[swinnipeg]

Shoot higher!

If you are contracting in a situation like this a reasonable rate could mean $250-$1000 an hour. Really depends on what kind of money your currently make.

A better approach in the case would be to offer to investigate, and provide a flat rate. You can charge $3000 flat fee, and you may solve it in 1.5 hrs.

[conception]

And -always- minimum two hours.

[jkoudys]

Oh god yes. Otherwise it's always the same: try to bargain you down to billing 30 minutes work, then complaining that you didn't do the 1.5h of work they'd agreed wouldn't be done to save costs. The usual "in lieu of paying you more, we'll complain harder" nonsense every client from hell pulls.