That went well, redux

[redbird]

I just had a nice phone conversation with Dan, the Editor/CTO of the company I've been talking to (yes, that's what his business card says). He seemed quite pleased by the idea that I've got strong editorial skills as well as writing skills. The rates seem good; they'll pay 75% of their normal rate for the first ten hours, which is what he calls a "draft project" to make sure I'm what they're looking for, and 50% as a "research rate," which isn't the serious research I've been doing but means things like "read this book to get up to speed on XYZ." They'd also want up to two hours/week nonbillable to discuss how projects are going, if I'm not the project manager, but he said they don't use those set-aside hours most weeks. Project managers get less than writers/editors, but still a respectable rate: I think I made it clear that I'm willing to do that, but that writing and editing are my strong suits.

After I briefly described my background, he tossed me an absolute softball question: "What do you like to do?" I told him "I like finding things out and explaining them to people." And this looks like a job that will pay me to do that.

What's still up in the air, unfortunately, is how soon they'll have work, and how much. He seemed pretty optimistic about projects coming in soon, though. He's going to have his comptroller send me a contract, which he descrbed as "standard." Since he mentioned non-compete/non-solicitation clauses, I will be looking it over carefully.

Comments

[bibliofile.livejournal.com]

That two hours/week to discuss progress and projects sounds about right. However, it seems to me that they also pay you for that time. Sure, it may be considered overhead for them, but it's billable time for you.

[bibliofile.livejournal.com]

But yes, it sounds like good progress.

Shoot me a copy of the contract if you'd like a second (or fifth) opinion.

[ala-too.livejournal.com]

Yeah, that's what I though. If a client wants me to work they have to pay me.

Also they can't prevent me from making a living by talking to their competitors now or in the future. What they can do is require me not to share secrets.

Is this 75% and 50% rates industry norm for you? In my field that would be someone trying to get a very good deal.

[redbird]

I will need to look at the contract, and see exactly what their non-compete/non-solicitation clause looks like. I haven't gotten the contract yet.

[bibliofile.livejournal.com]

I'd be very curious to see what this company considers eligible for the discounted research rate:

• I haven't encountered the discounted rates before, but then I was always familiar with the tools used for a project.


• If I wanted to learn new software, I was on my own (but could off all costs). If I didn't already own the software, and it was an unusual tool (e.g., not part of Microsoft Office), then the client either supplies a legal copy or reimburses me for it.


• Learning the application that I was to document was an integral part of the project, not "research."


• Boning up on business processes or industry background? That research is also part of the job. If I bought any books, I'd write them off as a business expense.


• Setting up an interim arrangement for an untried freelancer? That's a pretty grey area. Ten hours isn't actually very much time for what I do, though it's probably enough to find out if someone is godawful.
(Note that I tended to work through an agency -- and just one agency at that. While I was familiar with the agency's client contracts, I wasn't privy to all possible deals and variations.)