When do I start charging my fee?
Discussion
This may seem really elementary but would like a little advice please.
I've inherited an outstanding complaint/workmanship issue to resolve, and we're charging X an hour for dealing with this claim.
I'm thinking of charging the same amount for travel time as well for time on site and for when I'm drafting the reports/letters etc.
my main query is whether I can charge for 'research' time that I spend before the meeting, i.e when I'm going through past paperwork, familiarising myself with the claim, printing off photos, reports etc.
never really had to do this before, so not sure what to charge for.
Any help gratefully recieved.
I've inherited an outstanding complaint/workmanship issue to resolve, and we're charging X an hour for dealing with this claim.
I'm thinking of charging the same amount for travel time as well for time on site and for when I'm drafting the reports/letters etc.
my main query is whether I can charge for 'research' time that I spend before the meeting, i.e when I'm going through past paperwork, familiarising myself with the claim, printing off photos, reports etc.
never really had to do this before, so not sure what to charge for.
Any help gratefully recieved.
Issi said:
This may seem really elementary but would like a little advice please.
I've inherited an outstanding complaint/workmanship issue to resolve, and we're charging X an hour for dealing with this claim.
I'm thinking of charging the same amount for travel time as well for time on site and for when I'm drafting the reports/letters etc.
my main query is whether I can charge for 'research' time that I spend before the meeting, i.e when I'm going through past paperwork, familiarising myself with the claim, printing off photos, reports etc.
never really had to do this before, so not sure what to charge for.
Any help gratefully recieved.
Everything you reckon you can get away with! I've inherited an outstanding complaint/workmanship issue to resolve, and we're charging X an hour for dealing with this claim.
I'm thinking of charging the same amount for travel time as well for time on site and for when I'm drafting the reports/letters etc.
my main query is whether I can charge for 'research' time that I spend before the meeting, i.e when I'm going through past paperwork, familiarising myself with the claim, printing off photos, reports etc.
never really had to do this before, so not sure what to charge for.
Any help gratefully recieved.
More seriously though, I would have thought from what you've described that someone doing a similar type of activity, maybe a solicitor for example, would charge every single minute they even had to think about it.
In fact, they'd probably be charging for the time it's taken you to post this message!
After being a fee earner/charger for most of my working life, I understand your problem. Several years ago I would have said charge for all the time including research and travel time etc at the same hourly rate. However, in these troublesome times clients interogate everything so achieving this is more difficult. I actually think there is justification for charging all the time but at different rates. Giving advice should be at the highest rate, research time somewhat lower, and travel time about the same.
My golden rule will be to charge what you think, as a good professional, is a fair and satisfactory overall price for the job you have been asked to do, making sure the client fully understands what he's asked you to do in the first place. Of course, your employer's criteria may well be different!
R.
My golden rule will be to charge what you think, as a good professional, is a fair and satisfactory overall price for the job you have been asked to do, making sure the client fully understands what he's asked you to do in the first place. Of course, your employer's criteria may well be different!
R.
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