<html><body style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; ">Stephen,<div> </div><div> The largest mistake I ever made in contracting was not charging the rate that the Small Business Association (SBA) in San Francisco taught me to charge. It just seemed so high, and I doubted (and still doubt) I was *worth* as much as that. I was also brand-spanking new to Python (I've only been coding in Python a little over a year), so there is some justification for me to be less than what you would probably charge.</div><div><br></div><div> However, here's the calculation: take the calculation you mentioned to find your normal hourly rate (minus benefits). Then, multiply the number by 2.5. </div><div><br></div><div> That's a rough estimate. If you can calculate your benefits more accurately, great! But, realize that there is more than just benefits involved here. You won't be working '40 hours per week' at the new rate. A good deal of time is spent in administration, billing, sales (getting new clients), etc. So, this *really* needs factored in. How much time you spend doing these necessary evils, compared to coding varies a lot with people.</div><div><br></div><div> Some people, depending upon their profession, are only 'billable' 30% of the time. I feel it's much higher for programming. Because I'm still learning a great deal, I spend a lot of time learning within a project, so I bill a very small portion of the amount of time I put into a project. However, I think that's just me and my newness.</div><div><br></div><div> The SBA courses are completely free and are an *incredible* resource if you wish to learn how to avoid gotchas and pitfalls on the business side. Ask me off list and I'll forward some details for you on the courses.</div><div><br></div><div> Hopefully that helps a little...</div><div><br></div><div>Take care and good luck. Happy Coding and Contracting =)</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div>Cheers,</div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div>Glen</div><div><div apple-content-edited="true"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: auto; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0; "><div style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; "><div style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; "><div style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; "><div style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: Helvetica; font-size: 12px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: normal; orphans: 2; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 2; word-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 0px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 0px; -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; -webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; "><div style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; "><div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">--</div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><div apple-content-edited="true"><div style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; "><div style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; "><div style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space; "><div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">I'm Riding to End AIDS</div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">From May 31-June 6, 2009, I'm bicycling in AIDS/LifeCycle. It's a 7-day, 545-mile bike ride from San Francisco to Los Angeles to make a world of difference in the lives of people living with HIV and AIDS.</div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">Please support me and the San Francisco AIDS Foundation by making a donation. </div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">Visit: <a href="http://www.glenjarvis.com/">http://www.tofighthiv.org/goto/glenjarvis</a></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">We'll keep riding until AIDS and HIV are a thing of the past.</div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div><br></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">415-680-3964</div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><a href="mailto:glen@glenjarvis.com">glen@glenjarvis.com</a></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><a href="http://www.glenjarvis.com/">http://www.tofighthiv.org/goto/glenjarvis</a></div><div style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><br></div></div></div></div></span></div></span></div></span></div></span></div></span> </div><br><div><div>On Feb 9, 2009, at 2:22 PM, Stephen Cattaneo wrote:</div><br class="Apple-interchange-newline"><blockquote type="cite">Hi friends,<br><br>I've only had one professional position since college. I was paid salary. My company recently downsized 40% of the company (myself included). I'm looking for new work.<br><br>I'm open to contract jobs, but they want to know how much I charge hourly. I'd assume they do not cover things like 401k/dental/medical for such a position; I'd like to take these things into consideration when talking wages. <br> <br>Do you guys use this formula (or something similar) and if so, what value do you use for your modifier?<br><br>hourlySalary = yearlySalary / 52 * 40 # 52 weeks in a year, 40 hours in a week<br>benefits = hourlySalary * benefitsModifier<br> totalHourlyWage = hourlySalary + benefits<br><br>I was thinking something between 5% and 15% -- Does this seem reasonable in your experience?<br><br>Cheers,<br><br>S<br clear="all"></blockquote></div><br></div></body></html>