Average Fee for writing an Access Database

[David]

I have asked someon to write for me a database in access.
It will take him about two days to write it. What is the
average fee for this, I do not want to be overcharged.

 

[Mike Painter]

I have asked someon to write for me a database in access.
It will take him about two days to write it. What is the
average fee for this, I do not want to be overcharged.

I bill at $50.00 an hour and reserve the right to bill for *everything* and
that includes fixing mistakes that are actually mine rather than the "That's
not what I meant" variety. I rarely do charge for my mistakes but the option
is there. (There's a long reason for this but I took the idea from an
accounting package that started at $10,000 and was bought by people who
needed extensive modifications to it.)

So two days work would be in the $800.00 range.

 

[Steveleeshin]

-----Original Message-----
I have asked someon to write for me a database in access.
It will take him about two days to write it. What is the
average fee for this, I do not want to be overcharged.
.

I normally charge 100.00 per hour for Access programming.
However, depending on the project, I will sometimes simply
quote a price depending on the project. I don't know how
simple or complicated your project is so it's hard to make
that determination. If you want to give me some more info
on your project, I will give you a better estimate.

Steve

 

[Albert D. Kallal]

Your question is much like asking how big of a ball of string do you need to
reach between two cities? Answer: it depends on how far the cities are
apart!

In several serious software studies, the productivity of developers on a
team varied by as much as 100 to 1.

That means if your developer is good, you are getting 200 days worth of
work. If the developer is poor, then you are getting ripped off.

So, even if two developers charge $50 per hour, one developer could be 10
times as productive, and thus is really only costing your $5 per hour.

I am suspicious that what you ask for is only a two day job...but then
again, I have no idea what it is you are asking for.

I would say, you need to ask the developer is there any previous customers
that you can talk to, and even better go down and meet and see the actual
application running that the developer wrote (this is about the best thing
you can do to check if "other" people are happy with the developers
work..AND YOU go and see it run!).

If the developer is good, he will be happy to bring you to one of his
previous clients, and show the appellation running in the "real world". It
pays to shop around, and ask questions.

In the yellow pages, most fence builders for the same kind of fence will be
quite close in price (maybe a factor of 2 times different for the same job
at most). In software, the product is that of the human mind, and thus time
factors will vary by much larger numbers as the limits are not how fast you
can take fence posts out of the back of a truck (humans can only move so
fast)

Software on the other hand is a product with no physical attributes, and
thus the only limitations of software is the human mind. When it comes to
the human mind...things vary by a large amount..and your best bet is the
best talent you can afford.

I know many people who can play music. I know many people who can write
software. However, the Dixie chicks can easily fill a stadium based on their
talent, while the next person is stringing a guitar for change down the
street. The same difference applies to software...and you want to get the
best star for your money...

Talent makes a HUGE difference in software...but for putting up fences..you
don't have to worry as much compared to software.

Get the best talented developer with the best reputation you can afford..

 

[Niklas Östergren]

Excuse me if this Q is a little bit of topic and odd. But what might be done
in 2 day´s? A complete db with entryforms, all sort of reports and some
other functionality built in (validation, automatizing etc.)???

I´m asking since I´m not a professional and I know how long time it takes
for me. But can it realy be done to create a complete good designed db in 2
days? I mean in most of the times the first stage is to collect which data
to store and then to find out what the user want´s to get out of the db and
what functionality he/she expects. Then to deliver a beta version,
evaluation, deliver the first version together with a user manual. All
within 2 days???

I know that you guy´s are probably 10 maby 100 times faster than me but
there´s a lot of working task´s to be done which is why I ask!

// Niklas

 

[Arvin Meyer [MVP]]

I have asked someon to write for me a database in access.
It will take him about two days to write it. What is the
average fee for this, I do not want to be overcharged.

David,

If I were you, I'd be more concerned about the quality of the work, rather
than the rate per hour. I'd also be concerned with what you think you can
achieve in 2 days. If your requirements are extraordinarily simple, 2 days
may be sufficient. Typically, 2 days builds the tables and perhaps a few
queries, a form, and a report. If the requirements are very simple, (i.e.
little or no validation, code, etc.) you can achieve more.
--
Arvin Meyer, MCP, MVP
Microsoft Access
Free Downloads
http://www.datastrat.com
http://www.mvps.org/access

 

[Brendan Reynolds]

I agree with Arvin's comments elsewhere in this thread - it would be an
unusually simple business application that could be completed in two days.

It's possible, though, that the developer may not be developing a new
application from scratch, but modifying an existing application to meet the
customer's specific requirements.

 

[Jeff Boyce]

David

That depends... (as you've heard from other responders <g>)

How well "spec'd" are your requirements?

How "bullet proof" do you require the application to be?

How many "bells & whistles" do you require?

Do you expect maintenance/support to be available?

(and many, many more!)

Jeff Boyce
<Access MVP>