Charging for calls (curious about general business practises)

[ntown]

Background: I am a software engineer with a career in banking (derivatives) in a previous life. First time contractor, overseas client startup firm, outside IR35, working practises questionnaire all filled and some comfort from qdos on that side of things and the contract.

Question: Do you charge clients for catchup calls? (No the client is not controlling my work, I think it's reasonable for them to want casual status updates and see what they are paying for).

I charge for technical calls e.g. requirements gathering or if the client asks if I wouldn't mind liaising with other contractors/freelancers e.g. IT ops/other devs about the project.

Infrequent short 15 minute calls just seem like a cost of being a business owner though to maintain client relationships. Having said that a solicitor would never take that view

Would be nice to hear your thoughts

[NotAllThere]

Any work I do for a client is charged. Including calls. Why wouldn't they be? It's work.

Also, this part of the forum, General, is a bearpit. Better to post in Business/Contracts.

[Paralytic]

What is your contractual arrangement with your client, eg, are you paid by the hour, by the day, via deliverables/SOWs? That should stipulate whether these calls are included. If not, I'd be charging, unless you otherwise come to an agreement with them that you don't want to. It also depends on what the calls are. eg, if you consider them as pre-sales, with a view to getting further work, i'd be less likely to charge.

[vetran]

if you are providing benefit (i.e. oh to solve your problem don't do XYZ or do ABC and subject to contract) then charge if its just house keeping (so see you 9am on Friday) then free.

[northernladuk]

What is your contractual arrangement with your client, eg, are you paid by the hour, by the day, via deliverables/SOWs? That should stipulate whether these calls are included. If not, I'd be charging, unless you otherwise come to an agreement with them that you don't want to. It also depends on what the calls are. eg, if you consider them as pre-sales, with a view to getting further work, i'd be less likely to charge.

This. Should have all been agreed up front before you started and the type of engagement will drive what's chargeable or not so the devil is the details that you'll have to go look at.