July 15, 2015 at 10:11 am
Hi All,
I just started a contracting/consulting company and I have my first customer. They are looking for a statement of work. This is something I've never done before. Anyone here have any experience with writing this up? Is there a good template online? Any good tips? Their specific request is a "basic time and materials SOW."
Thanks,
July 15, 2015 at 2:04 pm
T & M is used to define: rough duration, billable rates, what is assumed to be in scope and any other specifics as to what's acceptable. This sample I pulled up using Google points to a fair amount of items you might care to cover.
http://www.cdboyd.org/computer/linked/standard_system_development_time_and_material_contract.pdf
Certainly not a perfect fit, but should give you some pointers. Things like:
- what the scope currently is.
- what the expected pace would be
- (if requested) a high level estimate of hours. Be sure to couch this carefully so you aren't stuck with the bill if the estimate is not accurate.
- billable rates (possibly based on monthly volume, or time of day, function being performed, etc...), any cases where a higher rate might be charges (e.g. any time above 6 hours in a given day, or minimum per day/per visit rate),
- what is considered to be billable/chargeable (e.g. any remote work, scoping meetings, documentation efforts, etc...),
- what is expected from them as well as what you will do,
- anything you'd end up charging them for in terms of materials (e.g. if you were to have to acquire additional hardware or software to perform the job, mileage/tolls, lodging and sustenance as appropriate).
- You should also have any exit strategies articulated (early termination provisions) and/or how the SOW could be extended.
- If this is for support, you would also want to articulate whatever is realistic in terms of response time (I could be there within x of initial call for urgent calls, within y for normal requests.
- Finally: clearly articulate how billing will occur and your terms: having the penalty for late payments is a good idea from what I've seen (don't kid yourself - they will slow-pay you if they can get away with it).
Remember - this is a contract, so make sure you can commit to what you offer.
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Your lack of planning does not constitute an emergency on my part...unless you're my manager...or a director and above...or a really loud-spoken end-user..All right - what was my emergency again?
July 15, 2015 at 3:33 pm
Matt Miller (#4) (7/15/2015)
T & M is used to define: rough duration, billable rates, what is assumed to be in scope and any other specifics as to what's acceptable. This sample I pulled up using Google points to a fair amount of items you might care to cover.http://www.cdboyd.org/computer/linked/standard_system_development_time_and_material_contract.pdf
Certainly not a perfect fit, but should give you some pointers. Things like:
- what the scope currently is.
- what the expected pace would be
- (if requested) a high level estimate of hours. Be sure to couch this carefully so you aren't stuck with the bill if the estimate is not accurate.
- billable rates (possibly based on monthly volume, or time of day, function being performed, etc...), any cases where a higher rate might be charges (e.g. any time above 6 hours in a given day, or minimum per day/per visit rate),
- what is considered to be billable/chargeable (e.g. any remote work, scoping meetings, documentation efforts, etc...),
- what is expected from them as well as what you will do,
- anything you'd end up charging them for in terms of materials (e.g. if you were to have to acquire additional hardware or software to perform the job, mileage/tolls, lodging and sustenance as appropriate).
- You should also have any exit strategies articulated (early termination provisions) and/or how the SOW could be extended.
- If this is for support, you would also want to articulate whatever is realistic in terms of response time (I could be there within x of initial call for urgent calls, within y for normal requests.
- Finally: clearly articulate how billing will occur and your terms: having the penalty for late payments is a good idea from what I've seen (don't kid yourself - they will slow-pay you if they can get away with it).
Remember - this is a contract, so make sure you can commit to what you offer.
You may also want a lawyer to look it over before presenting it to the company. Could save you some problems down the road.
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