[consulting] Should clients pay less if you work from home and they don't have to give you office space?

[Joel Farris]

Adam is right. An hour of work costs the same no matter where it's performed. If they're trying to save money by having you work from home rather than having to provide you an office space, then here's what you tell them:

"I've quoted you the rate per hour (and possibly a job rate too), and that hourly rate is the same no matter where I am in the world. Now, in the interests of saving yourselves money, remember that I bill one hour for every onsite client meeting, regardless of whether any work is done that day or not. So any day you want me to come in to your offices and work, it'll cost you $100 plus up to $800 for the day's work. If you can assign me tasks and I can do them all from home, it'll only cost you $800 for the day's work".

Time == money. Give me properly specced task tickets that I can do from my own office and you'll get billed less. Call me into your office three times a week for "face-to-face 'working meetings'", and it'll cost you $300 extra a week. See? :)
-- 
Joel Farris
TransparaTech, Inc
"There are no mysteries here."
619.717.2805
Skype & Twitter: joelfarris



On Feb 10, 2011, at 12:33 PM, Adam Mordecai wrote:

> The work is the work, which you can accomplish in both places regardless of location. That's a bizarre request on their part and I don't think its standard practice. Maybe they can pay you extra for the gas cost to drive to work? same principal, still silly.
> 
> Adam Mordecai
> Partner - Advomatic, LLC
> 
> 
> On Feb 10, 2011, at 12:58 PM, Michael Prasuhn wrote:
> 
>> I'm not sure how it would be less expensive for you to provide your own workplace? I would think the opposite would generally be true, since you have to furnish yourself with net connection, rent, phone, electricity, etc.
>> 
>> -Mike
>> __________________
>> Michael Prasuhn
>> 503.512.0822 office
>> mike at mikeyp.net
>> http://mikeyp.net
>> 
>> On Feb 10, 2011, at 11:52 AM, nan wich wrote:
>> 
>>> An interesting question for all of you: I just got a gig for a month or so on a local government site. I don't remember if I mentioned that I worked from home a bit on my previous gig or not. But they did ask if I would reduce my rate a bit when I worked from home. That is, it would be a dual rate deal; $x in the office, $x-5 from home (for example).
>>> 
>>> What would you think about this? Keep in mind, I would be getting paid with my own tax money.
>>> 
>>> Nancy
>>> 
>>> 
>>> Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. -- Dr. Martin L. King, Jr.
>>> 
>>> _______________________________________________
>>> consulting mailing list
>>> consulting at drupal.org
>>> http://lists.drupal.org/mailman/listinfo/consulting
>> 
>> _______________________________________________
>> consulting mailing list
>> consulting at drupal.org
>> http://lists.drupal.org/mailman/listinfo/consulting
> 
> _______________________________________________
> consulting mailing list
> consulting at drupal.org
> http://lists.drupal.org/mailman/listinfo/consulting