attention: web designers - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

fuelmyfire · 01-18-2004, 01:42 PM

i need some advice. i've recently joined the web design world and have started developing sites for people.
i have lots of personal experience and knowledge, but no certificates, school or business experience.

i'm having a difficult time putting a price on the work i am doing for people, considering this is stuff i would be doing on my own time anyway!

i was wondering how other people in my situation are going about charging for their work. are you charging by job? per hour? is your price differing depending on what technology you are dealing with? should i up my price if i work with Flash?? how much is too much to charge and how much is selling myself short?

i have no idea how to go about this. can anyone tell me their formula?
(if it matters, i'm based in british columbia, canada)

Jesus Pimp · 01-18-2004, 06:37 PM

Check out these books..

http://www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/1581150...=1NUAJMYZMGX02

http://www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/0393730...=1NUAJMYZMGX02

tritium · 01-18-2004, 09:37 PM

My sites usually range from $750 to $3000 for just HTML and Javascripting (CFM, ASP or PHP too). Add in any database management or deep programming, and the price jumps exponentially. Don't short-sell yourself.

Most developers get paid between $25-30 dollars per hour for high-level programming. Be realistic and budget hours to devote to the project and do some multiplication on your hourly rate. If your only doing HTML, then pay yourself considerably less than $25-30 ... $10-12 is a more respectable range.

rubicon · 01-19-2004, 10:41 PM

HTML programmers alone can't cut it. I know one and her sites are really lacking. If you charge someone more than $20/hour for HTML-only you're either a hustler or you've got one over on them.

A developer who understands VB, Javascript, graphic design, database, and HTML layout builds the best sites. You can charge $40-$50 easily - perhaps more. However, everyone calls themselves a web developer these days which beats down the rates we can charge.

You'll need to quote most projects at a fixed rate or fixed time unless it's just maintenance. You can mix and match the time and rate to get something which works for you.

If you are a stellar artist and developer and a keen marketer you will have limitless revenue opportunities.

I've met these guys, http://www.spacedoghouse.com/, in LA. They're about 5 guys with different specialities and they do excellent work - their portfolio speaks for itself.

MSD · 01-19-2004, 10:51 PM

15 Bucks an hour for HTML, an $300/second is the going rate for Flash animations in corporate web design

mr_mcrafe · 01-19-2004, 11:35 PM

From the advice I have from what is one of the most successful design companies in Aussie, the CEO suggests charge what it's worth to the client. Talk to them about value, how much money it will make/save them. But at the same time don't undercut your prices, the prices above are about right, just make sure you do not underbudget time. That is the easiest mistake to make.

Also, when you present the cost to the client, be sure to justify it. Tell them how it will make/save them money, why it is such great value. Show them the development process, break down the time into tasks for them. Just make them feel it's worth it. Say why you are better than Joe Bloggs. Oh another very important thing is to make them trust you. Be absolutely as professionally as possible.

I'd suggest this book, I've purchased it and it's great: http://www.sitepoint.com/books/freelance1/ . It basically walks you through setting up your entire web design business, whether to go freelance or as a company, how to market, invoice, deal with clients, etc. It also has some useful real life examples and templates for tons of different marketing letters and invoices and so on (although I will never use the marketing letters as I don't like the hard sell technique).

01-18-2004, 01:42 PM	#1 (permalink)
fuelmyfire Insane	attention: web designers i need some advice. i've recently joined the web design world and have started developing sites for people. i have lots of personal experience and knowledge, but no certificates, school or business experience. i'm having a difficult time putting a price on the work i am doing for people, considering this is stuff i would be doing on my own time anyway! i was wondering how other people in my situation are going about charging for their work. are you charging by job? per hour? is your price differing depending on what technology you are dealing with? should i up my price if i work with Flash?? how much is too much to charge and how much is selling myself short? i have no idea how to go about this. can anyone tell me their formula? (if it matters, i'm based in british columbia, canada)

01-18-2004, 06:37 PM	#2 (permalink)
Jesus Pimp The Original JizzSmacka	Check out these books.. http://www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/1581150...=1NUAJMYZMGX02 http://www.amazon.com/o/ASIN/0393730...=1NUAJMYZMGX02 __________________ Never date anyone who doesn't make your dick hard.

01-18-2004, 09:37 PM	#3 (permalink)
tritium Professor of Drinkology	My sites usually range from $750 to $3000 for just HTML and Javascripting (CFM, ASP or PHP too). Add in any database management or deep programming, and the price jumps exponentially. Don't short-sell yourself. Most developers get paid between $25-30 dollars per hour for high-level programming. Be realistic and budget hours to devote to the project and do some multiplication on your hourly rate. If your only doing HTML, then pay yourself considerably less than $25-30 ... $10-12 is a more respectable range. __________________ Blah. Last edited by tritium; 01-18-2004 at 09:40 PM..

01-19-2004, 10:41 PM	#4 (permalink)
rubicon Stop. Think. Question. Location: Redondo Beach, CA	HTML programmers alone can't cut it. I know one and her sites are really lacking. If you charge someone more than $20/hour for HTML-only you're either a hustler or you've got one over on them. A developer who understands VB, Javascript, graphic design, database, and HTML layout builds the best sites. You can charge $40-$50 easily - perhaps more. However, everyone calls themselves a web developer these days which beats down the rates we can charge. You'll need to quote most projects at a fixed rate or fixed time unless it's just maintenance. You can mix and match the time and rate to get something which works for you. If you are a stellar artist and developer and a keen marketer you will have limitless revenue opportunities. I've met these guys, http://www.spacedoghouse.com/, in LA. They're about 5 guys with different specialities and they do excellent work - their portfolio speaks for itself. __________________ How you do anything is how you do everything.

01-19-2004, 10:51 PM	#5 (permalink)
MSD The sky calls to us ... Super Moderator Location: CT	15 Bucks an hour for HTML, an $300/second is the going rate for Flash animations in corporate web design

01-19-2004, 11:35 PM	#6 (permalink)
mr_mcrafe Banned Location: auckland, nz	From the advice I have from what is one of the most successful design companies in Aussie, the CEO suggests charge what it's worth to the client. Talk to them about value, how much money it will make/save them. But at the same time don't undercut your prices, the prices above are about right, just make sure you do not underbudget time. That is the easiest mistake to make. Also, when you present the cost to the client, be sure to justify it. Tell them how it will make/save them money, why it is such great value. Show them the development process, break down the time into tasks for them. Just make them feel it's worth it. Say why you are better than Joe Bloggs. Oh another very important thing is to make them trust you. Be absolutely as professionally as possible. I'd suggest this book, I've purchased it and it's great: http://www.sitepoint.com/books/freelance1/ . It basically walks you through setting up your entire web design business, whether to go freelance or as a company, how to market, invoice, deal with clients, etc. It also has some useful real life examples and templates for tons of different marketing letters and invoices and so on (although I will never use the marketing letters as I don't like the hard sell technique).