By Robert Vlach Original version in Czech here: http://navolnenoze.cz/blog/balicky/
Pack like a Pro!
It may look easy, but preparing super time packages
for the client can be quite complex. They´re simple for the client, but not for
you. It is an advanced form of pricing, which needs extra care and caution.
Customers will find your packages convenient and will take them gladly but what
would you do, if you sold ten of them and didn´t know what to do first?
To spare you the frustration of exploring all
possible stalemates, here are some tips and recommendations on how to use super
time packages. Some of them you can use directly, others may at least inspire
you.
-Test your package on one good, loyal
client.
Wait for him to use all of the time in the
package to get a first-hand and complete feedback. It can vary in many aspects.
- Offer two, three variations at max
I personally use 30 or 50 hour packages, but
there´s no reason for not starting on 20 and ending on 100 hours - if you dare.
- Use one basic universal hourly rate
Super packages have a significant impact on your
workflow, which can lead to losing control of your time when trying to manage
multiple hourly rates.
- Package should be attractive
A 10% discount on 50 hours package won´t impress
anybody. The key is to combine discounts for the client in order to get a bigger
revenue.
- Respect your discount ceiling
On the other hand, define a maximum discount you
can provide, even for your best client, and never exceed it.
- Always limit your offer´s validity
An optimal period is somewhere between 2 and 8
weeks. A Longer validity is risky, because there can be a change of
circumstances, that influence the optimal discount height.
- Don´t limit the time of consumption
Even if your hourly rate ranges can change
during the year, don´t push your client to use his hours; he should always be comfortable
with you! A client doesn´t always know, how long he´ll take to use such a big
package of hours. You don´t really have to worry about him calling you after a
year with a pile of demands. Everybody understands, that after such a long
pause, you can´t just dump everything all at once. And even if something like
this happens, you should always keep a reserve to handle these kind of
situations.
- Specify, that the offer is not transferable
In other words, that it is connected to a
specific client, situation, period etc.
- Keep a precise timesheet
Send it to your client after using all of the
hours or on his demand. There are great tools for that, such as primaERP TimeTracking (I use my own personal CRM)
- Include a description of the service
The timesheet should reflect the content of the
invoice - that way it is easy to pair it together. Invoices for your packages
are quite high and should be properly explained in the possibility of a tax or
financial audit.
- Connect packages with project milestones
Try to avoid running out of “package time” in
the middle of the project - Notify your client in advance and try to estimate
when the time will be up and what you can do until then.
- Agree on some maneuvering space
I have an agreements with some of my clients,
that I can spend a portion of the package for my own ideas on how to improve
their business and for developing it.
- Establish exceptions for creative work
Authors can limit the package to common work and
add to the terms of cooperation explicitly, that their time shouldn´t be used
for exceptional creative
workwith a higher license cost. You can also mention the possibility
to order it specifically in the agreement.
- Dividing the payment is an option
It is a bit against the general idea of an accumulative
discount (discount for early payment) but you can arrange the first payment to
be higher than it should
be for the respective amount of hours. You then have an option for the other
payments to receive the full price and time.
- Don´t include other´s work in your packet
You might need to go beyond the possibilities of
this tool. You are the master of your own time- reselling the time of your
contractors to your clients is very risky.
- Limit the amount of sold packages
You don´t have to offer everything to anybody.
It is your choice, not an obligation. If I know from my own experience, that I
can manage 6 long-term clients at once, I should respect it for my own good.
What does the client think about this?
During
the time I have been offering these packages, a few other professionals around
me have started to use them as well. I put myself in the position of the
client, who buys them. It is a very comfortable way for a long term
cooperation, even across multiple projects, especially in the means of the
billing process. However, it is first of all a great deal. Sometimes I could
even get a 50% discount. This is the right business, because business should be
fair and mutually beneficial and trust me: the other side of the coin is just
as right as the first one.
About the author:
Robert Vlach is a Czech enterprising consultant, lecturer as well as an author and an editor-in-chief of the portal navolnenoze.cz (bĆ½t na volne noze translates as "to be on a free foot", meaning to be a freelancer), the Czech Republic´s leading platform for freelancers to meet, share information and advertise.
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