How much does a new Website cost? It’s a question I’ve been asked more times than I can remember.
The answer – as always – is not a simple one. In this article I’m going to try and explain the procedures I go though when formulating a proposal for a potential client.
I’m not saying it’s the way all designer/developers do it, or that it’s the only ‘right’ way, simply that I’ve personally found it to be the most transparent and easy to understand method.
I also hope to tackle those grey areas that often crop up when client and designer first start to communicate, how they can be avoided and the responsibilities the design has to the client and vice versa.
So what is the first step in the process?
Communication of Budget & Requirements
I soon learned that establishing a budget prior to beginning the Proposal process was far more efficient, saving time for everyone concerned.
More often than not I’d quote the going rate for such projects – and the prospective client would then vanish off the face of the earth. It would obviously cost far more than they could afford.
I soon learned that establishing a budget prior to beginning the Proposal process was far more efficient, saving time for everyone concerned.
So my advice to is to always have a financial plan in mind before you contact a web designer.
I can understand reservations in doing this, the most common one being ‘But if I tell them my budget they’ll immediately tell me that’s how much my website is going to cost!’.
The honest answer to this is ‘Quite possibly, yes’.
To use a loose analogy, if you decide to buy yourself a new car you’ll usually have a pretty fixed idea of your spending limits. As a result you’ll shop around for the best you can get for your money.
You certainly wouldn’t walk into a Porche showroom with enough money to buy a Mini Coupe and expect to drive out in a shiny new car (at least not without cleverly distracting the salesman and pinching his keys first!).
Your project budget will most likely influence:
- The choice of Content Management System (whether to use a free CMS or purchase a licence for a powerful custom built application).
- Whether to create a bespoke template or to use a pre-built design from the web.
- Which ‘bells and whistles’, such as glossy effects and social network integration are feasible and which aren’t.
- Your hosting limits, such as disk space and bandwidth.
Let’s take a simple 10-page company website as an example. It needs a contact form, a couple of product pages and a latest news section.
If I received an enquiry like this, I would need to ask the following questions:
- Do you need a domain name?
- Do you need your Website to be hosted?
- Do you want the Website to be static (non-editable) or based on a Content Management System?
- Will you require membership on the site?
- Will you need to regularly update your products?
- Do you want visitor statistics?
- Do you want a bespoke template designed?
- Do you want a logo designed?
- Will you want to integrate Twitter and Facebook?
As you can see, depending on the answers to these questions the cost of the project could vary considerably.
So by knowing the budget and being upfront about it you will end up maximising value for money and get the best website possible.
Hammer out those finer details
This is where the designer and the client need to take some time to fully understand the scope of the project.
A good designer should always ask for all the content they need based on the information the client has initially supplied, but if that core information is not complete and more functionality is required mid-way though the project, extra costs are likely to be incurred.
Think of the new car analogy again – the manufacturer has proudly delivered you a custom built car and you realise you actually wanted automatic transmission rather than manual. The car will need to be taken apart again to make the alteration in design.
Similarly, in many cases your website may have to be de-constructed to add extra functionality mid-project.
Agreeing on the Proposal
Once the designer has all the details they need they will go away and start working out how much the project will cost. There are two billing options most designers choose from:
- Charge by the hour
- Quote a fixed price for the entire project
The majority of my clients prefer the ‘fixed price’ approach. They know in advance what they are getting for their money and I know the limits of the clients budget and what they can successfully deliver within it.
I work out the fixed price based on how long I estimate the project will take to complete. I then multiply my hourly rate by the total hours it will take.
Using this method gives a clear outline of the project cost in advance.
The Contract
The Web Design Contract is one of the most important steps in this process.
Some seem to see the contract as evil – something suspicious to be wary of.
However a solid contract protects the client and the designer from potential misunderstandings, as it should contain the project specifications included in the proposal and cements the scope of the project in print.
The contract should have the website requirements and the total cost itemised, making it clear what is included and what isn’t.
So have I answered your question? Probably not!
You may be reading this article in the hope that I would tell you how much a website should cost, down to the penny.
Even though I’d love to, I cannot provide you with that magic number, but with any luck I’ve gone some way to explaining why website costs can vary so much.
My methodology in quoting for a project is certainly not definitive; there are many other workflows that designers and developers use to construct their estimates. For me though, I find this way honest and transparent.
I hope what I have written has made the process a little clearer for those of you who are considering commissioning a website, or even freelance designers just starting out and looking for tips on proposal creation.
