JoAnne Chalom, COMS, Ed.S.

 How do you determine a reasonable and customary fee for your services?

 The cost of living for a geographic region impacts determining fee structure  Experience and expertise are also components of determining a fee structure

 Market Research 101 includes  Geography  Comparative Markets  Quantity of Experience vs. Expertise

 A new orientation and mobility specialist may negotiate a lower rate  Compared to a veteran orientation and mobility specialist with over twenty-five years of experience

 States such as New York will typically have a higher fee basis than states like Georgia  A contractor in New York state charges $135 per hour  Another contractor in Alabama charges $58 per hour

 Comparative markets within a geographic region should be considered when determining a fee structure

 Determining for example, the base salary of an orientation and mobility specialist who works for a school district  Keep in mind that you are comparing apples to kiwis not apples to apples

 A private contractor would need to consider other factors such as expenses  gas  vehicle maintenance  office supplies  other expenditures

 Professional Errors and Omissions Liability insurance  General Commercial Liability Insurance  Business coverage for your vehicle

 Determine what competitors charge e.g. other private contractors

 What state(s) have the lowest paid private contactors ?  Hint: Location, location, location

 Alabama ($58)  Georgia ($75)  Florida ($80)  New Mexico ($85)  Texas ($90)  Washington ($90)

 What state(s) have the highest paid private contactors ?  Hint: Location, location, location (with a twist)

 Ohio $290  New York $135  Massachusetts $125

 Some contractors charge a separate fee for travel time  Others incorporate it into their hourly rate  Travel time rates range from.51 per mile  50% of the hourly rate for travel time

 Georgia ($25)  Texas ($30)  New Mexico ($40)

 What is the average beginning salary of a teacher in the great state of Michigan?  What state has the highest average beginning salary for a teacher?

 Michigan ($34,724)  New Jersey ($48,101)

 Typically a school board employee’s salary is based on a ‘school year’ that is ten months long

 School Board employees also have benefits  It can include medical, dental, retirement

 What is the typical school year a school district employee ?  Is that factored into calculating base salary?

 What state has the lowest average beginning salary for a teacher ?  What is the median range for beginning teachers salaries ?

 State with the lowest average beginning salary (Montana) ($26,000)  Median range for beginning teacher salaries  ($37,000)

 Another benefit would be either the use of the company vehicle for work related travel  Reimbursement for mileage (personal vehicle)  Wear and tear on your car is not typically reimbursed

 Depending on the company private contractors may not offer benefits  They may offer a limited array of benefits such as medical coverage

 What fringe benefits are provided to employees ?  Are they as prevalent for private contractors ?

 Pension Plans  Group Errors and Omissions Coverage  Paid time off (sick or personal)  Paid Holidays  Leaves or Sabbaticals

 Group Health insurance  Groups Dental coverage  Group Life Insurance

 Texas ($60,034)  Illinois ($55,488)  Colorado ($51,568)  New York ($51,268)

 California ($30,000)  Nebraska ($31,603)  Texas ($31,729)  Kentucky ($32,042)

 Blind Rehabilitation Outpatient Specialists at the Veteran’s Administration  Credentialed in at least one area, COMS, CLVS,Etc..

 Many positions have factored into their base salary a locality adjustment based on the cost of living in specific geographic regions

 Locality Adjustments can range from 4.72 (Alaska) percent to percent ( San Jose, California)

 San Jose-Oakland-San Francisco, California (35.15%)  Indianapolis-Anderson-Columbus, Indiana (14.68%)  Rest of the United States  (14.16% )  State of Alaska  (4.72%)

 Congratulations, you have decided to go out on your own and become self-employed  Give yourself a pat on the back  Now exhale (after you have figured out what you have just done)

 Take a moment to say good bye to   Dependable paychecks  Fringe Benefits  Paid time off

 Paperwork…. oh what fun  Monthly deposits for federal, state and reemployment taxes (unemployment taxes)  Keeping current with all licenses required to have a business in your city, county and state

 Ensuring that invoices are paid in a timely manner  Ensuring that business expenses are paid on time

 GS-11 requires ACVREP COMS (at least one area of certification more than one is preferred)  Salary Table 2012-GS

 Rates Frozen at 2010 Levels effective January 2012  Annual Rates by Grade and Step oversight/pay-leave/salaries- wages/2012/general-schedule/saltbl.pdf

 Teacher salaries by state  by-state

 The National Council of State Agencies for the Blind (NCSAB)   ing every state that has a vocational rehabilitation program or a contractor facilitating that need

 JoAnne Chalom,COMS, Ed.S.  In Focus Mobility, Inc.  