Creating a schedule of costs

A considered and well presented schedule of costs will:

clearly set out to the client the fees for the services that they are obtaining from the adviser
clearly set out to the client any disbursements that will be charged in conjunction with the particular immigration matter, for which the adviser is engaged
reduce the likelihood of disputes over fees and disbursements
help an adviser enforce the ability to pursue clients for payment, if required.

Some hints for creating a schedule of costs, are outlined below:

Steps	Actions
Calculate the fees that the adviser will charge the client	This should be done either: by the hour with the estimate of time it will take to perform the services listed by providing a fixed cost for the services .
Calculate the disbursements that the adviser will charge the client	This should be done either: at the actual amounts for general disbursements, at a reasonable rate of what it costs to provide the service.
Check	A schedule of costs should: list the professional fees the adviser will charge for an immigration matter list all types of disbursements, and any other relevant costs, that the adviser expects the client will incur; and explicitly state which fees and services are subject to New Zealand Goods and Services Tax (GST) .