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Joined: Sep 2000
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I have two requests of my fellow GQII friends:

#1--I am beginning a new business venture and need a group of folks who are willing to give me their opinions and ideas about some things. For example, I am going to provide a service that I believe in 100% and believe is desperately needed in the world today--yet most of the time this service is so highly priced that "normal" middle-class folks have trouble affording it. What are some creative ways that I could accept payment for my service? Any alternative payment method ideas? Normally people pay "by the hour" or "salary" or "a set fee per month" -- can you suggest any other options that would TOTALLY work for you but is not the typical way of doing business. Anyway--I'm hoping that a couple folks, who are willing to brainstorm with me, will email me at my MB email address: cindy_cj_wolfe@hotmail.com


Thanks for your help guys and chicks! I just need some creative ideas here!

Last edited by FaithfulWifeCJ; 05/20/07 04:49 PM.
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Is it a service that lends itself to a pro rata charge?

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Just to be sure we're on the same page, by "pro rata" you mean like proportionally...or bit by bit as it's getting done?

Hmmmmm...maybe! <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

So are you suggesting that there be something like: 1) CJ provides X, you pay A; 2) CJ provides Y, you pay B; etc?? Maybe we could have a goal, steps to the goal, and graduated payments as those goals are met!

Good question Longhorn! Am I on the right track?

--CJ

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WHy not do a set fee per week like the rent to own store?


A loving heart is the beginning of all knowledge.
Thomas Carlyle
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Okay, don't know what kind of service you are talking about, but I always was interested in someone who could come into a home and rearrange and decorate it. My friend has a gift of just making everything look lovely by the way she arranges things.

There are some people who do it here in San Diego, but there is a 4 hour minimum and they charge $200. an hour. I have always thought about a business with her ($200. an hour, and my 2 sons, $20. an hour), but with no minimum. In case you wondered, sons would be the ones who moved things.

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That's where I was headed, CJ.

Depending on what this “service” is and how well it lends itself to being separated (or defined) into a series of subordinate work tasks (and groupings), perhaps you could charge for each individual work unit.

Alternately, it could be a layered service commitment. Maybe the scenario could go something like: CJ does sub-services A, B, and C which gives you a Level I service. If the customer desires, CJ can do all those, plus sub-services D, E, F, and G which total a Level II service, etc., etc.

Since you're holding those cards really close to the vest, I don't have any idea where to go from there.

<img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

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Salary is what employer pays a worker. Are you asking a payroll type question? Or is it a vendor vs customer fee type question? Big difference.

L.

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Strivn--a fee for a week...Hmmm! Good idea!!! I kind of like that idea because breaking it up into a weekly cost makes it seem "doable" whereas hourly or monthly seem so expensive! I like your creative thinking though...wanna join the brainstorm team??

believer--okay, sorry sis but I'm not understanding your suggestion. Are you saying maybe I could price similar to the competition but have no minimum? Like, I'll charge $XX amount and you don't have to commit to a long project? Something like that? Are you saying to make it more affordable to "middle class" folks by letting 'em choose to do smaller bits at a time? I'm trying to creatively hear your idea but I'm not QUITE there! HELP!!

Longhorn--there's a reason why I'm keeping the cards close to the vest. I don't want this to become a thread that's like an "advertisement." I just thought there are a LOT of really smart people here on MB in all kinds of walks of life, and I want to come up with a unique pricing method that I feel is fair compensation to me but is also a way that any person could afford. Typical methods for my service are "hourly", "monthly, "quarterly" or as you suggested with the "Levels of Service." I LIKE both of your suggestions though (price by goal...price by level of service)...so wanna join the brainstorming team?



--CJ

P.S. The brainstorming team is just people who I bounce ideas off of...in order to stimulate a better service at a better price.

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ok, i will email you because i need to know what kind of business this is before i can commnet. also, i will check out your business if you check out mine! so expect some of MY business info in your email <img src="/ubbt/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />

mlhb

(i'll email you after church)


God first, family second, and all else will fall into place.

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I emailed you, too. I told you a little about my business, too.

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Quote
I have a free email newsletter coming out


This IS a form of advertising and/or solicitation especially in view of the type of business I'm quite sure you are offering.

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Okay--

In order to be a good citizen, I removed the email newsletter thingy. I thought since it was free that it would be cool, but I can see your point of view.

We (my DH and I) are starting a website service for churches, specifically protestant churches--not that we are being exclusive but since WE are protestant we are trying to stay with our beliefs. Anyway, it has been our experience that churches do not use the internet to its fullest advantage, and that the Church today desperately needs to reach out to people and bring the good news in every possible way...and they don't! Lots of church websites are about as interesting as a church bulletin (yawn) or just a black and white, typed page. We (DH and I) both have experience and talent in creating pretty, colorful web pages and we both have computer knowledge how to buy a domain name...find a good or free host...how to upload the pretty site we made...and how to KEEP it up-to-date and vital after that! In short, our hope is to minister to churches by offering them a stylish, lively, interesting website that people could go to both to learn about the church and what they believe...and to possibly become interested and hear the gospel! We are commanded to "go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature" and DH and I personally believe that includes on the internet too!

BUT...as you know...most website people either want $100/hour or a huge fee per site or monthly/quarterly maintenance...and the cost is just UNATTAINABLE for a church! I mean, let's face it...most churches have NO extra money! So how do I price it so that it's attainable but I'm getting something of value for my service?

That's why I liked Longhorn's ideas of by the goal (I took that to mean maybe a price per page...or for maintenance we do 1 change per week) or by the level (Level 1 is a 3-page site with 1 change a week...Level 2 is a 5-page site with some links and 3 changes a week...Level 3 is a 7-page site with two levels of links and a change each day). I also like Strivn's idea about just charging $XX per week, because I think to a church that might be doable (especially where $XXX per month seems so high!).

Sooooooooo...I'm not trying to be all secretive here. I just didn't want to be a big ad and now it sort of IS.


--CJ

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CJ - there is a reason why prices are so high, I'm sorry but I am going to rain on your parade...

Static webpages are easy to create but difficult to maintain. Ever try to get every single page of a multipage site to look identical without using some sort of scripting?

You will find that most people expect far more than they are willing to pay for and want far more changes - because you didnt interpret what they wanted in the first place correctly...

Or they ask for really crazy stuff that makes no sense to put on a static html page - like list of upcoming events that require constant updating...or long list of books, photos, links, etc.

Links do not cost anything to create...its a line of HTML? I'm not sure why you would price things based on number links....number of pages perhaps and a monthly fee.

And what constitutes a page? If you are charging per page, whats to stop me from putting everything on one long page?


Are you going to resell the hosting space? Or are they going to get their own? Reseller services are not terribly expensive but you get what you pay for...but regardless,then you have alot of hosting accounts to maintain and service...

If you need more than static pages (and you will), now you either are eductating yourself on the fine art of Javascript, PHP, ASP and SQL. Or you have to pay for someone to do it for you.

And then suddenly that nice cheap reseller host is not cutting it because now you need access to your own database, and you need shell access for certain things, or the server owner is locking down your accounts because you are using too many resources. So now you have to move all your accounts - UGH - to more expensive server - which will also expect you to do alot more of your own server maintenance...

Web design prices are high not because people are raking in cash...but because there is alot more to a webdesign business than making a pretty pages...

Last edited by BrambleRose; 05/20/07 10:42 PM.

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