Posted By MICK MEAD If you are UK based, you should try your local Business Link for all advice - they were very useful to me when I started out. Fees are a difficult topic. I suggest you canvass for local rates from other consultancies so that you can be competitive. There are many things to consider - such as will report writing be included in the daily or hourly cost, or will you charge extra days/hours fee for such work? Don't forget your professional indemnity insurance. Best of luck! Mick

Posted By Merv Newman Sonu, we calculate on a day-rate basis but are going over to an overall project or phase rate. We charge for days on site plus report writing. Research is not charged as we are supposed to know all of that stuff. Travelling (mileage, not days), hotel and meals are charged. Here we make an estimate of mileage etc and write it into the contract. Then we stick to that estimate so that the client knows exactly how much a visit or an audit will cost when he signs the contract. If any distance is involved, hotels are usually "days on-site plus one" ie 3 days on site = 4 hotel nights and meals, one day on-site = 2 hotels. Some companies try to impose the rates they allow their employees for travelling. These are often much lower than real costs, especially if you want a reasonable "business" hotel (2 star or better) We try to resist that but have to accept it sometimes. Calculate your day-rate based on what sort of profit/salary you would reasonably like to get. And on being paid for only 100 days per year. In the UK, £30 000 per year would be a nice net return. So, in my opinion you are starting from £300 per day. Net. Add on income tax which would be taken off the top to leave you with the £30K. Now estimate the annual costs of running the business - stationary, computer, printer, research, telephone, internet, etc. Divide that by 100, add it to the £300/day and try to find clients at that price. Good luck. e-mail me by clicking on my name (in blue) above if you have any other questions.