I can see both sides of this one.
Flame is quoting typical professional contractor price for a team. For us indies its different as some can afford to be cheaper from software sales, day jobs and a genuine passion for doing it. So we expect software and services in an indie place like this to be much much cheaper. Think the time you think it will take to finish a job in manhours plus some safety time. Compare it to the deadlines to see if its realistic. Then give that price of X number MHhours to the customer as a single price.
For example:
I did a RPG conversation engine for someone once (an indie) which interfaced with their inventory and event system and my fee was around 200 quid. This was reasonable for 16 manhours of work. I can afford this because i have a day job, have the odd sale from my software and enjoy doing it. They could afford it as it was in their budget.
But if it (custom programming/media) was my sole source of income it would obviously be a lot higher as i would have to make a profit and pay living cost bills, taxes etc. In addition contractors need to think about how much work they can actually get and realistically produce in time. Thats why it contractors, builders and plumbers (even the honest ones :) have to charge huge hourly bills.
Dont forget, when you are actually employed by a company for say $20 its in reality costing them a hell of a lot more than that in taxes, HR/admin, pensions, insurance, healthcare etc. Which if you work for yourself you need to pay all this yourself. Which is the kind of prices flameduck is quoting.
I dont know why this turned into a full-on flamewar anyway, flameduck put in his 2ps worth (way too steep 4 round here, but so what) if thats what his team charges, then fair enough.
But on the other hand offering corporate contract prices to indie programmers is just asking to be roasted :P
Flame is quoting typical professional contractor price for a team. For us indies its different as some can afford to be cheaper from software sales, day jobs and a genuine passion for doing it. So we expect software and services in an indie place like this to be much much cheaper. Think the time you think it will take to finish a job in manhours plus some safety time. Compare it to the deadlines to see if its realistic. Then give that price of X number MHhours to the customer as a single price.
For example:
I did a RPG conversation engine for someone once (an indie) which interfaced with their inventory and event system and my fee was around 200 quid. This was reasonable for 16 manhours of work. I can afford this because i have a day job, have the odd sale from my software and enjoy doing it. They could afford it as it was in their budget.
But if it (custom programming/media) was my sole source of income it would obviously be a lot higher as i would have to make a profit and pay living cost bills, taxes etc. In addition contractors need to think about how much work they can actually get and realistically produce in time. Thats why it contractors, builders and plumbers (even the honest ones :) have to charge huge hourly bills.
Dont forget, when you are actually employed by a company for say $20 its in reality costing them a hell of a lot more than that in taxes, HR/admin, pensions, insurance, healthcare etc. Which if you work for yourself you need to pay all this yourself. Which is the kind of prices flameduck is quoting.
The "go over to Indiegamer" solution is exactly why - not having an indie forum is driving people elsewhere.
I agree. Although i don't see how it will stop these kind of arguments even if it had been posted in a help wanted section.I dont know why this turned into a full-on flamewar anyway, flameduck put in his 2ps worth (way too steep 4 round here, but so what) if thats what his team charges, then fair enough.
But on the other hand offering corporate contract prices to indie programmers is just asking to be roasted :P