Pricing to do a Network Job?

[ZoSo]

Someone has asked me to network an office.
It'll have 5 workstations and a server I'll be setting up.
I'll be running the wire also.
I was wondering what a fair price would be to charge.

Also what would be the best router to use, it's needs to be on the secure side as the company will be doing payrolls.

Thank You

 

[jlazzaro]

going to need a lot more info about what exactly you're setting up. however, it's going to come down to time...how long do you think it will take you to do what you need to do? what expertise level does this job require, and where are you at professionally? this should dictate what you charge hourly.

dont stipulate a total price / hours to complete the job at the start either. you can give them an estimate on how long you think it will take, but you'll be shooting yourself in the foot if you set that in stone. you WILL have unforseen issues that take more time than you orginally planned.

the "best" router will be the one that functions as you need it to...unforunately you havent provided this information. the only SECURE device is the one without a power cord plugged into it

 

[alfa147x]

wow I would love that to be my job.... any good ideas for a high school student

?

 

[jlazzaro]

Originally posted by: alfa147x
wow I would love that to be my job.... any good ideas for a high school student

if you require advise on getting into the field i recommend creating your own, seperate thread. this would keep us on subject and generate the most responses / feedback for you. check out tcpmag.com forums as well, good bunch of guys that will point you in the right direction.

 

[dphantom]

Originally posted by: ZoSo
Someone has asked me to network an office.
It'll have 5 workstations and a server I'll be setting up.
I'll be running the wire also.
I was wondering what a fair price would be to charge.

Also what would be the best router to use, it's needs to be on the secure side as the company will be doing payrolls.

Thank You

You need to be more specific in explaining your needs. For example, what do you mean by server? SBS 2003?

Best router to do what exactly? Do you need built in firewall, IDS/IPS, etc..

 

[Zolty]

To answer the 2nd last part I charge between $50-$75 hourly.

 

[ZoSo]

Thanks for the replies.
Between tonight and tomorrow I will be finding out more specifics of there needs, and what equipment they have so far.

@jlazzaro - ",,the only SECURE device is the one without a power cord plugged into it "
Isn't that the truth though!!!!

 

[RebateMonger]

For "typical" situations, I've seen the number "$110 per drop" as being a ballpark figure and would include jacks and cable. Obviously, unusually difficult buildings and other circumstances can change all this.

 

[ZoSo]

OK found out a couple things. The network they're using now is just going to be transfered to the new office.
So all I'm going to end up doing is running the wire, putting all the jacks on, etc. And make sure everything works properly.

 

[RebateMonger]

You can also consider using subcontractors for the wiring. It can be easily argued that you really should be testing the cabling runs, and anything other than a simple connectivity test requires expensive test equipment.

Regarding security:
Most folks in small offices don't bother with it, but you COULD turn on IPSec encryption between any PCs that will be sending confidential data. That stops potential snooping over the wires, but adds to the overall complexity of the network.