consultations are over[heads]?!
Mar 4th, 2008 by Peter Donegan MI Hort
Some time ago i wrote about call out & consultation charges. [There is a difference.] A consultation is by definition ‘2 a meeting or discussion for seeking advice’. It requires professional advice based on education and experience. A call out, to differ, generally requires pricing for specific tasks as decided already by the client. [In this day and age this can almost somewhat be done by email]
The point I make is that in business time does equal money, not all of the time, but where one may spend a half day in transit and advising, whereafter a quotation and sketch/ design layout is delivered - the cost must be covered somehow by a[any business] The question I pose now is if one does not cover this cost then surely the next client is paying for it? Is this fair?
Some say it is deducted from your bill if the go ahead is given - a hidden cost still within the final invoice? Some don’t charge at all - they say - so who pays for the overheads of the business? Some simply say free advice is sometimes more costly in the end. Maybe it’s a price not advice/ consultation one needs?
The question that seems to arise is should one charge for a consultation? Any company providing professional services would say yes.
This is an interesting topic. Here I don’t think I’d ever pay for a consultation on home or garden work. Yet, I also understand what you are trying to say, time is lost and money for transportation is spent on that consultation.
Very interesting…
A Chara Melanie,
thanks for taking the time to comment. My accountant charges me - and I charge him etc …. But, I also understand why people wouldn’t pay - that aside if cost is included, hidden or otherwise…..? are they still paying? or is someone else paying the bill???
Maybe ‘hidden costs’ are more favourable to transparancey??
very interesting…! Happy tuesday!
slán agus beannacht
peter