Vent: Torn between charging a flat fee or by the hour for my jobs

Some say flat fees keep customers from getting shocked by the bill. Others think hourly is better for tricky stuff, like tracing a bad connection in a crowded board. Where do you stand?

4 comments

4 Comments

holly_grant1mo ago

Yeah I went through that too, ended up doing a mix. I do a flat fee for the basic job, but my quote always says if we open it up and find a huge mess, it switches to hourly. It keeps the price clear for normal jobs but I don't get burned on the nightmare ones. Clients seem okay with it because they know up front what might change.

nelson.seth1mo ago

Brilliant strategy. PROTECTS you from those nightmare jobs while keeping things fair for the client. I've seen too many guys get burned by flat fees alone. This hybrid model is a GAME CHANGER for clear pricing. It sets a baseline but allows for reality checks. Everyone wins with that kind of honesty.

grant.anthony27d ago

Wait, you actually find clients who read the whole quote?

ben3601mo ago

How often does that actually happen?