freelance - what to charge

[Anonymous]

I have a CAD drafting business for 10+ years.  I have primarily drawn new house plans and some remodels.  I have a production builder that would like me to clean up their existing plans and keep a library of their plans so that if they have a problem in the future with corrupt plans, they can come to me and obtain an fresh copy.  

The plans have been worked on by several technicians.  Some of them were created in Builders CAD and exported to .dwg.  I don't know if Builders CAD has the option to export and keep the layers for the plan along with keeping hatches as one entity, or if the techs just did it wrong.  Either way, the situation seems to be drawings with everything on one layer and or hatches that have been exploded.  I can see this becoming very time consuming to correct.  

Does anyone have an idea of how you would approach pricing something like this.  I wouldn't want to sacrifice making the money I could make drawing a new house plan in the less time than it could take to try to correct one of these plans. They are a large company in our area and I suppose it would be beneficial to be able to say I did work for them.  I was thinking about having them give me a plan to correct at an hourly rate of $35.  Then letting us both find out how much time it would take to complete the correction.  I don't know what or if to charge for keeping a library of their plans.

Would love to hear any ideas.  Thanks!!!

P. S. Not sure if this is in the best category.  Please let me know if I should post it elsewhere.

[Anonymous]

I have a CAD drafting business for 10+ years.  I have primarily drawn new house plans and some remodels.  I have a production builder that would like me to clean up their existing plans and keep a library of their plans so that if they have a problem in the future with corrupt plans, they can come to me and obtain an fresh copy.  

The plans have been worked on by several technicians.  Some of them were created in Builders CAD and exported to .dwg.  I don't know if Builders CAD has the option to export and keep the layers for the plan along with keeping hatches as one entity, or if the techs just did it wrong.  Either way, the situation seems to be drawings with everything on one layer and or hatches that have been exploded.  I can see this becoming very time consuming to correct.  

Does anyone have an idea of how you would approach pricing something like this.  I wouldn't want to sacrifice making the money I could make drawing a new house plan in the less time than it could take to try to correct one of these plans. They are a large company in our area and I suppose it would be beneficial to be able to say I did work for them.  I was thinking about having them give me a plan to correct at an hourly rate of $35.  Then letting us both find out how much time it would take to complete the correction.  I don't know what or if to charge for keeping a library of their plans.

Would love to hear any ideas.  Thanks!!!

P. S. Not sure if this is in the best category.  Please let me know if I should post it elsewhere.

[john.vellek]

Hi midpitts and welcome to the Community!

I am not sure you posted your question in the correct forum or location. I would think that AUGI might give you more responses. At any rate, since prices vary by region and discipline it is hard to give you an exact price.

I think your approach of taking on the first conversion at an hourly rate (and maybe a not to exceed amount) would be a good starting point. It would give you a better idea of what is involved.

Please hit the Accept as Solution button if my post fully solves your issue or answers your question.

[pendean]

Are they actually wanting to pay you to fix the files? That's rare, most don't care what your problems are as long as they get the print they need.
And no company is going to agree to an open-ended fee proposal like that.

Find a compromise: if, IF, they want to pay for the cleanup... you decide if you think you can get it done in 2-4-6-8 hours and propose a fixed-fee to the client for the job. Then you eat any overage in time "as marketing" since there is a benefit you want to get out of it, namely "... They are a large company in our area and I suppose it would be beneficial to be able to say I did work for them...".

Good luck.