Partnering - what/how to charge?

someone will be a reseller of my services - now what?

[alexcarter]

I am parnering with a web hosting company to sell my web design/development services. We decided that it will be a "private label" setup where they offer the serivces that I provide, but they don't promote me or my site, it goes through them. I think this will be a geat way to get some business. Right now I am making a listing of services/products that I want them to sell. The issue I'm having is how to price this. It would be good to sell my services at set prices, not hourly. I am also trying to figure out what to charge. I have my hourly rate, but the webhost company is also going to get a cut of the money, so I need to price it so I am getting well compensated, but also so there is room for some more markup for the hosting company. Does anyone have any thoughts or experience with this? Thanks!

[beckie]

Do you have package prices? Does the hosting company want to sell your services at an hourly rate or a package rate? Most companies want a packaged rate, so I would figure out what you would charge a NORMAL client. I wouldn't give any kind of price breaks, let the hosting company figure it out. I work with several different hosting and design companies and just let them know my normal prices. However much they want to mark-up is up to them. I'm getting paid my normal amount.

[alexcarter]

That is what I was thinking. I'm going to figure out what packages would cost me, then pass that on.

Out of curiosity - have you had much luck getting business this way?

[beckie]

Honestly... I think it's more of a hassle having a middleman and not being able to talk to clients. People always interpret different things and that's where it gets tricky.

If you want to work with any kind of company that is the middleman, I would suggest to be able to speak with the client directly, but keep your 'contractor' status hush-hush. Things can get so screwed up and will take you longer because of a middleman.

But to answer your question, I have made quite a bit because of partnering up with these design and hosting companies. It's definitely worth it.