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How can clients expect quotes without giving me any information?
Subject:How can clients expect quotes without giving me any information? From:"Bonnie Granat" <bgranat -at- editors-writers -dot- info> To:"TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com> Date:Tue, 12 Feb 2002 14:50:35 -0500
Another prospect wants a quote. I have only this to go on:
To give you an idea, the application have maybe 100 programs and process, is
a Front Desk System for Hospitality Industries.
The above was the prospect's response to my writing this:
The costs and time depend entirely on the size and complexity of the
application.
I would love to be able to give you a price quote right now, but I need to
know more about the application itself. Can you compare its size and
complexity to a popular software program?
My basic rate is $50 per hour. I can give you a ballpark figure when you
give me an idea of the size.
Looking forward to hearing from you soon.
-----------------------------
What do you recommend doing when people ask for quotes and you have
virtually nothing to go on? I have answered him in this way:
Do you mean 100 *features* or functions?
It's quite difficult to estimate the amount of work at such a distance
without seeing the program, but I could give you a ballpark of about 40
hours or so.
-----------------------------
I know the prospect wants to hear positive things, but how can one not
request more information before making a quote? I feel that 40 hours might
be a bit low, if it's got 100 features, but I don't know what else to say
that won't scare him away.
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