming some website.
Especially because there is no full-cycle PCB manufacturing in lebanon. I am not counting those photoresist made pcb, i am talking about PCB with silkscreen and proper HASL.
mmk92
IMO break even in terms of the equipment you have and add a little extra for your time. Don't get too greedy, do it for the fun of it and exposure.
You're obviously passionate about what you're doing, and this opportunity can pay off in terms of self satisfaction which is definitely worth more than any monetary gain.
SamirTafesh
Fully agree with mmk92,
since you are still a hobbyist, take this opportunity to learn, it will be an asset in your life track.
Don't be too greedy.
rolf
OP is not being greedy at all.
OP's time and energy are limited. In this context, giving them away for cheap is a very bad habit to take.
If he intends to continue in this field, better start off on a good feet.
BTW, I have done about 5 years of freelancing.
In any case OP was not asking about being greedy or not, but about how much to charge.
I don't know about PCBs, but $50 for a desktop app? How long that will take to develop?
If you give me $50, I shall not put in more than 2, or at the very most 3 hours of work. And that is generous.
Anything cheaper and I would do it for free, to make it clear.
But most of all, I hope the "client" is cool.
mmk92
I didn't say he's being greedy, I said don't get too greedy.
nosense
From my little experience I noticed that clients whom I charged very low since I was just starting my software development career expected me to charge them the same after couple of years, so keep that in mind if you're gonna do more projects for them, don't get greedy but don't undercharge because you will feel that it's not worth it later on.