5 replies to this topic

[Microbiologist Scientist]

Hi!
As a independent contractor (food safety trainer), should I collect half of my fees and personal expenses in advance?
I have to travel for 3 days.
How can I do it?

[SQFconsultant]

As consultants and trainers we require all professional fees and estimated expenses upfront -- we learned a long time ago to not back-bill, oh the stories!

 

On expenses we simple calculate what we are going to spend, pad that by about 25% and then once we are back in the office we run the receipts and if we over-estimated (by at least $50) we refund the difference - if on the other hand we under-estimated we bill for the difference.

 

Interestingly enought we almost always hit the expenses within dollars.

 

Now, we do a straight project rate for everything that includes all estimated expenses.

[Microbiologist Scientist]

Thanks SQFconsultant, very helpful information.
Can you please explain me the process you used to collect yor expenses and fees.
This is my first time doing this. I believe the client send me the contact and I will send him my bank information with the contract back. Is this right???
Thanks

[SQFconsultant]

Thanks SQFconsultant, very helpful information.
Can you please explain me the process you used to collect yor expenses and fees.
This is my first time doing this. I believe the client send me the contact and I will send him my bank information with the contract back. Is this right???
Thanks

Sure.

No, you send the prospective client a contract.

 

We send a service offer that details everything we chatted about, all rates, expenses, location, expiration dates, etc.etc We include option for payment by bank wire, Bitcoin or Credit/Debit card - we do not take checks.  Our service offer once signed becomes both our invoice and contract.

[Microbiologist Scientist]

Hi!!!
When we charge a training section by day.
Do we have to specific in the contract how many hours a day?
Thanks

[SQFconsultant]

We use a standard of 8 hours with 30 minutes for lunch and 2 breaks of 15 minutes each - With that said we don't charge by the hour, only by the project as we might take less than the 8 hours and if more we don't charge for the overage - frankly for training we come close to actual stated.