The decision
The recommendation
Keep hourly billing, but quote a written budget range and require client approval before exceeding it; offer retainers to your six returning clients and pilot fixed fees later.
The steps
- Add a budget range and approval clause to your next estimate.
- Log estimated versus actual hours on every project.
- Offer monthly retainers to your returning clients.
- Pilot one fixed fee after three accurate estimates.
Why
A budget range with approval gates gives clients a ceiling without putting your estimation errors on you.
What you give up
You forgo the extra profit fixed fees give when you work fast.
What would change the recommendation
If your tracked estimates land within about 10 percent of actual hours, move scoped sites to fixed fees.