How much should I charge?

mdpepper1 · Dec 27, 2012

Hi guys,

I am new to the forum. My name's David and I am in my final year of university studying Computer Science.

I have experience in building apps in android and windows 7 platforms

For my dissertation, I will be building an android app for a local orgnisation. The functionality of the app will include the following:

1. Immediate GPS coordinates detection when user wants their position to be located and stored.
2. Backend database to contain this GPS information along with other pieces of data
3. link up to an internal server to synchronise with the database on the phone

I mention these 3 functionalities as I believe they are the separate areas of the app development which would contain their own 'costing structures'

I am a very fair individual and I would never charge over the odds based on my skill levels. I know I do not have those letters after my name just yet, so I cannot charge the full rate.

My questions are

1. If I were a qualified graduate, which I will be in a few months, how much would this type of app cost?

2. if I am to spend 200-300 hours developing this app, how much should I, as an undergraduate but with some experience and all of the resources at my disposal, charge?

I understand it is a very open question and that generalisation will be necessary. But please help me understand this world of paid IT work into which I am about to embark upon.

Many thanks,
David

Redgum1 · Dec 27, 2012

Just to clarify is this you developing an app for someone else to market or are you going to release it on the play store yourself?

Gomjaba · Dec 27, 2012

I am not a developer but surely people wouldn't spend more for an app because of the developer's qualifications.

When I buy an app all "I" care about is how well the app is made, how buggy it is and whether it does what it says on the tin.

I don't think many people will research the developer at all.

Above applies of course by you developing the app and releasing it yourself on the play store.

If however you develop an app for someone else - then yes, credentials matter a lot more but unfortuantely so does the price.

You can be Andy Rubin himself but if the app is just horrible / unuseable then you won't get a single dime for it.

mdpepper1 · Dec 27, 2012

Thanks for your responses guys.

The app will be bespoke for the company to distribute amongst a section of its stakeholders. I will not be selling it myself.

There will be a predefined list of deliverables that must be met in order to finalise the deal. I suppose this means that there is no difference in me or a professional doing it. I have no idea what to ask them for though...

krazyasif786 · Dec 27, 2012

This is not a definitive answer but just a few points to consider. By no means am I a techie or had experience in this area, just thought i'd share some views.

You could simply decide by doing a simple Cost vs Benefit, profit / loss or break even.

Things to consider when deciding how much to charge

- How much will it cost you to make the app?
This includes any software that you have to buy, any materials, etc
Obviously, this depends. If the software was worth like $10,000 then that's unrealistic to charge one client for that.

- How much time will it take to make the app?
How much do you feel you need to charge per hour?

mdpepper1 · Dec 30, 2012

has anyone else got any ideas on this?

James_Bond · Jan 5, 2013

Your time is worth money. Period. You don

TomyMurphy · Jan 5, 2013

Think about it from the consumer's perspective. How much is the app worth to them? This is extremely important. Eventually your app is going to be pirated. There for, if the app isn't worth 5 dollars to the consumer and that's how much you are charging they will just pirate it. If the app isn't worth anything to the consumer then they will also pirate it. I'd suggest pricing it as low as you can get away with.

sohguanh · Jan 5, 2013

On the contrary, if users pirate it mean your apps do SERVE some needs that they want isn't it? It is just that you do not get compensated monetary gains for your effort but maybe on a more higher level of "emotional satisfaction" you make their daily lives better. It has been a long time since we reflect on satisfaction that goes beyond monies *sigh* but then of cuz we need to put bread on the table so I would say we can only hope the conscience of those users who pirate our apps to come back and pay for it.

screenprintr · Jan 6, 2013

Also consider whose going to buy your app. What Target Market. What are they spending now? How much is my competition charging? What does your app really do?

Deleted User · Jan 7, 2013

OP, if you already have an idea how long it will take you, why not figure out what people in the job you're wanting to work in would make doing work for that length of time? Shave a little bit off since you're still in school (%15 strikes me as a round number to shave off, but I'm picking it arbitrarily), and go from there.

electricpete · Jan 8, 2013

uchat · Jan 9, 2013

If I read your post correctly, it sounds like someone is going to hire you to write app for them, right?

In this case, charge them a freelance rate. I would say about $20/hr given you do not have real-word experience to show for. Remember that any college student can make about $9/hr working in-campus mobbing floor, $20 is reasonable for first programming job.

Again, don't let them know about odesk, where they can hire experienced programmers oversea for about $15/hr.

BigRedGonzo · Jan 9, 2013

The way I read it, you are building an app for an entity and that app will be used by that entity. As was stated earlier, a contract is very important, but just as important is a scope of work. Lay out all the deliverables and document them in the scope of work. Make sure your contract states that you will deliver the components listed in the deliverables section of the scope of work. What happens very often is that someone, like yourself, enters into a contract with an "idea" of what the client wants. Then the client (or yourself) have a brilliant idea and suddenly they are expecting you to deliver that brilliant idea also. This is known as Scope Creep and can mean the difference in making a profit and losing money on a project. If the client wants something beyond the scope of work, you and they agree to an added cost for the change and that is tacked onto what your original price was.

Good Luck,
BigRedGonzo

How much should I charge?

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