Programming hourly rate
Our rate for software development, including design, programming, testing, and documentation is 110 euro/hour (ex tax). We use the Google search engine valuta conversion capabilities to convert this rate to other valutas if so required.
For example: 110 EUR in USD.
Time is always measured in whole hours. The hourly rate is increased with 10% for urgent help (within one business day) and work done during holidays and the weekend.
IT Project Quotation
If you request a quotation for a project, Castle Amber gives you an non-binding estimate. Note that this is not a fixed price. If more hours are required to complete your project those extra hours have to be paid in full. However, we try to timely inform you when the number of hours exceed the first estimate, and give you a new estimate.
In case of the actual number of hours being less than the estimate, only the actual number of hours are charged to you.
You can request a project quotation via our contact form. We try to get back to you as soon as possible.
In case you need urgent help, write "URGENT" on the first line of your request. Note that urgent help or support increases our hourly rate with 10% if we are able to provide this form of support.
Requirements Document
The project quotation given is based on the specifications provided by you. If this is unsufficient as a requirements document we advise you to have one written either by us or a third party. A good specification makes it easier for us to give a good estimate of the price. The writing of such a document has the same rate, 110 euro/hour (ex tax) and has to be paid, even if you decide not to give us your IT project.
Advanced payment
An advanced payment of 30% has to be made except when the estimated number of hours is less than 16.
Advanced payment is also required for new estimate(s) of a project in case the number of hours exceeds the original estimate and the new estimate is 16 hours or more.
Castle Amber will not work on your IT project if there are any outstanding payments with us.
Minimum project size
The smallest project we take is 4 hours (440 euro). The only exception is installation of CGI scripts written in Perl, or support on existing Perl programs which is charged with at least one hour.
Note that only in limited cases we can help you out with modifications to an existing Perl CGI script. Most CGI scripts that can be downloaded are nor secure nor well written, and hence we can not support most of those Perl CGI scripts.
Contact and support
Contact and support by email is not charged unless it takes significant time to write a reply (replies), in which case you first receive a quotation (see above).
Support via an instant messenger client is also possible, and is always charged (total time rounded to the next integer number of hours).
Bugs and missing functionality
Bugs are fixed for free up until one year after project completion only when those bugs are not caused by unexpected changes in the environment of the final software product.
If functionality is missing, or incomplete due to a badly written specification, it will only be fixed for free if the omission can be blamed on Castle Amber.
Requirement changes during the project are always charged.
Payment
Payment is due within 14 days from date of invoice. We can handle payments using PayPal.