I need a second std. rate field...

[Alexandra]

Hello.

I work for a consulting company and I'd like to put in my plan the std. rate
we charge the client and the internal rate each resource costs so then I can
see the gross profit.

How can I make another field liek that? I've tried to use a custom cost
field, but I can't get it to work as a rate, like per hour or per day...

thanks a lot

 

[Dave]

It depends on how complex your plan and charging structure are.

If you only have one resource per task or if the difference between the
chargeable rate and internal rate is constant independant of resource,
then you need the formula [Work]*(Chargeable_Rate - Internal_Rate).

If you right click on your custom cost column you will see the option to
insert a formula.

If the difference between chargeable rate and internal rate varies from
task to task or resource to resource, then the problem is far harder.
In that case you will potentially have to use columns to record this
information against each task.

Similarly, if you have multiple resources assigned to a task for whom
the difference between internal and charageable rates is not the same,
you will have to parse out the resources to determine the difference
before multiplying it by the work. This is probably best done by VBA.

You can actually enter different rates for resources (click on the costs
tab after double clicking on a resource name in the resource sheet). If
you do that you can use VBA to calculate the difference and then perform
the calculation.

 

[John]

Hello.

I work for a consulting company and I'd like to put in my plan the std. rate
we charge the client and the internal rate each resource costs so then I can
see the gross profit.

How can I make another field liek that? I've tried to use a custom cost
field, but I can't get it to work as a rate, like per hour or per day...

thanks a lot

Alexandra,
Dave provided several options but let me expand on his last suggestion.
There is a fairly simple way to get what you want without having to use
VBA, although if I were doing this, I would use VBA.

Project has multiple pay rate tables. You can see them as Dave mentioned
by clicking on Resource Information/Costs tab for any given resource on
the Resource Sheet. Rate table "A" is the default and its values show up
in the Std. Rate field on the Resource Sheet. Use one of the other rate
tables (e.g. "B") for your "at price" rates.

To switch between rates, go to the Resource Usage view and insert the
Cost Rate Table field. By selecting the alternate rate table and using
fill down, it is simple to apply different cost rates and re-calculate
all costs at the alternate rate.

I would set aside three spare cost fields. Use one to copy the Cost
field values when rate table "B" is applied. Use the second to copy the
Cost field values when rate table "A" is applied. Customize the third
with a formula that calculates the difference between the two (i.e.
profit).

By applying each cost rate table and then copying the resulting cost
data, the "profit" field will calculate automatically. This method is
not dynamic, that is it only works when you do the manual rate table
application and copy the values, but at least it is straightforward and
will give you what you want.

Hope this helps.
John
Project MVP