Hi everyone! I’m working on my first freelance project where I need to create a simple inventory tracking system for a small business. They’re currently using handwritten records, which is quite outdated. I suggested using AirTable since it’s user-friendly and perfect for their needs.
My plan is to develop a basic version first to show them how it works. If they decide to move forward with the full system, I’m unsure about the handover process. How do I properly transfer the database ownership to them? What’s the correct way to set up their paid subscription?
I’m also curious about pricing. This project should take around 1-2 days, including revisions and client feedback. What would be a fair rate for this type of work?
Had this exact situation with a restaurant client last month. Here’s what worked: have them create the workspace under their email, then immediately add you as admin. For handover, document everything - I make a simple guide with screenshots showing how to add records, modify views, and handle basic stuff. Always schedule a follow-up call two weeks later to catch any issues. Don’t do hourly pricing - go value-based instead. A good inventory system saves them tons of time and cuts errors vs paper tracking. I charge $600-900 for basic setups (consultation, build, and training included). Pro tip: during your first meeting, get them to input sample data. They’ll understand the workflow better and you’ll avoid endless revisions. Makes everything smoother.
Build it under their Airtable account from day one, not yours. Have them grab a free account first, then add you as a collaborator with creator permissions.
When you’re done, they just remove your access and upgrade to whatever plan they need. Pro at $20/month per user works for most small businesses.
I made this mistake last year - built everything in my workspace first. Transferring ownership was a complete nightmare. Had to rebuild the whole thing because integrations broke during the move.
I charge $75-100/hour for Airtable work. Simple inventory systems with proper views and basic automations run $800-1200 depending on what they need. Don’t undersell yourself just because it’s quick work.
Build training time into your quote too. Sure, Airtable’s user-friendly, but they’ll still need to learn adding records, filters, and basic maintenance.