Pricing Guidance for Configuring Network Switches

[banoosh]

Hello everyone,

I'm relatively to networking and have recently taken on a project to configure network switches for a small-to-medium-sized company. I would greatly appreciate some advice on how to price my services. As a beginner, I'm unsure about the industry standards or how much I should charge for my time and expertise.

Could anyone provide guidance on:

1. The typical range for pricing network switch configuration services?

2. What factors I should consider when determining my rate (e.g., complexity of the network, number of switches, etc.)?

3. Any tips for discussing pricing with clients as a newcomer in this field?

Thank you in advance for your help

[balaji.bandi]

This is more of commercial discussion, this is cisco technical community to address technical quires.

May be worth Looks at freelancing site, where they give you guidance what is the rate per hour working in the industry.

there is no such numbers available to guide you, its all SoW vs demand time, expert level they looking.

[Joseph W. Doherty]

Such pricing is often very much impacted by local market pricing.

In the SMB market, you might be perceived as just another form of temporary (inexperienced) clerical help whose cost would be expected to be about the same or even less, much less.

Personally, I was a solo independent IT contractor for about 3 decades in the USA.  It's a very, very difficult career path assuming you're hoping to do better than eking out a living.

If you're thinking of running a multi employee service business, pricing services would normally be in line with other like businesses in your market.  Like any business, success is difficult.  (BTW, I recall the large majority of businesses fail within 3 years.)

Solo operators can often easily price undercut multi employee businesses.  However many businesses do not flock to you (for many reasons).

My suggestion would be, if you want to go solo, get a full time job, gaining experience, contacts and reputation.  If possible, work some side hustles, like your project, where you also gain experience, contacts and reputation.  In 3 to 5 years, you may be able to go solo.

[Leo Laohoo]

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@banoosh wrote:
I'm relatively to networking and have recently taken on a project to configure network switches for a small-to-medium-sized company. I would greatly appreciate some advice on how to price my services. 

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If you are "relatively new to networking" then why would you take the risk and hiring yourself out with little to zero experience in networking? 

Like any other job, "a little" experience is nothing compared to what is out there and there are several million of permutation a single switch configuration can be different to others.

Networking is not a "cookie cutter" environment.  A very, very good understand of what the customer wants is the linchpin.

[Philip D'Ath]

Typically 2 hours per fixed configuration switch.

For a chassis switch, 2 hours per blade.  Minimum 8 hours.  Typically 8 to 12 hours, depending on risk and complexity.

Some customers want lots of meetings.  Allow for an hour per meeting.

Some customers want network diagrams, design documents and as-built documentation.  This is all extra.

Some customers want formal prpject management.  That is an extra.

[Scott Fella]

Here is my 2 cents. How comfortable are you to take on this work with your experience?  Being successful is key here as you can get in trouble by taking on work that you can’t deliver.  I think everyone here has chimed in with their opinion but at the end, I would think that you would be signing some sort of contract that has to be fulfilled. 

[Joseph W. Doherty]

". . . you can get in trouble by taking on work that you can’t deliver."

Yup, in the USA, you can also be responsible for damages, including loss of operations to the business you've providing the service.

If you work as just yourself, you, PERSONALLY, are on the hook.  If you provide the services under the cover of a corporation, you, personally, are usually not on the hook.

FYI, first year I started out, free lance, insurance premium quotations, for professional liability, were about twice what I hoped to gross!