Forums: Discussions for entrepreneurs and small business.

I am an engineering contractor, operating on a shoestring. A potential client asked for a proposal.

For a first step proposal, I think formal analysis from me and a third party expert is needed. I think the third party is needed for a week or two, and could run me about $10k. After this analysis, I can create a second proposal addressing the main problem in detail. I have been advised to not charge hourly by a SCORE advisor, and to charge per job.

Questions:

1. Do I subcontract, refer the client to a contractor, hire a consultant; put an add in the “help wanted”, get a Monster.com search account, or outsource to India?

2. Is there an option I am not considering?

3. Do I tell the client about this in the proposal?

4. ...and ask him to hire the expert?

Thank you very much for your help!

As a longtime contractor in the computer field, I see advantages and disadvantages to the SCORE advisor`s input. If you can obtain a fixed bid for the analysis by the 3rd party expert, then you have control over your expenses and can reasonably provide a fixed-bid overall quote.

One of the big Q`s to me is whether or not you would have the expert assisting as hourly or as a fixed cost. Be careful on this. Most companies are accustomed to dealing with technical contractors on an hourly basis. I`m working with one of the leading computer companies now as an hourly contractor. It`s not all about the project at hand. Your skills and experience can be tapped during the project to meet a multitude of company needs.

Why not provide quotes using both approaches? Allow the client to choose?

As for locating a third party expert, what skills are required? Perhaps adding your business and this opportunity in the new SUN Marketplace would be helpful? There are usually firms which specialize in niche skills - perhaps you can find one which would provide some leads?

In any case, be sure to communicate well with your prospect.  Good luck!

-------------------------

Enjoy seeing the web and computer languages and methodologies evolve, or rather, revolve, for over 20 years! Revolve = rename and repackage the same old features and processes, and claim that the old is actually new!

You should outsource to save money, since you`re operating on a shoe string budget.

Don`t ask the client to hire the expert. That`s your job.

Thanks for the replies. After talking it over with other business owners and executives, I realized that when you are a specialist, and another specialist from an entirely different area is needed, you should provide a referral. In this example of business ethics in the real world, I think the golden rule applies: "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you."
Thanks.