What is the best method to charge by hour or by project?

Question for consultants with many years of experience

 

What is the best method to charge by hour or by project?

 

I have three project pending quoatation. Ice Cream, Juice and Bakery

 

 

Hours always causeded proplems for us when we started 14 year ago.

You are open for nit-picking on hours.

With exception of low housr ptojcts 90% of our business in project based

check out this certification program for restaurant consultants. They would know  :spoton:

I worked for a close friend who consults, he would pay me hourly to assist on projects as needed.  His model is to contract a large price for the full job, the contract goal is usually to pass the upcoming audit (with written steps he sees necessary to hit that goal).  He explains to them to think of it as a retainer that keeps him attached to the plant as long as necessary to fulfill the steps.  It avoids conflicts, such as when a company expected him to be on site for x amount of hours per day and tried to chastise him for "being late" to the office while "employed" as their consultant.

 

You're bringing a set of skills and abilities that the company obviously doesn't have on their own, or else they wouldn't be hiring a consultant on their own.  You can set a fixed price for that service and avoid getting nitpicky with hours that are ultimately impossible to verify.