FAQs

How much will my project cost?

The estimated cost of any project depends on the total understanding of the scope of work required - small projects need small budgets and large projects need larger budgets.

I offer a free 30 minute phone consulation that may help to put the project in perspective enough to offer an estimate.

Contact me to schedule a consultation.

Who do I make my cheques payable to?

Please make all cheques payable to XML-Extranet (a legal Canadian business), or simply Scott Cadillac. My mailing address is PO Box 384, Mahone Bay, Nova Scotia, Canada B0J 2E0.

Is a legal contract required to hire your services?

Not always, but it is certainly in your best interest to arrange for one.

Note: time spent finalizing a Contract will be added to the overall hourly billing of the project.

Simplicity is often the best solution for many challanges, and if that approach appeals to you - then let's work towards that goal, as long as a mutual understanding of each other's expectations is in constant agreement.

Will your project estimate be my final cost?

Not necessarily, but I'll do our best. All quoted hours are estimates only, meaning the expected number of hours to complete your project is a best guess only.

There are often many factors that can later affect the hours required to complete an outlined task, e.g., undisclosed requirements, integration with external or 3rd party software products, hardware or other logistical problems. These, and other, factors are often beyond our control. If additional hours are required, over and above the original estimate, then approval will be requested prior to commencing the new work.

Who will own the source-code for my custom software?

Upon receipt of final payment, you will. You pay only for the hourly work performed by me, for your custom software product and/or solution, with the following exclusions:

• Any software or source-code required for your project that has to be obtained or licensed from a 3rd party, as either closed-source or open-source (purchased or free).
• Any software or source-code required for your project, that originates from a seperate software product built by me, i.e., XML-Extranet a.k.a. Xmlx Software.

What payment terms do you offer?

Payments are always due upon receipt of each invoice. Please note the following:

• For new customers of small projects, Credit Card is required for immediate payment.
• For new customers of large projects, a full week payment (of the negotiated rate) is required in advance.
• For returning (or ongoing) customers, in the US or Canada, a mailed cheque payment is acceptable.
• For returning (or ongoing) customers, outside the US or Canada, Credit Card payment is required.

Is there extra costs for working after-hours or weekends?

Yes. In the event some work is specifically required (and requested by you) outside normal business hours, the negotiated hourly rate is charge at time-and-a-half (x 1.5).

Normal business hours is 7:00 am to 5:00pm Atlantic Standard Time (AST), Monday to Friday (excluding Canadian stat holidays).

How often do you invoice?

Invoices for hourly work are issued weekly, regardless of the project status. Payment is always due upon receipt of invoice.

What happens if a payment is delayed?

For each invoice that is 30 days overdue for payment, a new invoice will be issued for a 10% adjustment of the outstanding payment. Subsequent 10% adjustment invoices will be issued for each 30 day period that an invoice is unpaid, where the previous 10% is added to the outstanding balance. As well, any invoices that include a Foreign Exchange rate will be updated to reflect the latest rates.

Do I have to pay the Canadian Goods and Services Tax (GST)?

If you are a Canadian firm that hires me, yes. GST is added at 6% for all hourly programming work and consulting.

If you are not a Canadian firm, e.g., from the Unitied States of America (US), than the GST is not applied - providing the software I produce for you is not later brought back in to Canada for use or distribution.

Once I hire you, am I obligated to complete the project?

We try to design your projects so that you are provided an opportunity to opt out after each phase. You will be required to pay only for work done to that point, with the exception of any pre-paid deposits.

For example, if you only wanted to hire me to design your application, but not to build it, that is okay. In fact, some clients initially commit to only the design phase then continue the actual development once the design is complete and the estimate is as accurate as it can be.

Can I add to my custom software later?

Certainly. Generally, all project I build will utilize modular design patterns and practices, where possible, and which produces a readable code-base to make future changes as easy and efficient as possible.

The planning process sounds expensive and time-consuming, can't you just start writing code immediately?

Industry experience, over several years, has taught me that the more you invest in planning up-front, the more you will save during development - by creating a decisive project schedule and comprehensive application logic, which in turn produces fewer errors and better certainty of meeting deadlines and milestones. With that said, the key is planning the right things, and not attempting to plan everything.