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In need of a $$$ price quote for this project

switters

switters

macrumors member
Original poster
Mar 26, 2006
86
0
east Coast
This client gave me these rules and guidelines and wants a quote. It's a flash job.
Here they are:


Here's what they're looking for.

• User should have the ability to drag and drop sections of video
segments to create an aggregate long video segment.
• User should have the ability to drag and drop sections of music
segments to create an aggregate long music segment.
• The Application will incorporate a mixer generator with the
ability to mix various video clips, music rhythms and sound effects on
a timeline.
• User can create a unique video mix, name and save the video mix as
a flash file.
• User can email the video mix to themselves and friends.
• User can save the music and sound effects portion and push to
their mobile phone for use as a ring-tone.


Here's a link to the examples they sent me.

http://www.adidas.com/campaigns/goalthemovie/content/
http://www.defyyoursenses.com/musicmix/


Thank you
 
A lot of that i'm in the dark, because i don't think there is currently a way to export videos or audio from flash, or to have seamless integration between two clips. So there may be some custom creation of how flash works.

Probably 30-40 hours design work.
100+ hour development work.

I'm not sure what the average flash developer charges, but at work the bill us out at $100 an hour. So, $13,000 minimum. Probably a lot more.

Personally I'd pass on this project. A month or two of unenjoyable flash work is probably too much for me.

Edit: Honestly, if this were on my plate, I wouldn't take it for less than 25k.
 
Switters,

I am not trying to be a smart-a**, OK? This is general advice based on 25 years of doing part-time application development on the side (I did it for two years full-time, and found it did not appeal to me).

If you cannot figure out the quote, pass on the project. Or, do it as T&M. There are many jackals out there who take advantage of young talented people. They do not want to pay the going rate for something. So, they make someone bid the work. They realize the person may spend a considerable amount of time 'head scratching'. The individual may end up making minimum wage on the deal.

I am not saying that is the case here, it is just a warning. If I am going to 'farm out' a scope of work, I look at the individual's track record. Then I interview them, just as I would for a prospective employee. Then, I give them the option of bidding the job, or doing it on T&M. However, for something like this, I would never pay the $100-$175 per hour rate on T&M.

When bidding a job, I first figure out how I am going to accomplish the work. If there are 'unknowns', I will build a test model and work through the problem. Only when I am comfortable with the solution, and the customer buys into my approach, will I give them a bid.

In the early years of my career, I did not do these things. Believe me, I made some costly (to myself) mistakes. I wish someone would have given me some advice on the pitfalls to avoid.

Good luck!
 
SMM said:
Switters,

I am not trying to be a smart-a**, OK? This is general advice based on 25 years of doing part-time application development on the side (I did it for two years full-time, and found it did not appeal to me).

If you cannot figure out the quote, pass on the project. Or, do it as T&M. There are many jackals out there who take advantage of young talented people. They do not want to pay the going rate for something. So, they make someone bid the work. They realize the person may spend a considerable amount of time 'head scratching'. The individual may end up making minimum wage on the deal.

I am not saying that is the case here, it is just a warning. If I am going to 'farm out' a scope of work, I look at the individual's track record. Then I interview them, just as I would for a prospective employee. Then, I give them the option of bidding the job, or doing it on T&M. However, for something like this, I would never pay the $100-$175 per hour rate on T&M.

When bidding a job, I first figure out how I am going to accomplish the work. If there are 'unknowns', I will build a test model and work through the problem. Only when I am comfortable with the solution, and the customer buys into my approach, will I give them a bid.

In the early years of my career, I did not do these things. Believe me, I made some costly (to myself) mistakes. I wish someone would have given me some advice on the pitfalls to avoid.

Good luck!
Click to expand...

Good advice for all young people starting out in the computer fields
 
If the client seems flakey at all get some money up front. I know experienced professionals that charge 50% up front. I even know one person who was worried they would ever be paid so they doubled their price and charged 50% up front. ;)

From the clients perspective, if you are a newbie and this is the first project then I would expect to pay you much lower than the market rate. Then once you've established yourself, they will pay you more. Lots contractors flake out on projects, I've had it happen to me dozens of times.

-T
 
BigPrince said:
whats T&M?
Click to expand...

Time and Materials. There are basically three types of ways to purchase goods and services:

1) Fixed, Sticker, and/or Published Price - the cost is known in advance, although it may have negotiating associated with it.

2) Quoted Price - Seller provides Buyer with a firm, fixed price bid

3) Time and Materials - Seller provides Buyer with a fixed rate for labor, and possibly even for materials. Seller invoices buyer for accumulated labor and/or material costs.

Material costs can be just about anything imaginable. It may include milage, travel time, Per Diem, lodging, hardware, software, etc. Seller will often provide a rate sheet for common Material costs.

What is important about T and M, is that the Seller (or service provider) is not holden to a fixed cost. If issues arise, or more commonly, when the arise, the Seller does not have to absorb the cost, the buyer does. In some instances, the Buyer may add clauses to protect themselves from runaway costs. These may be in the form of 'not to exceed' codicils.
 
I only work on retainers, clients purchase blocks of time (month to month) for me to devote to their needs.
 
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