How much do big software companies (SAP, MS, Oracle) pay for consultants?

Question

My small company has a client (big company) that says we are charging too much. We'd like to go back to them and say, "look, these are the going rates for consultants working at big companies." I need some backup info on what those going rates are... thank you.

Answer 1

Check this site to see the rates in UK

http://www.itjobswatch.co.uk/default.aspx?page=1&sortby=0&orderby=0&jt=2&q=SAP&id=0&lid=2618

Answer 2

In the UK, Big Companies pay Big Consultants (SAP, Oracle) approx £1,000 per man day. Microsoft consultants get about £800.

I'm assuming the Contract is up for renewal ? - in which case I would suggest quoting the going rate will get you no-where.

I used to work for a 'Big Company' and I would guess one of the following is the real reason :-

1) If the person who is complaining is some-one you have not dealt with before, then they attempting to justify getting rid of the existing Big Company project manager and replacing him/her with themselves.

2) If the person who is complaining is the existing project manager with whom you have been dealing, then they are trying to justify retaining the same scope of work in the face of next years Big Company proposed budget reductions.

I would suggest a robust response along the lines of :-

'We have consistantly delivered a quality job at a reasonable price. We do not believe you can get a better job for a lower price, however if you wish to dispense with our services at the end of the current Contract we will respect your decision.

Should you later discover our Competitors are not quite up to the job and decide to re-employ us, we regret we would have to impose a 50% uplift on our existing rates.

However we would be willing to hold at our existing rates +10% should you decide to renew the exising Contract for next year now.'

Of course you may still loose the Contract ...