Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: Do you charge a consulting fee?

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Topic: Do you charge a consulting fee?

Mark Gulbrandsen
Resident Trollmaster

Posts: 16657
From: Music City
Registered: Jun 99

posted 04-25-2002 06:43 PM

I'm wondering how many of you dealers out there actually charge a consulting fee to do a quote, or to do a site visit? We are considering taking this approach but then crediting the customer that amount if he goes ahead with the job. This would in effect help weed out time wasting customers and if one does end up putting up with them at least you'd get paid for your time spent...or possibly wasted.
Mark @ GTS

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Richard Hamilton
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1341
From: Evansville, Indiana
Registered: Jan 2000

posted 04-25-2002 11:08 PM

for $100.00,an hour, I'll answer that!!!

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John Anastasio
Master Film Handler

Posts: 325
From: Trenton, NJ, USA
Registered: Sep 2000

posted 04-26-2002 07:24 AM

You're right, Mark. It weeds out the weenies and cheapskates. I've always charged $100/hr for broadcast consulting and nobody's ever complained. Now and then if a client has an easily solved problem, I pop in, fix it and don't charge. Keep 'em happy, keep 'em running and the phone will keep ringing. I consider my clients more than just a source of income and I know they appreciate that. For that price, I always wear a tie.

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Steve Guttag
We forgot the crackers Gromit!!!

Posts: 12814
From: Annapolis, MD
Registered: Dec 1999

posted 04-26-2002 08:17 AM

Mark,

I see no problem with your approach. We do charge consulting fees for the design and layout of the system. While the initial visit is often on the house (depending on how far away the potential customer is), at some point, time is money.

Steve

------------------
"Old projectionists never die, they just changeover!"

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Bob Maar
(Maar stands for Maartini)

Posts: 28608
From: New York City & Newport, RI
Registered: Feb 2001

posted 04-26-2002 08:23 AM

Mark, I would agree that this is a proper way to run the business. However if the person making the request is a customer for whom you have done a lot of work and buys his supplies from you, I would probably continue giving him free advice and buy him lunch or dinner.

Bob

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Pete Naples
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1565
From: Dunfermline, Scotland
Registered: Feb 2001

posted 04-26-2002 10:22 AM

AFAIK We don't charge anything for the initial contact/consultation/visit whateveryawannacallit. However as said above, time is money, so all design work etc is built into the price of a job.

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Mark Gulbrandsen
Resident Trollmaster

Posts: 16657
From: Music City
Registered: Jun 99

posted 04-26-2002 10:36 AM

We do always take very good care of our many loyal customers. We do buy them lunch/dinner on occasion, and even a Martini if they want one. There are always time wasters that call you and we were just discussing the best way to weed them out. And if you do charge them a consulting fee and they go through with the job then they would get that back as a credit towards the job.
Mark @ GTS

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Bob Maar
(Maar stands for Maartini)

Posts: 28608
From: New York City & Newport, RI
Registered: Feb 2001

posted 04-26-2002 10:40 AM

Mark,

When you come to New York I will pretend I am your customer and let's go for Martini''s they are better than lunch.

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Gordon McLeod
Film God

Posts: 9532
From: Toronto Ontario Canada
Registered: Jun 99

posted 04-26-2002 11:10 AM

I will often charge for design fees that are discounted from the purchase price if we get the order

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Will Kutler
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1506
From: Tucson, AZ, USA
Registered: Feb 2001

posted 04-26-2002 07:15 PM

Mark..

I have been involved with several projects and did what I could to help out some small independant theaters....needless to say that Mr. Nice Guy here allowed his brain to be picked for nothing because he thought that he was going to get contracts....from now on, I charge, unless I have a written contract where the consulting fee is figured in!

Also, for anyone who services small independants...make sure that the client has cash up front to pay you for services rendered! I have already been screwed!

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Dave Williams
Wet nipple scene

Posts: 1836
From: Salt Lake City, UT, USA
Registered: Jan 2000

posted 04-28-2002 12:51 AM

Mark,

any chance my former employers are one of those time wasting cheapskates?

Dave

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