How do you quote?

[Foxer]

I'm asked to quote on database development time and time again.

How do you do it? Is it all gut feel and experience?

There must be a better way. Are there tools out there that let you guestimate how long it takes to develop a database and front-end?

I use SQL Server and MS Access.

[Ecniv]

A quote - a written estimate of how much it will cost them to get a working (usually complete although thats open for discussion) databse application that will work on their network....etc Oh and should do what they ask.

As a rough guide, think on how long it takes to make an app that works well, add on a month, add on another couple of weeks to a month for documentation and testing.

If its in Access, I could make a working version in around a month, including testing. Documentation is either done by myself or via the first users who test it for me. It also depends on the customers requirements, they may need something faster.


Vince

[si_the_geek]

We often get outside companies to do development work for us, one of which does things quite regularly, and they have a good method.

They do it in two steps, the first step is the analysis of the requirements. The length of work here is fairly easy to predict, so they can say "This is X days work, so we'll charge you £YYYYY for this.".

Once the requirements have been gathered they can make an accurate estimate on development time, which is when they make a full quote. As to how long it will take you to do each part of the project, I'm afraid that is down to experience and personal judgement.