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Ask HN: How do you keep track of billable hours?

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Re: Ask HN: How do you keep track of billable hours?

#52
post #36

Out of interest from someone in a permanent role, what do you bill for exactly when freelancing? If I am using familiar language tools, I would say I code around 4 times faster than with a new library. Do you take that into account and adjust accordingly? Reading documentation? Then there is all the administrative stuff - such as working out the hours, - do you include that?

I switched from a permanent role to freelancing last November, so I'm relatively new to this, but I'd be glad to explain what I do. I make my skill set clear to my clients. "I can do this, but I'm not familiar with XYZ, so it will take longer than usual." I bill for reading documentation-- just because I'm not writing code, doesn't mean I'm not working. I made my skills clear, and they still decided that they want me…

That seems like a fair way to do it.
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