Hi,I am new to being a consultant and I am just going to send my first invoice, my question is can I charge the client for all the meetings that have taken place to discuss the requirements for the work I am carrying out for them? For example we had a six hour meeting on Monday to discuss there requirements for a new web site, is this chargeable.Thanks for your adviceJulian

In theory, all time you put in to preparing a proposal, having meetings etc. prior to contract signing can be billed. However, many clients hate this and if you’re brand new to this you may take a view as to whether you put this as “goodwill” or whether you want to make your stance now for future. If you had a signed contract in place and you had a 6 hour meeting, evidently you can charge them.

Was the meeting part of the work you had agreed to deliver the project or was it a pitch to win the business?If it was the latter then you would be expected to bear the costs yourself. In the former it would never hurt to clarify with the client themselves as to what they understood your agreement to be and explain your position prior to submitting the invoice - much better than the client receiving an invoice with unexpected amounts that they then dispute, and may create bad feeling early in your relationship with a new client.

Hi,Thanks for your advice, the meeting was for a project already agreed and was to get further information from the customer to better understand there requirements so I would say it comes under chargable but I wanted someone to confirm. I have also emailed the client to basicly ask if they are happy with me charging for project meetings.Thanks for you jelpJulian

Hi,Thanks for your advice, the meeting was for a project already agreed and was to get further information from the customer to better understand there requirements so I would say it comes under chargable but I wanted someone to confirm. I have also emailed the client to basicly ask if they are happy with me charging for project meetings.Thanks for you jelpJulian