How to successfully calculate the price and time of projects in freelancing

One of the biggest problems of novice freelancers is to estimate the cost of a task.

In fact, the evaluation of the cost of projects is not a simple matter, and it is very important to learn how to correctly estimate the cost of the project that is being proposed.

Anyone who believes that only beginners are mistaken in this is deeply wrong, even more or less successful freelancers, and even professionals, err in price and timing. Very often, the success or failure of a project is rooted in the initial estimate of the price and time.
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So how to properly evaluate the project?


To try to more correctly evaluate the project, follow these steps:

1. Break the general task into subtasks, so that each subtask is minimally related to another subtask.

2. Analyze customer requirements, how detailed are they? If there is a lack of detail, then it’s necessary to clarify these points with the client.

3. Try to evaluate each of the subtasks in time.

4. Add to the terms defined by you in paragraph 3 + 25-30% of the time. However strange it may sound, we always estimate the deadlines too optimistically and are usually mistaken. A buffer of 25-30% should help you in solving this problem.

5. Answer the question: will you spend a certain amount of time talking to a client? If yes - then put this time in the budget too. You do not have to do it for free.

6. Add the number of hours obtained as a result of points 1-5 and make an assessment of the project, based on the payment per hour of your work.

As a result of points 1-6, you received an amount of N (say euro). Are you going to call her a client? No, this is not correct.

Ask yourself the following questions:

1. How well do you know the client? Does he always adhere to the conditions defined initially before the start of the project or does he constantly add points during work?

2. Do you have enough experience in this area? Are there any moments in the project where you are poorly oriented?

If the answer “adds” to p1, then add 30% -50% of the project cost to the total cost, depending on the intensity of the addition.

If the answer in “n2 is“ there are moments where I am not very well oriented ”, then add to the project implementation timeframe 10-30% of the total time (without additional payment from the client, because he should not pay for your“ training ”).

Now you got the real time and price of the project. But that's not all.

How desirable is this customer? Is he famous? If yes - make a discount of 10-15% of the resulting value (at the same time, first tell the customer the total amount, and then inform about the discount - the customer will appreciate).

So - you got the final cost. It can already be called.

But to the deadlines it’s worth adding 30% of them “just in case”. Now you have the correct dates.

Now you have correctly calculated the time and time for the project.

Original - here