How to charge for php script

[el_roachmeister]

Is it customary to charge a flat price for a script for a client? What
about fixing bugs, would I be responsible for that assuming the client
has no knowledge of php? Do I include it in the price or jusr charge a
monthly maintenance fee? Also what about marketing the script to other
potential clients. Is there anything illegal about doing that? Do I
need to reduce the price if I feel the script is something I can sell
to other clients as well?

[Peter Fox]

Following on from 's message. . .

Is it customary to charge a flat price for a script for a client? What
about fixing bugs, would I be responsible for that assuming the client
has no knowledge of php? Do I include it in the price or jusr charge a
monthly maintenance fee? Also what about marketing the script to other
potential clients. Is there anything illegal about doing that? Do I
need to reduce the price if I feel the script is something I can sell
to other clients as well?

IF you own the intellectual property then you can do what you like,
including :-
* one-off charge
* monthly charge
* usage charge
* charge when the full moon falls on a Friday
PLUS
* determine the terms of use (eg can client sell it on?)
* grant exclusive or non-exclusive use

BUT if you don't own the IP (in some jurisdictions being employed to
write something makes it the employer's property automatically in others
it doesn't) then you don't. [If you're contracting then put into the
contract that all IP remains with you until your bills are paid in
full.]

OTOH I'm a believer in (a) having a long-term relationship with a client
and (b) providing a /service/ (and getting paid on that basis - not on
say a rate per 100 lines of code delivered).


--
PETER FOX Not the same since the bookshop idea was shelved
pe******@eminent.demon.co.uk.not.this.bit.no.html
2 Tees Close, Witham, Essex.
Gravity beer in Essex <http://www.eminent.demon.co.uk>

[Malcolm Dew-Jones]

el*************@yahoo.com wrote:
: Is it customary to charge a flat price for a script for a client?

If that's what you and they agree to ahead of time.

: What
: about fixing bugs, would I be responsible for that assuming the client
: has no knowledge of php?

If that's what you and they agree to ahead of time.

: Do I include it in the price or jusr charge a
: monthly maintenance fee?

What ever you feel is best for you while still being attractive to the
client so as to make the sale.

Many contracts have a 30 day bug fix period where bugs found within that
time need to be fixed (and they may have a hold back period where they
don't finish paying until after the 30 days is up.) If you sell something
then there may be a warrantee period by law.

: Also what about marketing the script to other
: potential clients. Is there anything illegal about doing that?

It depends on what the original agreement was.

-1- as the author, (assuming you didn't copy the code from elsewhere) then
you normally own the copyright and can sell copies or licenses to anyone
you choose.

-2- if you are an employee, or have produced the code under a contract,
then the terms of the contract are what matters, and the purchaser may own
the copyright.

! If you have no written contract then there may be an implied
contract, and you may or may not own the code !
: Do I
: need to reduce the price if I feel the script is something I can sell
: to other clients as well?

No, you do not need to, you can sell it for whatever you can get, to
anyone you like.

However, if the purchaser thinks you were producing something exclusively
for them then they may decide to sue you if you sell the code to someone
else. At that point you will be happy to have drawn up a contract ahead
of time that clearly defines who owns the code that you produced.

[Spam]

el*************@yahoo.com wrote:

Is it customary to charge a flat price for a script for a client? What
about fixing bugs, would I be responsible for that assuming the client
has no knowledge of php? Do I include it in the price or jusr charge a
monthly maintenance fee? Also what about marketing the script to other
potential clients. Is there anything illegal about doing that? Do I
need to reduce the price if I feel the script is something I can sell
to other clients as well?

do not charge for security updates!