<div class="gmail_quote">On Thu, Aug 6, 2009 at 6:34 AM, Brian Vuyk <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:brian@brianvuyk.com">brian@brianvuyk.com</a>></span> wrote:<br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;">
I agree with you in principal. If the client doesn't approach us with fully drawn up specification and design documents, they should expect to pay consulting time to get their project refined and firmed up. Historically, probably 10-15% or more of my hours were tied up in this aspect of business. However, as long as so many developers are willing to do this for free, it can't easily be stopped. Small shops, like mine, can't give up a competitive edge like that, and charging a client several days labour that another shop would give for free just doesn't work.<font color="#888888"></font></blockquote>
<div><br>I recently needed a legal document drawn up, so I called an attorney that came highly recommended from friends in this area. He drew up the (one page) document, sent it over, I looked through it and said, "great, let's do it" and he asked for a large retainer. I can't use this doc unless I pay it. That too got me to thinking about Drupal work -- okay, fine, let's estimate and wireframe for free, and build that cost into contracts we DO land. <br>
<br>I don't really have an answer here, but I think examples from other more established industries might show good patterns that we can follow. I dunno.<br><br>-Dom<br></div></div>