mep00 - 2:58 pm on Jan 5, 2004 (gmt 0)

Pehaps the best solution is to start off with how long each step shoudl take including a reasonable margin for error (someone I know says that "computer people" can't tell time :D). If there are short-cuts you can take, like reusing code, it gives you room to come down in price.

For piece work which is very quick ("He scripted it, and did it all of that in 15 minutes") you can use a per item price, with volume discount.

As someone suggested earlier, Show them the full price, then show them how much there savings. Verry often, how much you "save" is seems more improtant than how much it costs. It's an old marketing trick. Just don't over do it, because then the client thinks your playing games and looses trust in you. If that happens, it's probibly time to look for a new client. Mind you, I'm not saying cheat the client; never do that! All I'm saying is allow for barginning room. If you feel you settled on to high a price, you can always thow in a few "feebies", which is something you can do anyway to make the client feel he's getting an even better value.