Robert Melton

I am a software generalist, and program in dozens of languages, but my current focus is web related. I am comfortable working in the entire web stack, from maintaining my own windows port of Memcache(C++) to WCF(C#) to DJango(Python) and Rails(Ruby), if it is web related, I am probably comfortable with it. My skillset includes heavy AJAX work with most of the major toolkits. Backend and middle-tier are my strong suits.

These prices are subject to change based on project specifics, location and travel, but provide a good general baseline. All prices subject to a 10% discount when paid in 5 business days. For open ended contracts, price will decrease as the length as the contract goes on, for fixed length contracts, rate will be billed at the lowest rate based on length.

Example: A week in a half open ended, 65 hours. 10@160(=1600), 50@145(=7250), 5@120(600) == Total: $9450 ($8505 paid inside of 5 days).
Example: Two Weeks, 80 hours minimum. 80@120(=9600) == Total: $9600 ($8640 paid inside of 5 days).

I insist on doing Time and Materials billing rather than Firm Fixed Price, to protect both the client and myself. Time and Materials is simple, straightforward and gives both contractor and client an easy escape hatch if either side gets uncomfortable. It creates a relationship where the two sides are working together in a positive and proactive manner.

Firm Fixed Price requires the client to know exactly what they want, down to every single feature, and it needs to be documented, debated and agreed apon. This can be a massive time sink prior to the project beginning, and it requires the client to have an high degree of expert knowledge on what it takes to accomplish their goals. At the end of the day, firm fixed price tends to make someone miserable, either the contractor feels they got taken advantage of, or the client feels they didn't get what they paid for... not to mention the constant cost overruns and scheduling issues.