A reasonable charge for Family tree tracing.

[Polly1958]

Due to problems with my neck and shoulders I am thinking about packing in my job as a hairdresser.I have traced lots of trees for friends and family free of charge,but thought about doing it to earn some money.What do you think is a reasonable amount?I don't think a lot of people realise how much time it can take,would you charge by the hour or for tracing a particular line? I like the challenge of starting a new tree so I would be doing something I enjoy.Any thoughts would be appreciated,thanks Polly

[Old_Geezer]

Precisely. I'd consider an hourly charge method if I were you, at least until you are confident of being able to quote/estimate a different way.

Don't price yourself short just because you like the work. It's still your time and effort. and anyway, making a hobby your job can be a god way to lose interest :-)

[Polly1958]

Thanks Old Geezer,I think you're right,especially when some records have been transcribed wrongly and it takes an age to find the correct one.

[spudqueen]

I think you really need to do some research on this, don't just think of a figure off the top of your head, you really need to find a ballpark figure that other people charge.

You could start by having a look here
http://www.genealogistfinder.com/index.html

And here
http://www.bensongenealogy.co.uk/

[Polly1958]

Yes thanks, i've seen those two sites spudqueen,I don't think people round here would pay that kind of money!

[dotty.]

From 1991 to 1995 I undertook paid research on an hourly basis and charged £8 an hour . i also undertook a few full trees and charged £16 an hour plus expenses (certs. wills etc). I think now that a reasonable hourly rate, to cover your online resource fees and the negative and positive results (which you have to show in your research log) would be £20 per hour and any certs. etc would be additional expenses. the beauty of ancestry's sister site mycanvas is that you can print off professional looking trees and posters that are well worth the printing costs!
What you have to be thoroughly clear on is that for all the hours of research looking for one person you do, your results are only as good as your research and so you should always keep a complete record of sources searced. this may be negative research but it is essential that any client understands your efforts. You may spend 12 hours research time looking for a particular person and never find them. Your client would then be able to tell a second researcher what you ave searched and eliminated and that new researcher finds the person they want within ninutes of re-starting the search. That is why you should make a client fully aware of the research time scale that could be involved and get a definate spend limit from them. You should also only advertise yourself as a genealogist for professional hire if you have definately completed relevent professional courses and obtained a recognised qualification, if you haven't done that, then you are a record agent and researcher and that should be distinguished. a genealogist directs and analyses the research and potential sources, a record agent follows the genealogists instructions.
It is one thing offering your services and experience to family and friends when they are not paying clients, it is another thing to be taking people's money and trying to make a profit at it. It is a very competitive business and not something ma

[dotty.]

blimey where did the rest of me answer go!!!!

[dotty.]

I typed that much i can't remember what else is missing! Oh yes, I suggested that you should advertise in one of the monthly family history magazines and offer local research to attract overseas clients, using your local County Record Office and their vast archive can be a way to offer something beyond the online sources you find on ancestry etc.

[TheOtherHalf]

Ive done 5 family trees now as birthday presents for friends. They were amazed at how much work Id put into them. If they had paid someone, it would have cost a small fortune, only had to get a few certs to confirm things, a lot were photographs of certs I got from local offices. I really enjoyed it though and now Ive nearly finished my own 4 trees am looking forward to another challenge.
My OH said I should take it up as a paying hobby. Its a good idea but as Dot said there could be so much involved and hassle from clients when you cant find what they want, and yet still charge etc.
But good luck anyway

[Count-A-Strong]

it's always good to be a bit cheeky and phone round a few people who are providing the same service to find out what they charge. The thing is, it's relatively easy for anyone with a bit of nouse and I therefore think 20 pounds an hour is a bit OTT.

[craft1948]

Depends how far back you want to go Count .......the last 4 or 5 generations are easy but before that it can mean having to get on your bike. I'm stuck on my father's side and to find out more I need to go to the Shetlands and Ireland.

[dotty.]

You have to take into consideration Count that to do the research properly you need to have at least 2 accounts with the major sites, which can be quite an expense and they are not cheap, you need an internet connection and a phone line too, and electricity, all of these are costings that any serious buisness person would have to account for in their business plan, that's before you actually have to present the evidence which also needs printing which needs printer ink and also electric! I produced a 109 page family tree for a work colleague's wife last month, that's alot of ink and paper Count and it was a basic 6 generation chart and accompanying book all done on the mycanvas site on ancestry. so before you charge for your time you have all the practical and unavoidable costs to consider,
If you are then having to visit your local CRO you have travel expenses again they have to be included in any business plan break down,

[Polly1958]

Sorry for the delay in acknowledging your posts,thank you, all for the help and advice.