I get asked all the time if I can build custom database solutions. While it's not my primary focus (I prefer making video tutorials) I do accept database projects on a case-by-case basis, depending on whether or not I have time, and whether or not I think it's a good fit for my skills. In addition, I also work with a team of consultants who are also available to build custom database projects. So if you need a database, and you have neither the time nor inclination to learn how to build it yourself, contact me. I'm sure I can help to put together a solution for you.
Before I can give you an estimate of the cost, I need to know specifically what information you want your database to manage. First, make me a list of the different types of data you want to store. These are called Tables in Access, and each Table stores a unique set of data. For example, a retail store might want to store customers, orders, products, product categories, employees, and so on. Each unique "type" of data will go into its own Table.
Next I'd need to know how you need to interact with that data. We can assume you'll want a screen (called a Form in Access) to add and edit data for each of the Tables in your database (to edit customers, for example). However, I also need to know if you want to perform any special actions with that data. For example, our retail store tracks orders and products, but if you want the product INVENTORY LEVEL to automatically change when an order is finalized, that would be a special function, requiring some programming. We'd need to know all of special ways in which you want to work with that data, or any special procedures you have.
If you have a particular flow in mind for your database, feel free to sketch it out for us. Draw on paper (or using your favorite flow-chart or image editing program) what you want all of the screens to look like. Draw out all of the menus, screens, and other pages the way you would want to see them. This will help our designers to develop a database that's SPECIFIC to your needs, exactly the way you want it to be.
Next, we'll need to know what printed Reports you want for your data. Our store above, for example, would want an employee roster, a quarterly sales report, aged accounts receivable, etc. Make a list of all of the reports you want. It's always better to have this information UP FRONT than to have you come back a month later saying, "well, now I need to add THIS..."
Also be sure to let me know of any special requirements you have for your database. Do you need this to run on just your office network, or do you need remote-access capabilities? Do you need a web-based portal for looking up or editing data? If so, which data? Do you have security concerns? Does your database need to be protected against the most devious of hackers, or are you OK with "good enough" security to keep the average user out of your forms and VB code?
Keep in mind while putting this together that WE KNOW DATABASES, but we might not understand how YOUR business works. One of the toughest challenges for us in developing software systems is just understanding the methodology and terminology of different businesses. A "contact" could mean a person to one business, but mean an instance of communication to another. We might not know what your "PVT Instance" or "Calibration Instance" means (see, neither do you. Ha ha).
The more information like this that you can put together for me BEFOREHAND, the more accurate I can make your quote, and the better the finished product will be. If you don't want to take the time to list all of this yourself, a member of my development team or I can work with you to put it all together, however this would be billable time. You can find our hourly rates here: Consulting Rates.
One you have all of this, email it over to me and I'll be happy to look it over, make my recommendations, ask you a bunch of questions, and give you an exact quote on what development will cost. Just to give you an idea, the database that I was using for my examples (above) for the retail store would probably cost them about $1000 for us to build. Most projects we undertake fall anywhere between $500 and $10,000 depending on the scale and complexity.
Finally, depending on the nature of your database, and whether or not I feel like this is something I can remarket to other customers, I may decide to built it at a reduced cost to YOU, and record it as a video seminar. This way you get a database at a lower cost, and I have a new lesson and database template I can market to my other customers. Of course, not every project will qualify for this, but it's an option I may consider. Let me know if you're OK with this. Obviously if your database has any proprietary methods or information involved, let me know ahead of time. Of course we HIGHLY value confidentiality.
If you'd like for me to prepare a quote for you, put as much information like this together as possible and email it over to me. I'll be in touch as soon as I've had a chance to review it.
13 years ago
