Ask FreelanceSwitch: Computer Time and Multiple Bids

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In this issue of Ask FreelanceSwitch, we look at charging for tying up your computer and what to do when you win multiple bids at once. Ask FreelanceSwitch is a regular column here that allows us to help beginners get a grip on freelancing. If you have a question about freelancing that you want answered, send an email to [email protected].

Question 1

I’ve been doing freelance work on the side for a guy I know through my full-time job for over a year now. I make videos from screencasts for him and put them on a playable DVD. The final step involves transcoding the video to DVD format. During this process, I’m not actually doing anything, it’s just software working, but it does tie up my computer for several hours. I’d like to know if I should bill for the time my computer is running processes like these, even though during that time I’m off doing something else like watching TV or working on another project.

I would absolutely charge for that time " after all, your computer (a resource you paid for) is tied up, limiting the other work that you could do. Just how much to charge, however, can be a different matter. Personally, I wouldn’t charge my full hourly rate for that time because I might very well be doing something for another client while my computer does its thing. I’m just not comfortable with even the hint that I might be double billing. In this sort of situation, I’d personally charge perhaps a third of my normal rate for that time. I would charge more if that computer was the limiting factor of whether or not I could be working on another project, though; if tying up my computer meant that I couldn’t work on anything at all, I’d charge my full rate.

Question 2

I have one problem from time to time. In job boards I bid for 5-10 jobs per week for win at least 1. So what I have to do if one day I will win 3-4 at one time. In video design I can’t handle 3-4 projects simultaneously, I need about 1 week for 1 project, maybe for 2. On the other hand I can’t bid on a less number of jobs because I risk to stay without jobs at all. Should I cancel the bid on a project that I won? And doesn’t it give me a bad reputation? Can you advice me something to find a balance between too many and too little projects. Thank you, and sorry my English, I am working on it

Depending on the bid sites in question, the best option may be to pay close attention to what bids you have open. When you win one bid, you can then withdraw the other bids that you still have open. If it gets to the stage where you’ve won multiple bids that you can’t complete, canceling those bids that you have already won may damage your reputation.

Another option might be to look specifically for projects with longer due dates or expected completion dates than you actually need. That way, even if you win multiple bids, you may have time to complete all of them.

Depending on which sites you’re using to find work, you may be able to ask a client to extend the deadline, as well. You might also consider finding someone to help you when you have multiple projects going: if you’ve got a person you can hand off at least part of a second project to, you will be in a better position to to work on multiple projects at once. Keep in mind, though, that you may need to raise your bids to cover the cost of that help.

Photo credit: Some rights reserved by Yuri Arcurs.