Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

Ask HN: Current freelancer and consulting rates survey

news.ycombinator.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

51–60 of 63 posts

Re: Ask HN: Current freelancer and consulting rates survey

#51

Post by Pyrodogg »

uid wrote: post #18
jasonkester wrote: post #6

This would probably work better as a poll or an offsite, anonymous survey. I don't think you'll get very accurate results from limiting yourself to the small fraction of developers who: - don't mind disclosing their salary in public - don't have any co-workers, employers, or clients who read this site - have a single fixed rate that they charge everybody - don't plan to change their rate in the future - make enough t…

Good point. I just created a poll: http://gopollgo.com/what-is-your-hourly-freelance-consulting...

Is there any way you can edit that into the OP? I don't know what the edit time limits are.

Re: Ask HN: Current freelancer and consulting rates survey

#52

Post by uid »

Pyrodogg wrote: post #51
uid wrote: post #18

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Good point. I just created a poll: http://gopollgo.com/what-is-your-hourly-freelance-consulting...

Is there any way you can edit that into the OP? I don't know what the edit time limits are.

I tried but could not. If a moderator with super-powers is reading this, could you please add the poll URL to the OP?

Re: Ask HN: Current freelancer and consulting rates survey

#53

Post by uid »

pyramid wrote: post #41

Mobile web developer, front end and back end. Going rate is roughly 1000€ a day, charge less and you won't be taken seriously.

on-site or remote?

you are definitely right about the 'not taken seriously' part - it is a good tip for those starting out

Re: Ask HN: Current freelancer and consulting rates survey

#54

Post by sebilasse »

uid wrote: post #26
patio11 wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What Jason said. The "wants to help you" me really, really wants to quote numbers because I think people pervasively underprice their services. The "wants to not be awkward socially" me really doesn't want folks to immediately do "50 * $WEEKLY_RATE = $WOWZA" and assume that I'm loaded, partially because it would be wrong and partially because it might change how people interacted with me in a way I wouldn't enjoy. Th…

The other way of approaching this may be to pivot it towards a general discussion on the state of the market in different sectors, regions, etc. For eg. I know that atm iOS developers based in San Francisco or the valley can charge out around $1500 per day. I also know that on-site web development work in Australia (Sydney) can fetch $150+ These are both from friends of mine who are experienced developers and who can…

How is the daily rate defined. My definition of a day is 8 hours. So $1500/day = 187.5$/h. So if you work 12 hours a day, do you charge $1500, $2250 or simply refuse to work more than 8h?

Re: Ask HN: Current freelancer and consulting rates survey

#55

Post by pyramid »

uid wrote: post #53
pyramid wrote: post #41

Mobile web developer, front end and back end. Going rate is roughly 1000€ a day, charge less and you won't be taken seriously.

on-site or remote? you are definitely right about the 'not taken seriously' part - it is a good tip for those starting out

Remote.

And turning down enough business to employ someone else full time.

Re: Ask HN: Current freelancer and consulting rates survey

#56

Post by [deleted] »

0x12 wrote: post #50
lsc wrote: post #48

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It is personal; and that's an area where I'm not so good. I mean, I've always thought like a contractor, even when I was an employee. I see my interests as separate from (but hopefully largely coinciding with) the interests of my employer, and I work for that employer because of what they can give me; they are paying me because of what I can give them. Hopefully, it's a mutually beneficial exchange of value, but if I…

I think you're on the right path and I think that the fact that you are consciously involved with this means that at some point you will find that understanding. If you have a good working relationship with the journeyman person why not discuss that with him/her openly? After all you're already reconciled with losing them anyway so there is absolutely nothing to lose, and who knows how much to gain. You might even fi…

[deleted]

Re: Ask HN: Current freelancer and consulting rates survey

#57

Post by mark_l_watson »

I charge $60/hour when working at home and twice that when on site. I turn down almost all (over 80%) consulting offers, so I could probably raise my rates if I was not so fussy about what work I accept.

I am semi-retired now, and enjoying work is a higher priority than maximizing income.

Re: Ask HN: Current freelancer and consulting rates survey

#58

Post by tylerc230 »

I was making $60/hr through odesk.com as an ios developer working < 10hr/wk. I imagine I could get more if I was pursuing clients actively (I live in San Francisco). I'm considering going back to it fulltime and was wondering what sort of business entity people are using (LLC, Corp, indy business owner etc.).

Re: Ask HN: Current freelancer and consulting rates survey

#59

Post by patio11 »

sebilasse wrote: post #54
uid wrote: post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The other way of approaching this may be to pivot it towards a general discussion on the state of the market in different sectors, regions, etc. For eg. I know that atm iOS developers based in San Francisco or the valley can charge out around $1500 per day. I also know that on-site web development work in Australia (Sydney) can fetch $150+ These are both from friends of mine who are experienced developers and who can…

How is the daily rate defined. My definition of a day is 8 hours. So $1500/day = 187.5$/h. So if you work 12 hours a day, do you charge $1500, $2250 or simply refuse to work more than 8h?

If you're charging day rates, you're charging enough to not sweat the small stuff. My standard language is "Such hours as are standard and customary at $CLIENT." I've never had anyone abuse it.

Re: Ask HN: Current freelancer and consulting rates survey

#60

Post by dustineichler »

lsc wrote: post #42
dustineichler wrote: post #38

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've worked on 2 week retainers initially. It's worth while with small and larger clients alike. It adds a air of security and relationship trust between you the client. Make it know upfront you work on a retainer though, obviously not after the fact. Individual clients not so much. Somewhat unrelated, but relative is a talk by Mike_FTW on payments --freelancing http://vimeo.com/22053820

How do your retainers work? My thought was to charge them some minimum number of hours a month that they'd pay regardless of use, but in exchange, I'd put their stuff on my pager, and make time to deal with it if they had an emergency. I think it makes a lot of sense for SysAdmin type work; there are times when you really need me /right now/ - waiting for me to clear my schedule some time next week is not going to wo…

I think you have the right idea. You're trading a minimum set of requirements for a better service. Your value added proposition is, availability. You'll always be on call if necessary. I typically ask for 20 hours a week minimum between 2 projects. This takes a little pressure off to spend time in the code base and iron things out. My contracts are typically 3-6months. Rates also vary between w-2 and corp-to-corp. Freelancing is a very inexpensive proposition when add up how much hiring and employing someone really costs. Hope that helps. Freelanceswitch.com is a great resource.
Post reply on HN