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Eriilopmasa · 10-31-2007, 04:04 PM

I recently built a website for a startup company and don't know what I should charge. The owner of the new business keeps asking me for a bill, I don't want to over-charge, but don't want to sell myself short either. He also wants me to be the webmaster, I assume I should charge by the hour, but again, have no idea where to start. I've searched the internet and can't find anything that's really useful.... thoughts?!?!<br />

new_stock · 10-31-2007, 04:04 PM

$60 an hour minimum, many charge around $100.

Depends on the quality and complexity of the job.

In the future make sure you establish this ahead of time, otherwise it may end badly.

new_stock · 10-31-2007, 04:04 PM

if you have a bachelors ask somewhere at about $50/hr. thats decent. and not ripping him off also. remember you can always go down if they say its high, but can't go high.

if you have a masters you shouldn't charge anything less than $65/hr.

most web developers who don't have a bachelors charge like $20 -$35/hr.

goodMOnk · 10-31-2007, 04:04 PM

Price is something you should always negotiate before the work has been completed or even past the first third of development. Most companies are not familiar with web development and the amount of time it takes to build a quality , bug free, web site may be more then they are prepared to spend.

Despite what others have said, you should charge based upon your experience, not your education. I have worked with many formally trained designers that were not worth a 10th of the money they expected to be paid. While on the other hand I have found the developers with more real world experience building websites are usually the ones deserving of the premium fees. Basing your fees solely on your education level and not your experience will only hamper the growth of your business resulting in a lower long term income.

If you are just starting web design do your projects for a low but fair price in order to build up both experience and a portfolio. Once you have a quality portfolio the work should start finding you... then you know its time to raise prices.

Personally I bill a site on estimated time to completion giving both a high and low estimate. It is also a good idea to have a understanding with a new client that any "new ideas" outside of this contract will prolong development and raise their costs. Then simply keep a accurate log of the time you spend working on the project including descriptions of the work completed during each session so that at the end of the project, or billing cycle, your client will know exactly how their money was spent.

In regards to longterm administration contracts, you should get a idea of exactly how much work will be required from you on a weekly / monthly basis. Figure out the hours involved and give your client a estimate for a years worth of maintenance based upon that number. It is important that you keep in mind you are committing to a long term contract and that you feel you are fairly compensated for your work. Depending on the type of site maintenance contracts can require little to no work on a monthly basis, or constant daily monitoring. So you have to be clear and honest with both yourself and your client as to how many hours you are expected to spend maintaining their site weekely / monthly / yearly. Then, as with your original build, keep detailed records of all work completed as part of this contract.

Lastly, make clear in your maintenance contract what is included as maintenance and what will need to be bid out as separate projects. I have had clients agree to a contract of simple link updates, news posts, basic / emergency maintenance, only to request complete site overhauls a few months later under their maintenance agreement.

10-31-2007, 04:04 PM	#1
Eriilopmasa Greenhorn Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 42 Rep Power: 5	What do I charge for building a new website? I recently built a website for a startup company and don't know what I should charge. The owner of the new business keeps asking me for a bill, I don't want to over-charge, but don't want to sell myself short either. He also wants me to be the webmaster, I assume I should charge by the hour, but again, have no idea where to start. I've searched the internet and can't find anything that's really useful.... thoughts?!?!<br />

10-31-2007, 04:04 PM	#2
new_stock Greenhorn Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 3 Rep Power: 0	What do I charge for building a new website? $60 an hour minimum, many charge around $100. Depends on the quality and complexity of the job. In the future make sure you establish this ahead of time, otherwise it may end badly.

10-31-2007, 04:04 PM	#3
new_stock Greenhorn Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 3 Rep Power: 0	What do I charge for building a new website? if you have a bachelors ask somewhere at about $50/hr. thats decent. and not ripping him off also. remember you can always go down if they say its high, but can't go high. if you have a masters you shouldn't charge anything less than $65/hr. most web developers who don't have a bachelors charge like $20 -$35/hr.

10-31-2007, 04:04 PM	#4
goodMOnk Greenhorn Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 18 Rep Power: 0	What do I charge for building a new website? Price is something you should always negotiate before the work has been completed or even past the first third of development. Most companies are not familiar with web development and the amount of time it takes to build a quality , bug free, web site may be more then they are prepared to spend. Despite what others have said, you should charge based upon your experience, not your education. I have worked with many formally trained designers that were not worth a 10th of the money they expected to be paid. While on the other hand I have found the developers with more real world experience building websites are usually the ones deserving of the premium fees. Basing your fees solely on your education level and not your experience will only hamper the growth of your business resulting in a lower long term income. If you are just starting web design do your projects for a low but fair price in order to build up both experience and a portfolio. Once you have a quality portfolio the work should start finding you... then you know its time to raise prices. Personally I bill a site on estimated time to completion giving both a high and low estimate. It is also a good idea to have a understanding with a new client that any "new ideas" outside of this contract will prolong development and raise their costs. Then simply keep a accurate log of the time you spend working on the project including descriptions of the work completed during each session so that at the end of the project, or billing cycle, your client will know exactly how their money was spent. In regards to longterm administration contracts, you should get a idea of exactly how much work will be required from you on a weekly / monthly basis. Figure out the hours involved and give your client a estimate for a years worth of maintenance based upon that number. It is important that you keep in mind you are committing to a long term contract and that you feel you are fairly compensated for your work. Depending on the type of site maintenance contracts can require little to no work on a monthly basis, or constant daily monitoring. So you have to be clear and honest with both yourself and your client as to how many hours you are expected to spend maintaining their site weekely / monthly / yearly. Then, as with your original build, keep detailed records of all work completed as part of this contract. Lastly, make clear in your maintenance contract what is included as maintenance and what will need to be bid out as separate projects. I have had clients agree to a contract of simple link updates, news posts, basic / emergency maintenance, only to request complete site overhauls a few months later under their maintenance agreement.

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