IT Employment

$50-$80/hour depending on your client I guess.

While it would seem easy to just toss out a number, that is not the best approach.

You need to do some market research.

First, determine what the billing rates are for similar skills being offered by the larger consulting/services firms in your area.

Then determine what the smaller one-or-two person shops are charging.

At this point, you can set your rates somewhere near what the small shops are charging, and adjust your rates depending upon the volume of business.

You might also want to consider fomring an alliance with one of the small shops. Find someone you like and feel you can work with, offer to form a business relationship where you have your own clients, but run the billing and parts through them, in exchange fora percentage of the billings. In turn, they can pass through some of their overflow or after hours work to you. They benefit becuase they can list you and your certification as available staff when pursuing new business.

Anything you work out should be in writing.

I've had a similar relationship for several years, and it can work very well.

Humbly submitted,
diabetic

It's one of those things where you start lower and as you build a reputation and track record that you know how much an hour you can charge. I'd try for 40-60 for your first job, and then if you are successful then you ask for a small 2-3$ increaseon the next one, when you continue to do that you'll find yourself in a very nice range.
By then you may have enough to quit your day job.

Why don't you start with 60$ to 65$ an hour. When you become more established, you might be able to command more. (like 80) - There's lots of good books out there on doing things like this

The Computer Consultant's Workbook -- Janet Ruhl
This is one you can start with. Janet has several books on the subject. .. Rick

This question was auto closed due to inactivity