Agreed, I was expecting this to be about late night/weekend calls of "everythings broken! help!". I don't know how you'd say you charge extra for normal office hours.
I don't know how you'd say you charge extra for normal office hours.
It's the same reason that as the operator of a small business you can't just walk into your accountant's or lawyer's or bank manager's office and expect to see them without making an appointment. You could probably have a dedicated account manager at those places, and they'll probably be happy to provide one as long as you're paying them some multiple of the corresponding employee's annual salary for doing so.
Remember, you're running a business. You're not a member of your client's staff. That means they're paying you for the product or service you're providing according to your contract, not for being a bum on a seat for some fixed hours. It also means you will have necessarily other commitments in terms of business administration and potentially other clients. Anything that reduces your flexibility to do these other things or particularly that requires a degree of exclusivity for a single client is a big commitment and should be charged accordingly.
Personally, I wouldn't accept a long-term gig with fixed hours or on-site working. I also value the freedom that comes from working independently, and I have no wish to go back to more of an employer-employee relationship. If a client wants to work that way for a sensible reason and over short period (a few days during a crucial period leading up to launching a product, for example) then I wouldn't turn it down automatically, but my rates would be much higher (several times the normal rate I work off for my time, and multiplied up again if the engagement might then be deemed disguised employment and taxed accordingly).
I don't think it's that you're charging extra for normal office hours, but you're charging extra for rapid response and for making house calls. I try harder than most programmer freelancers (IMHO) to simply answer my phone and answer my emails, but in the OP's situation I'd also try to charge extra for what his client is asking.
Silhouette|11 years ago
It's the same reason that as the operator of a small business you can't just walk into your accountant's or lawyer's or bank manager's office and expect to see them without making an appointment. You could probably have a dedicated account manager at those places, and they'll probably be happy to provide one as long as you're paying them some multiple of the corresponding employee's annual salary for doing so.
Remember, you're running a business. You're not a member of your client's staff. That means they're paying you for the product or service you're providing according to your contract, not for being a bum on a seat for some fixed hours. It also means you will have necessarily other commitments in terms of business administration and potentially other clients. Anything that reduces your flexibility to do these other things or particularly that requires a degree of exclusivity for a single client is a big commitment and should be charged accordingly.
Personally, I wouldn't accept a long-term gig with fixed hours or on-site working. I also value the freedom that comes from working independently, and I have no wish to go back to more of an employer-employee relationship. If a client wants to work that way for a sensible reason and over short period (a few days during a crucial period leading up to launching a product, for example) then I wouldn't turn it down automatically, but my rates would be much higher (several times the normal rate I work off for my time, and multiplied up again if the engagement might then be deemed disguised employment and taxed accordingly).
pjungwir|11 years ago