Family Tree Research charging

[TheOtherHalf]

I have done quite a number of trees now and although I am still no expert, have done really well on some trees, even to finding things I never thought possible. I have been asked by a few work colleagues to do theirs and they have offered to pay me but I really dont know what to charge. I know this was discussed a while ago on here.
Do I charge by the hour or what I thought my be good enough is to charge a set amount for each group of family I find on each census and if they are happy with what I find on i.e 1911, go back to 1901 and 1891 etc and agree each one with them. I really dont know
I do enjoy doing them and now feel lost at not having one to do but I feel charging by the hour, even though it could take a long time to get on the right track, could prove too costly for them.
What do you other researchers out there think. Your advice appreciated. Thanks

[Zacs-Master]

If it's something you enjoy doing, the a set amount would be sensible. If it's something to make serious money, then charge by the hour. £10 to £15 would be my suggestion.
Ps don't forget that you should declare this as income for tax purposes.

[Rose Maybud]

Tricky one this and I don't have THE answer. I have compiled trees for other people too and feel the same way. You say research is fun now, so number one consideration must be that it remains so. I did a tree in which I got well and truly stuck, bought the wrong certificate (who pays for that?) and that got me down to the extent I had to declare 'No more!'. This wasn't fun. It brought it home that it's a big jump to go even semi-professional.

In the past I have used the professional researchers at ROs, and they worked to a maximum of 2 hours at a time, reported their findings, and it was very much up to me to choose whether to ask for more.

However, it's also fair to say that my acquaintances at least don't expect research done to the rigorous level the text books demand. They are delighted with some charts, prints of Census Returns and a commentary. In the tree I did just before Christmas I had to say that I couldn't progress in certain lines without certificates, and that the online trail went cold c 1800 anyway, and would entail visits to ROs etc in order to perhaps get more. The family haven't asked for more (!) so I guess their curiosity has been satisfied, which is another way of saying that an introduction to a history based on online stuff easily accessed, BMD, Census Returns and similar could be offered as a package for a set amount.

[TheOtherHalf]

Thanks to both of you. Your answers are appreciated. I will have to think it out a bit more. Up to now I havnt minded when its got difficult as Im like a dog with abone once I get started and then finding that missing jigsaw piece is great, but I understand what you are saying about it not becoming fun sometimes especialy when doing it for someone elses family

[TheOtherHalf]

I wish I could mark you both as best answers. xxx thanks

[dotty.]

Seriously. what you need to do is work with the publishing pages on ancestry, this is the only way that you could realistically make money from your research. In the past I have explained about how negative research is as important as positive research, as tghis eliminated whole swathes of data and archives, but people do not want to pay for being told nothing is there. You are better these days with the amount of info available on ancestry, actually being able to present the findings in the professional format offered under the Publish tab on ancestry's home page using the My Canvas app that is on there, you won;t need to order the binders necessarily, I manage to print off the pages with fulkl tree content using photos aswell for as many profiles as possible, then when it is put in a decent A4 folder it can look great. Noone is really interested in how many hour of your time has been spent on the research grind, but the end result is worth paying for and you can set the price by either generations or family lines. Check the publish option out and you will see what I mean.

[TheOtherHalf]

Thanks Dotty. will check that out

[missprim]

In the past I have used the professional researchers at ROs

What is RO's please?

[Rose Maybud]

ROs = Records Offices. Run by the County Council.

[TheOtherHalf]

Thanks everyone for your answers. But professional researchers will charge ridiculous prices and as Im only thinking of doing it for friends and work colleagues at the moment, I didnt want to put them off. In this regard, why would I have to show it on tax forms, you dont do that when you have a car boot sale and some people can take £100s of pounds on them ?

[starone]

Just curious - I couldn't do it myself - how far do you go and do you do male and female lines, and surely each generation increases the family tree in size. It must get so huge that it becomes unweildy. How do you decide which branch, or twig to follow? Especially in view of the huge families they used to have - my grandparents had eleven, nine girls and two boys. Please elucidate. No only that, but without pictures how can one visualise it?

[Zacs-Master]

Starbuck, it is usual to follow the branches of both your mother and fathers direct lines. You can the 'branch off' to do lesser, non direct lineages. And as to what it looks like, well....erm....a tree.

[TheOtherHalf]

Im afraid I do go a bit off track sometimes. I do the main father and mother lines, then all their siblings, so we have all cousins, aunts etc. Then gparents both lines and any siblings found on any census, I try to follow through back as far as I can with each one, all the time marking the main line.You can get lucky and find photos and stories from other trees on Ancestry and with their permission, download them to your tree. Its fascinating which is why I am missing it at the moment. It gets a bit difficult like one Ive just finished which involved Irish, german (twice) and American. I found an irish girl who became a nun in Boston, Mass. USA .Fasinating story.

[theviking51]

Help please. I need to have a family tree done. I dont have much time due to 4 kids, and dont know which route to take? I am low income so cannot afford a pro company. Live in Herne bay Kent, but my nearest family came from Peckham London area's. Is there Someone here is willing to take this on? plus what charges. I think you will find my family interesting. My dad's side is already done by his USA brother. Just my mums side i dont have and all of her british family are not in contact anymore, so im in the dark. Thanks