if it is a project specific item (i.e. i need to find out which of 5 known good products is the best fit) i bill
if i am researching a type of product that i have the expertise to do so, but it is a gereral use item (i.e. future clients will want this knowledge) i do not bill, or i bill 50% of the research time.
i.e. i'm looking at supplying a widget. i have 4 known good items, and one new supplier asking to be included. i bill fo rcomparing the 4, but not the 5th as i am learning about it. once i -know- about the 5th item, i'll bill for including it in the comparison.
in short first client foots part of the new research bill, but it's a capital gain for me, so i don't bill fully. (i do the same on capital cost items, prorated for durable value of capital after use, and savings based on cost w/o said tool, but client sees that as part of gross materials costs, which includes consumables, if i would have to aquire an item to complete a job significantly cheaper/better) |
