Q: Who is James S. Laferriere, MCP?
A: Try the About Me page or my Resumé
Q: What do you charges for your services?
A: Generally, $50/hour for commercial organizations. For those who seek help
with environmental, recreational, or other green projects, I have some super low prices
reserved just for you.
Q: $50/hour? Why so much?
A: The actual question should be 'Why so little?'. Consider the fees of professionals
in other fields and I'm sure you'll agree. My mechanic charges $69/hour, my attorney bills me
at $125/hour. I pay these fees because they are experts in their field and I cannot do
what they do. (Well, I can try to do what they do, but somehow it always works out to you can pay me now
or you pay me later.)
Q: I can't afford that much. What are my options?
A: 1.) You can search for a lower-priced programmer. For instance, at
RentACoder.com,
you'll find dozens of highly intelligent programmers who work for meal money. But in all fair warning,
you'll get what you pay for.
2.) You can learn the necessary technologies. This assumes you have
plenty of free time and you have an aptitude for such things.
Q: Will you bid a project in it's entirety?
A: Yes, I will, and that of course would be free of charge.
But, I cannot make a bid without concise, clearly written documentation.
Q: Why such a hard line about documentation?
A: Before approaching a software developer for an estimate, you should have
your requirements and expectations in order. Building a computer program or a web site is similar to building a
house. It starts with blueprints and sits on a foundation. Imagine the reaction you'd get from the builder
if you asked for an extra bathroom while the house was under construction. And you don't plant the lawn or
paint the house until the dirty work is done. Software is also constructed under these carefully planned milestones.
Q: I have this great idea for a web site. No money at first, but this one has real potential.
Do you want in on the ground floor?
A: No thank you. I've got a dozen or so ideas just like it.
Q: I need a web site with real pizzazz!! Can you do that?
A: By pizzazz, you're referring to error-free, easy-to-use, fast-executing pages with database access?
If so, the answer
is yes. If you're referring to pretty animations and pink butterflies, the answer is no. I'll cook your
turkey, but someone else has to provide the dressing.
Q: Are you seeking full-time employment?
A: I'm going to wear a suit, work in a cubicle, fight rush hour traffic,
and partake in the office soap opera? Yeah, right. 
