Reply To: What do I charge my client?
I’m not a developer but am coming from the client side: let me warn you that any one who gives you BS like that is probably not going to pay you but string you along. This may sound negative but let me explain.
You wrote:
“My client is currently telling me that they will pay me once the social community is bringing in revenue. they have money, but they just don’t want to pay me.”
What does ‘bringing in revenue’ mean exactly? gross or net? that is before expense or after expense? if after expense which expenses? does the expense include their salary? at what level of revenue? how will you verify it? will he open up his books and bank/paypal account to you? highly unlikely!!
No my friend. You are about to get royally screwed. That talk is BS and it is merely another delaying tactic.
Unfortunately there are a $ $ h @ t s in this world (on both sides, owners and developers) and they create problems for the rest of us by making us have to be very careful of who we work with and going through legal channels. Having said that, even if you have a contract do you realize that it isn’t really worth the e-paper it is written on? enforcing a contract is a totally different matter. Do you have the funds to hire a lawyer and go after this guy if he breaks his contract? so what good is a contract?
The best thing to do is to STOP working and tell him: pay me NOW. If you have access to code or the site, lock it down and don’t release it until you are paid.
Killing them Softly ending speech is relevant here (NSFW): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5zK-b0INu1k
Hopefully you’ll come out of this wiser and if you play your cards right also compensated for your time.
About setting rates, go to elancer or other freelance websites, check with a ‘buddypress’ filter what the rates are for developers with your level of experience and knowledge. Then multiply it be a geographic modifier to find your rate (for example, if you are in the UK and they are in Indonesia, multiply your rate by 2.5).
