Title: Maintenance Contracts
Last modified: August 19, 2016

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# Maintenance Contracts

 *  [alfie](https://wordpress.org/support/users/drtanz/)
 * (@drtanz)
 * [15 years, 8 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/maintenance-contracts/)
 * Hi I would like to know about what type of contracts other developers are using
   with their clients once a project is completed. I am at a point where I’m getting
   a number of requests for adjustements every week from past clients, which are
   eating away at my time and giving absolutely no return as the clients expect 
   that fixes and other minor stuff are done for free. Thus I would like to create
   some agreement for future projects to minimise or eliminate this situation. Thanks.

Viewing 5 replies - 1 through 5 (of 5 total)

 *  Moderator [James Huff](https://wordpress.org/support/users/macmanx/)
 * (@macmanx)
 * [15 years, 8 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/maintenance-contracts/#post-1659916)
 * I highly recommend charging either per minute or per quarter-hour. I’ve never
   had anyone turn me down because of it, I’m guaranteed (unless the client is a
   total sleaze) to be compensated for my time, and the terms are quite clear to
   the client.
 * If I work for an hour, I get paid for an hour’s worth of work. If I spend five
   minutes making an adjustment the next day, I get paid for an extra five minute’s
   worth of work.
 *  Thread Starter [alfie](https://wordpress.org/support/users/drtanz/)
 * (@drtanz)
 * [15 years, 8 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/maintenance-contracts/#post-1659921)
 * Hmm that could be a possibility, although I’m not sure they would like such small
   portions of time. Would you start such a contract right after delivery and acceptance
   of the site, or do you have a grace period?
 *  Moderator [James Huff](https://wordpress.org/support/users/macmanx/)
 * (@macmanx)
 * [15 years, 8 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/maintenance-contracts/#post-1659924)
 * Most of my work is diagnostic, troubleshooting, customization, and other technical
   items, so most of my contracts are short-term.
 * Typically, we agree upon a per minute price, then after receiving all of the 
   necessary info, I send an “I’m going to start the clock now at 3:53 AM,” email
   and immediately begin work.
 * When I’m done, I send an email with “The project is complete and the time is 
   4:25 AM, which brings us to a total of $. Is there anything else you’d like me
   to do?”
 * If the answer is yes, then we just start the clock again. If the answer is no,
   I send over the invoice.
 *  Thread Starter [alfie](https://wordpress.org/support/users/drtanz/)
 * (@drtanz)
 * [15 years, 8 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/maintenance-contracts/#post-1659926)
 * Ah ok i see how that makes sense in your case. In my case the projects tend to
   be bigger (full websites) so minute by minute approaches are not so ideal.
 * I was thinking of a retainer for example, but wanted to know how other developers
   are working in this regard as well, so as not to make any blind guesses.
 *  Moderator [James Huff](https://wordpress.org/support/users/macmanx/)
 * (@macmanx)
 * [15 years, 8 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/maintenance-contracts/#post-1659932)
 * I do have a friend who does larger flat-rate contracts followed by a per minute
   rate for post-contract adjustments (with a negotiable flat rate contract for 
   more time-consuming adjustments).

Viewing 5 replies - 1 through 5 (of 5 total)

The topic ‘Maintenance Contracts’ is closed to new replies.

 * In: [Everything else WordPress](https://wordpress.org/support/forum/miscellaneous/)
 * 5 replies
 * 2 participants
 * Last reply from: [James Huff](https://wordpress.org/support/users/macmanx/)
 * Last activity: [15 years, 8 months ago](https://wordpress.org/support/topic/maintenance-contracts/#post-1659932)
 * Status: not a support question

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