Opportunity freelancers - What’s your goal for billable hours per week?

I feel like the billable hours model with 40 hours minimum of billable hours most weeks (and obvi more during busy season) leads to increased burnout. Like in other jobs w/o a billable hours goal if you had an unproductive day you could call the day a wash and get back to it another day, but for this job you have to work later to make up for it. Or during the slower parts of the year if there was a 35 minimum billable goal and people could work a true 9-5 that would help recharge too.

Thought experiment for you, fishies.

We all love to hate on billable hours. What’s a real, feasible alternative???

Small agency owner 🙋🏻‍♂️ I’ve wracked my brain and have 3 biz model options, none great:

Billable hrs: Generally accepted. We all know the downsides.

Pay4performance: Big upside potential, tons of risks.

Project pricing: Cloak for billable hours. You have to estimate project cost with something.

Who’s thought of a better approach??? Genuinely curious if there is one.

I know there are a ton of posts on billable hours requirements at many firms but do any other mid/senior level associates spend a TON of time on non-billables - group/dept./firm meetings; training; events; business development (writing articles, doing webinars, networking; outside association events); etc.? I feel like the number of hours spent on this is lost in the discussion sometimes and I know I spend an additional 300-400 hours on this per year. Anyone else?

It is January 1, 2023 and you are closing you December time. You realize that you missed your annual bonus target of 2,000hrs by 1hr of billable time. Your firm has made it clear that you won’t get any bonus if you don’t hit the minimum. What, if anything, are you going to do?

Went from a big firm to work for a smaller firm. The people in the smaller firm are protective of their work and are good by their work too. I no longer feel chaos or stress. I am treated with respect and my schedule is more normal. I am even working more billable hours than before, but it feels like a seamless experience. I don’t work then past 5pm or anything out of the ordinary for this time of the year. I am so grateful!

Client wouldn’t settle this afternoon for the dollar equivalent of less than an hour of my billable time. Clients, man, clients.

I need advice…. a partner is moving my time to non-billable codes rather than writing it off. He’s doing it to make his numbers look good when fees exceed the quoted fee cap. He is doing it without first giving me a guide on how much time to record and is sending my work without amends (ie my work is good). In my firm billable hours recorded go towards performance, promotions and bonuses. Write offs and realisation are not part of those assessments.

How are y’all planning your consulting exit strategies? Do you have a specific role in mind to aim toward? Are you building specific skills outside of billable work?

Does anyone know what the billable requirements are for a counsel job (off the track) with Littler?

Does anyone have experience working for a ALSP? How does compensation work (pay and benefits)? Are you an employee or technically an IC? Do you have billable requirements like at a firm? How do you think it prepared you to potentially move in house? I'm currently at a firm but thinking of taking a position with an ALSP but my goal is to go in house.

I’m a few weeks into my new job and haven’t had much work. I’ve been letting partners know I’m available and have been asking for work but I’m worried my very low billable hours are going to look bad. I’m not sure how aggressive I should be in asking. I try to circulate through different partners every couple of days, because I don’t want to be nagging the same people every day. Any advice would be much appreciated!

I heard so much about minimum billable hours here by staff. I never saw that email. Is it inly for certain groups?

How many billable hours do you average per week?

What are firm’s known billable requirements? Is there a ramp up period?

Everyday I can’t seem to hit the required billable hours. I’m overwhelmed by emails and people asking me where an item is. I feel like I’m not good enough. I keep making mistakes I shouldn’t make at my level. I wish I could just quit so I wouldn’t have to be miserable everyday.

Has anyone transitioned from Tax to RM? Could you share your experience and pros/cons of the change? Really want to get out of client facing/billable work, but I like my firm. Thank you!

To the post below- it is quiet, so I’ll bite!
Does anyone know about associate compensation at the regional Atlantic Canada firms? The the big ones have all been posting job ads for associates in the 3-5 year range. Any insight on salary and billable targets?

16 weeks and so worried all of the stress I’m under is going to hurt the baby. Between work, my own scary (non-pregnancy) health stuff, the pandemic, my mom (who is a widow and lives alone, basically isolated by choice due to covid) is having health issues, and pressures to keep billable hours up, I’ve been having complete breakdowns. Today I spent almost the entire day crying and now have to make up the billable time this weekend. I really worry abt what effect this will have on the babe.

Is it a wise career decision to go from a national firm to a local but strong firm? Practiced with the national firm for a year and a half. The firms are the same type of law, but the smaller firm has less billable requirements and is offering higher salary/better bonus structure as well as more independence such as ability to completely run own case load.

The recent most billable hours post, inspired me. What is your longest billable day? Mine was 56 hours straight with no break—and the partner was more than a jerk when I was saying no more at the 30 hour point. That was two 24 hour billable days back to back on my time sheet and on the bill, a 360 hour month, and 650 aggregated for two months. And it is one reason (of so many reasons) why this job can suck so much! At least I got a good bonus...

Recommendations for firms to look into in South FL? I'm in Ft. Lauderdale but am open to Boca or Miami. I'm a first year associate in ID (coverage issues) but really would prefer transactional work. More importantly though, I'm looking for companies who pay relatively well (doesn't necessarily have to be market), are open to remote/hybrid work, aren't sweatshops. I'd settle for insurance work if theres good WLB & $$$ lol

Is PDM ever going to be less crappy?

What’s your best advice to a new manager? What are the things you do that make you good at what you do?

Someday If your manager is asking you to stay for late in the office, he/she usually orders the dinner for you.

What food item did he/she ordered for you ?

Hi fishes,

I have 4.1yr of experience and I want to switch to another company. Can any one please refer me for Pl/SQL developer?

Thanks in advance.

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What agency and/or production company is putting out the best work in the Denver area these days?

I find these discussions very interesting. At least from a European point of view, it's Democrats for the win (and yeah, Biden ist not the best candidate, but the lesser evil, of course). But then again, I guess we live in socialism.. I have to agree, it really sucks with everyone having health care, no one getting shot on streets or having to live on the streets...

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7pm curfew tonight and tomorrow everyone! Stay safe 😥

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What do you think of Womb Stories?

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What percent is set aside for federal?

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Any good recos on accountants in NYC? I’d really like one who is responsive to emails/calls, explains things clearly, and helps with freelance things like LLC, quarterly taxes, etc.

Anyone wanna share stock site passwords

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How does childcare work when you’re a freelancer whose schedule is on & off? Are you forced to pay for full-time care year round?

Hey guys

Can you help me understand something. When you hire a freelance creative team do you normally agree a combined fee for both ? Or do you pay them the same separately.

Finally what is the going day rate in the UK for...

-mid weight team (approx 5yrs)
-senior team (7yrs)
-cd level (10yrs)

Thanks ☺️

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Has anybody ever had trouble signing a new apartment as a freelancer? My landlord is asking for a ton of extra stuff since I have my own business instead of a W2.

I am a licensed bachelors social worker with a lifetime of experience. I can’t practice as a therapist but I’m thinking about trying to set up a business as a life coach and provide video sessions. I have no idea how to create a website and to ensure the service is legal for my licensure level. Any suggestions? Thank you

Any shops/teams who may be in need of some CD-Art help coming up? And/or any writers out there open to partnering up for future opps? (I'm in NYC if relevant)

Just wrapped my last gig + about to start a new round of reach outs. So I'd love to refresh my CW list for any Team openings that may pop up as well.

Thanks! Feel free to DM if would like to chat

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S Corp Freelancers in NYC, the city will give you a grant for 40% of your payroll cost if your biz income is down from last year. (Cont)