Sorry for the somewhat long explanation, but I feel it's necessary to get accurate feedback.
I worked for many years as a designer in civil engineering firms. In that timeframe, something I noticed was that they always needed a set of maps generated for any new project. 5 maps in total, an aerial, quad, vicinity, fema, and soils map. These maps get printed as 8.5x11 maps for submittal in regulatory agency packages. Currently, even with the latest software, and even if firms have extensive GIS departments, these maps take 10-15 minutes each to generate (a little over an hour).
I'm getting very close (6-8 weeks) to launching a web service for these civil engineers, land developers and environmental engineers. The service will let them put in a project address, hit submit, and five minutes later these maps will be emailed to them in both a pdf and CAD file format. The main benefits are as follows:
- saving at least an hour on each new project
- any new enthusiastic client calling a firm who just bought a parcel can give them the address and meet them just 30 minutes later, and the firm will be in a very advantageous position to get that new client (preparedness)
- with the CAD file and other data, once they get a client retainer, even though the linework given to them is not a replacement for a legal survey, the firm can begin design right away, rather than waiting (sometimes weeks / a month or more) for a surveyor
So I'm all over the map on what to actually charge for this. Of course I've done a good bit of research, but would still like some advice, if anyone's willing. These firms, depending on the type of work they provide for their clients, bill from $40 to $140 an hour. So here's what I'm leaning toward:
$25 One-time use
$49 Subscription, 5 uses per month
$59 Subscription, 10 uses per month
I realize that once established, it would be hard to justify raising prices just for the sake of raising them, so I'd like to get it right the first time. I feel my main client base will be smaller, "good-ol-boy" smaller firms that watch the books closely. On the other hand, I don't want firms thinking my service is worthless because it's so cheap it can't be any good.
Any and all insight is appreciated!
I worked for many years as a designer in civil engineering firms. In that timeframe, something I noticed was that they always needed a set of maps generated for any new project. 5 maps in total, an aerial, quad, vicinity, fema, and soils map. These maps get printed as 8.5x11 maps for submittal in regulatory agency packages. Currently, even with the latest software, and even if firms have extensive GIS departments, these maps take 10-15 minutes each to generate (a little over an hour).
I'm getting very close (6-8 weeks) to launching a web service for these civil engineers, land developers and environmental engineers. The service will let them put in a project address, hit submit, and five minutes later these maps will be emailed to them in both a pdf and CAD file format. The main benefits are as follows:
- saving at least an hour on each new project
- any new enthusiastic client calling a firm who just bought a parcel can give them the address and meet them just 30 minutes later, and the firm will be in a very advantageous position to get that new client (preparedness)
- with the CAD file and other data, once they get a client retainer, even though the linework given to them is not a replacement for a legal survey, the firm can begin design right away, rather than waiting (sometimes weeks / a month or more) for a surveyor
So I'm all over the map on what to actually charge for this. Of course I've done a good bit of research, but would still like some advice, if anyone's willing. These firms, depending on the type of work they provide for their clients, bill from $40 to $140 an hour. So here's what I'm leaning toward:
$25 One-time use
$49 Subscription, 5 uses per month
$59 Subscription, 10 uses per month
I realize that once established, it would be hard to justify raising prices just for the sake of raising them, so I'd like to get it right the first time. I feel my main client base will be smaller, "good-ol-boy" smaller firms that watch the books closely. On the other hand, I don't want firms thinking my service is worthless because it's so cheap it can't be any good.
Any and all insight is appreciated!
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