How much should I charge for a project?

[Meanderthal]

Hi,
I got too busy to keep up my classes at school but I've been programming Visual Basic macros at the hospital where I work. I wrote sort of a Visual Basic macro on steroids that is a huge help for us in the lab. Another tech I work with said I could probably sell the program to the hospital she works at full time. I would like to but I have no idea what to charge for such a thing, or where to go to determine the fee. I don't want to pitch my macro to the supervisor and then have them run me out of the office when I tell them the price, on the other hand I want to make as much as possible because buddy let me tell you health care ain't the profession you want to be in if you want to send your kids to college!

[Arbiter]

Well, firstly I look into whether you actually own the macro.

It sounds like you wrote it on their systems, during your work hours, in which case they may own it anyway as they were paying you during the time you were writing it. It this is not the case (and you're best off checking) then discuss it with the supervisor on an informal basis. Sound the idea out with him/her first.

As it's only a macro (and therefore is unlikely to be huge) you can't expect to get a lot for it unless it delivers substantial benefits to the company and is a work of genius that would be difficult to reproduce.

Also, if you do sell it, you'll have to think about the tax considerations (do you have to declare all your incomes in America?) and whether this would make you self employed in the eyes of the government.

For something as small as a macro, you may be better off just using it a bit of leverage for a promotion. Can't hurt to ask for some pennies though...

[Meanderthal]

Ok well what if I bought a copy of Visual Basic 6 and recreated it as a stand-alone app that did everything the original macro did and more? Would it then be mine to sell and charge for?

[Arbiter]

It's not the issue of it being a macro that may mean it isn't yours, but the fact that it was made on company time with company resources. Unless you made it at home, in which case there can be no doubt it's yours.

Some companies state in the contract that anything you create whilst being paid for by them, belongs to them.

[egiggey]

I agree with Arbiter if it was done on company time the company owns it take the value of adding it to your resume (increase future value?)I created about 20 apps at home and have allowed the company I work for to use it without charge except that these apps remain my sole property and after building one at work today its just not as rewarding knowing your Idea isn't your intelectual property Kinda sucks that long after I'm gone from there they can still make money off my app but alas my future salery increases with the more apps I create. as the story of the hare and the tourtose goes speed dosn't always win the race
heart and patiance are far more valuable just my two cents

[Meanderthal]

Thanks for replying to my post! Well I guess I've already been compensated for my effort I got a slightly larger than average yearly wage increase recently. Plus since it's a macro anyone could easily copy the code so it's really not marketable. After I finish it's last revision I think I'll start taking classes again.