Business development opportunity

**pmeswani** · 25 October 2010, 10:04

Originally posted by maui50 View Post

Hi all,

I have an opportunity for a new development - which right now, is just the start of something new on the client side, so neither of us are sure yet about where it will go. There is no contract in place yet as it's not clear about what work there is to do yet.

They want me to present to a stakeholder group in a few weeks - they are proposing to pay for my flight to the meeting, and for my hotel for one night. It will basically mean me taking two days out of my current contract to explore this opportunity.

Should I charge this new potential client for two days consulting? Or should I mark it down as 'business development' and take the hit of not having two days' pay from my current client (taking 'leave' like this is not a problem for the current client). I honestly don't know what's appropriate.

Thanks,

maui

Personally speaking, no. All you are doing is scoping their requirements and not implimenting a solution. At the end of the day, they are paying your flights and hotel costs. If I were you, I would put this down as a Business meeting.

**d000hg** · 25 October 2010, 12:58

Are you able to ask them, raise the issue somehow, or don't you have that kind of relationship? Who suggested paying your expenses?

**maui50** · 25 October 2010, 13:56

Originally posted by d000hg View Post

Are you able to ask them, raise the issue somehow, or don't you have that kind of relationship? Who suggested paying your expenses?

Hi d000hg,

I could ask them but that just gives them the opportunity to say no! I'd rather come across as professional - as if this is the kind of thing I do all the time, so I'd rather be very sure about it being the right thing to do to ask them, or not ask and carry on as I currently am. The person who I've been liaising with holds the purse strings to some extent.

I'm not bothered about the loss of income - I could put this down as a couple of days out for an 'interview' of sorts.

**d000hg** · 25 October 2010, 15:17

If you're not bothered and not sure how things lie, seems fair enough. Just make sure it's a nice hotel

If you want to avoid establishing a relationship where you do stuff for free, you could suggest to them you intend to bill for 1/2 or 1 day and be prepared to back down.

**Wanderer** · 25 October 2010, 22:42

Originally posted by pmeswani View Post

Personally speaking, no. All you are doing is scoping their requirements and not implimenting a solution. At the end of the day, they are paying your flights and hotel costs. If I were you, I would put this down as a Business meeting.

Agreed. It's a pre-sales meeting where you get to pitch your companies services. They are very generous to offer to pay your expenses in my opinion and this shows that they are acting in good faith rather than messing you about. Good luck and I hope you get to do some business out of it.

**xchaotic** · 26 October 2010, 09:02

Originally posted by Wanderer View Post

Agreed. It's a pre-sales meeting where you get to pitch your companies services. They are very generous to offer to pay your expenses in my opinion and this shows that they are acting in good faith rather than messing you about. Good luck and I hope you get to do some business out of it.

+1 for this. Just make sure you set the right rate later on in the project so that you make up for it

**maui50** · 28 October 2010, 07:17

Originally posted by d000hg View Post

If you're not bothered and not sure how things lie, seems fair enough. Just make sure it's a nice hotel

If you want to avoid establishing a relationship where you do stuff for free, you could suggest to them you intend to bill for 1/2 or 1 day and be prepared to back down.

Decided to take your advice and asked for 1/2 day - which has been accepted! Problem solved - and we're off on the right footing I feel.

Thanks all.

Business development opportunity