How much should I charge to built an algorithm?

Hi guys,

I have been approached by an architect to build an algorithm in grasshopper for a building's facade. The purpose in to make the manufacturing process more efficient and optimized.

The thing is I do not know how much I should charge for it?What are your suggestions?

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by David Rutten on August 26, 2016 at 4:38am

Charge as much as your client is willing to pay. That would be my favourite from the following approaches:

Algorithm X takes N hours to develop, if you charge p per hour then the algorithm will cost p*N. Depending on where you are in the world and who your client is, reasonable values for p might range from 50 to 500 euros/dollars/pounds.
Algorithm X rates n% on the difficulty scale (difficulty has nothing to do with the amount of time needed to develop it). The simplest algorithms cost 250 €$£, the most difficult ones cost 50,000 €$£.
Algorithm X will save the client M amount of money, therefore they will happily pay some fraction of M for the solution.

A complicating factor is of course always whether you have any competition who might do it for less. Another complicating factor is that code tends to need maintenance, in many cases for ever.

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