Advise

[Jerry Stoner]

I interviewed Monday for a consulting job building a quality control db for a large company (international). It will be used at one site only and really is small and straightforward. I submitted my proposal today and they are happy with all terms except that I asked for 1/3 down, 1/3 on delivery and 1/3 on acceptance. They do not want to pay 1/3 down. I am leary of spending app 100 hours with 0 down as Ive been burnt before. Any suggestions on an alternative, do I insist and turn down the job if they refuse (really want the job, for the name recognition of the company if nothing else) or do I trust all will be well?

 

[norm]

Sounds like fun. Have been there before... am close to there now. Not much we can do in this economy. Maybe a week of good faith will show enough progress to satisfy them. Contracts sound stiff but hope you have one.

maybe even 1 or 2 weeks trial followed by 1/2 up front and half on delivery... with a contract of course......

good luck,
norm

 

[Jerry Stoner]

Thanks Pat

A couple of good ideas there. No cash flow is not a problem.
Did think of an alternative. The db is in three phases, each dependant on the previous phase so Im thinking 1/3 (percentage negotiable for each phase as delivered. The nice part about that is phase 1 is about 10 hrs. Phase 2 about 30 and 3 about 50 to 60 to develop.If they dont like that then Ill try your .MDE approach.
Thanks AGAIN!

 

[pono1]

I like Pat's expiration idea.

But do you really want to give them the MDB -- I mean, under any circumstances?

Be sure, of course, to get it in writing...

Regards,
Tim

 

[Jerry Stoner]

pono1
Part of the deal is that it be an mdb with open source code. Not negotiable on this as the project manager wants to be able to access the db window. The contract clearly states though that any changes made by anyone other than me requiring repair will be billable.

My experience is that many people insist on mdb vise mde and it hasnt been a problem as of yet. I keep in close touch with my clients who till now have all been small businesses. As I move to larger contracts it may become an issue. Well see.

 

[Jerry Stoner]

Thanks Pat. Didnt know mdb was a legal requirement however Ive always delivered mdb as a rule. The only MDE'S Ive ever made were for companies I was an employee of and when I left I provided MDB for updates. As for ownership rights I knew that one but have found that it takes very little tweaking to make a db unrecognizable and use previous db's Ive made and delivered as templates all the time. All my work is "customized" to suit individual clients(small businesses) so the end result rarely resembles the template but I sure save a lot of time. As most of my clients know each other (word of mouth is a wonderful thing) if there was an issue I would surely know about it by now.

I do have 1 project upcoming that the client wants to joint market on completion but that is many months away. Definately will be seeing a lawyer before contract on that one.

Thanks again Pat.