How to find fixed-price contracts (developer)

[eek]

Does this apply to smaller gigs? (1-5k)

Yes and at that price you are competing with people in india with decent reviews on places like fiverr..

[jamesbrown]

Thank you for some of this information

I can do the work as an IT specialist - I have delivered production ready applications for years and worked on some excellent products.

A tip: you are hard to trust when you react arrogantly to a post, from the get go.

A tip: you are hard to take seriously when you've done no research whatsoever before asking your question. You are not going to get fixed price work for serious money as an "IT specialist" unless you are genuinely a recognised expert in your field, as in clients look for you, you don't look for them. What is the incentive for a client to a risk a significant programme of work on an individual operating through a service company? What is the incentive for a consultancy to team with a random coder? Hint: the answer to both is, none.

[zonkkk]

As others have said. As a one man band you don't really 'find' fixed price contracts. The fixed priced contracts find you.

I have been providing this type of service for a large client (with gaps between work packages) for just under 18 months now for extra income.The only reason I got this work arrangement is because the client knew me and wanted me to work on a specific project. All other contractors are inside. I am the only one outside. I don't work set hours or have core times.

They say - can you do this for us? I look at it and if I want it I say yes, this is how much it's going to cost you, and it will be delivered in X months.

It's not a 'stable' income, because of delays outside my control, but then I don't work on it until I have what I need. This means delivery dates slip, and you don't get paid, but then you don't have to be logged in for a specific amount of time or fill in timesheets, etc. You also need to fix your bugs without getting paid.

It works well as additional income but I wouldn't recommend it as the main source of income, unless you have 2, 3 clients on the go at the same time.

[TheGreenBastard]

You could also go down the route of defrauding clients and taking multiple T&M contracts at the same time without having the guts to tell the client or add appropriate terms to the contract. There are a few numpties around here that do this. Fine, of course, if you're upfront about it and you have the time - it's your life to waste.

"Guts to tell", OP, that's all you need to know about this clown's take on the power dynamic between contractor and client [the word your mind should immediately go to is "cuck"].

JazzyFry remember you're a business, your contracts shouldn't have much emphasis on specific hours (if they're outside), you shouldn't be upfront about anything other than doing the task at hand and delivering. Don't forget the folk round these parts are mostly permietractors that spend their lives on the forum, talking people down and crying murder if you don't fulfil your full 8 hour's work like a good little permieslave.

I think you probably need a re-programming, what the client really wants is delivery.

In terms of fixed price work, it's mostly about growing your network, then such gigs come around more often, just landed myself another gig with a US client connected to a previous client. Naturally multi-gigging doesn't just accelerate income, it accelerates network building by its very nature. You obviously have to be sufficiently capable; time keeping is arguably the fundamental skill.

[jamesbrown]

Moth to a flame.

[JazzyFry]

Happy to announce that I have secured my fist fixed price contract, worth in the 10k's. The client came to me literally the day after my post.
I'll be building an innovating solutions from scratch and I'm very chuffed about it. Shall it be successful it will be the start of ambitious ventures.

Many thanks to all of you for sharing some insights.

@jamebrown you act like a nay sayer.

[JazzyFry]

As others have said. As a one man band you don't really 'find' fixed price contracts. The fixed priced contracts find you.

I have been providing this type of service for a large client (with gaps between work packages) for just under 18 months now for extra income.The only reason I got this work arrangement is because the client knew me and wanted me to work on a specific project. All other contractors are inside. I am the only one outside. I don't work set hours or have core times.

They say - can you do this for us? I look at it and if I want it I say yes, this is how much it's going to cost you, and it will be delivered in X months.

It's not a 'stable' income, because of delays outside my control, but then I don't work on it until I have what I need. This means delivery dates slip, and you don't get paid, but then you don't have to be logged in for a specific amount of time or fill in timesheets, etc. You also need to fix your bugs without getting paid.

It works well as additional income but I wouldn't recommend it as the main source of income, unless you have 2, 3 clients on the go at the same time.

Would you be able to share some tips with me? I am still negotiating the way the project will be paid.
Trying to set milestones right now, and getting as precise of a spec as I can.

In your experience, what are the key points to focus on for a project not to become a can of worms?
How to keep the client happy whilst within healthy boundaries?

[northernladuk]

@jamebrown you act like a nay sayer.

Because we've had many many post on a similar vein that just won't work and we have to guide the OP through every step when they just aren't ready and it gets a bit tiring.

You are one in many hundreds that have managed to secure it but you are still one in many hundreds that still struggling with it. It's just rinse and repeat which as I say, gets very tiring. For some people, the best advice we can give is don't do it.

[WTFH]

I am still negotiating the way the project will be paid.
Trying to set milestones right now, and getting as precise of a spec as I can.

In your experience, what are the key points to focus on for a project not to become a can of worms?
How to keep the client happy whilst within healthy boundaries?

You've agreed a price without agreeing what the spec is or how it will be delivered?

Normally when I have done a fixed price contract, it isn't "secured" until the client has signed off the contract, which includes things like:
An agreement on how and when a payment will be made.
What is the scope and approx timescale.
What is out of scope.
What I expect from them (testing, etc).
What documentation/support I will provide.
What my response time will be. (both in terms of support and when receiving requests etc from the client)
Who can contact me (if it's a large organisation you want to limit who you have to deal with)
What my charges are for any project creep.

[eek]

You've agreed a price without agreeing what the spec is or how it will be delivered?

Normally when I have done a fixed price contract, it isn't "secured" until the client has signed off the contract, which includes things like:
An agreement on how and when a payment will be made.
What is the scope and approx timescale.
What is out of scope.
What I expect from them (testing, etc).
What documentation/support I will provide.
What my response time will be. (both in terms of support and when receiving requests etc from the client)
Who can contact me (if it's a large organisation you want to limit who you have to deal with)
What my charges are for any project creep.

You're being generous there. I don't even think about the scope until the contract for x days analysis at £x an hour has been approved.

That will generate a statement of work from which the client gets a (very high level) overview followed by an estimate for the total price of the work.

And if they want fixed price we toss in an extra 25% leeway to cover overrun risk.