Comment by Marco Alka on "As a freelancer, what types of tasks do YOU charge for?"

As a freelance developer, I usually prepare for a job by taking a look at the tools I need. If I understand them, I start working on the project, and that when I also start charging.

I charge for

Time spent on infrastructure, pipeline,... DevOps (setting up repositories, CI, etc.)
Time spent coding and testing
Time spent talking to my client about things they forgot

It's not your fault they fail to specify things, and if you put a lot of time in it, then you obviously should be paid for the extra mile imho.

I follow a similar approach, I always evaluate what needs to be done and what tools I need to do it. I haven't been really charging for any kind of config / infrastructures with this project, as the only config stuff I've done is write settings to the database. Your third bullet point is interesting to me, would you care to expand on that?

Josh Montgomery Let's say they told me they want a simple info page with texts and pictures and a small custom animation, but then, in the middle of the work, after several iterations, add that they also need a login system which they want to use to change the texts themselves. So I have to go back to my customer and talk to them, present different possible options and re-do cost calculations. All the talking here is because it wasn't clear from the beginning that such an element was required.

Marco Alka - this is exactly the scenario I've run into. In our initial discussions, certain things were discussed, then through half way, or even towards the end of the work, they change / add on to the specs on me. At first, because they were small changes, I didnt include them in my invoice, but after awhile, I started to, because all that time was adding up, including the time spent in GATHERING up these new changes. Although I usually only charge for half of the time, mainly because I'm too nice I think :)

Josh Montgomery Just do it. They might thank you, but will never give back all the time you spent on them for free, so at least get what the time is worth, so you can relax later on.

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