A nice problem to have

[bunn]

I've just been asked to quote for work on a new website for a local tourist attraction - a terraced walled garden surrounding the ruins of a 16th century vicarage.

This is the kind of thing I'd really love to do and I think I'd make a good job of it too. Much easier to work on stuff you are interested in.

Thing is, I'm absolutely up to my eyeballs in already booked work. I worked this weekend, I'm working evenings, I took very little holiday over Christmas and yet it was still more holiday than I've had on months - things are, in fact, getting out of hand. I'd promised myself that I wouldn't take on anything new till at least my 2 biggest existing projects were done and live.

This one was recommended by a satisfied client, so I kind of don't want to disappoint the client, and I really fancy doing the job. But... Arg!

Comments

[king-pellinor.livejournal.com]

Charge more.

[bunn.livejournal.com]

Yes, I know, but it sooo hard when the nicest people always have the least money...

[king-pellinor.livejournal.com]

Selectively charge more ;-)

[philmophlegm.livejournal.com]

I've tried telling her that too. And I'm the company's FD!

[bunn.livejournal.com]

I have charged more! Honest!

[tena524.livejournal.com]

The clients you need to charge more are the ones who are... um, shall I be polite and call them 'demanding'? Those lovely folks (and I'm sure some will spring immediately to mind) that call on weekends, insist on impossible-to-meet deadlines, don't provide required information, etc. These are the clients to whom you issue a blanket price increase, and charge for every silly little phone call, email and paper clip. If you charge by time, up your minimum increment to boot. And don't forget to use your invoice as an instrument of revenge!

[the-marquis.livejournal.com]

How soon would the quote commit you to work? Could you offer the quote, thus satisfying your client's reccommendation, but with a caveat/covering note stating that you're about to take some holiday so could they give you an idea of how long they'd be willing to wait?

[(Anonymous)]

Yep, that was the solution that sprang to my mind (except, don't say "because i'm about to take some holiday", say "because I am booked up until xxx") - Neuromancer

[the-marquis.livejournal.com]

I don't see it as a problem to tell the truth about your having holiday time, but if Neuromancer thinks it may make people think ill of you then cover it with "other commitments"

[bunn.livejournal.com]

tragically, I've been using this strategy for some time already, so I am also stacked up for some months ahead. :-((