Estimates, Bids, Quotes...

[scenesone]

Hi All!

I am a relatively new (6 years self-taught) web designer, and recently my business has really taken off. Not a slew of money or big jobs yet, but the work is steady! I am beside myself with happiness! I received a great call yesterday from a gentleman who works for a city small business administrative office who wanted to invite my company to bid on a big job they have coming up for a web site. I have heard there is a process in how this all works, and my bookeeper has mentioned "Estimates, Quotes and Bids" (maybe not in that order???) and I have heard other designers using the same terms, yet I am completely in the dark about this process. Basically the way it is now, and I know I am not making as much money as I should doing it this way, is that I estimate the amount of hours I am going to spend on a project, multiply that by my hourly rate, then send that, in writing to my client. I tell them any work after that is a flat hourly rate. If they accept it, off I go on my merry way. For all I know I am doing nothing wrong, but there's a process that I know I should be plugging in here and wanted to ask around these forums before I put my nose to the Google grindstone to research it that way. Has anyone recently needed to learn how to do this, or is there someone here that can point me in the right direction?

Thanks a gazzillion and ciao baby...

Billy in Vermont US

[whats going on]

I may not be web designer of the year but have a fair amount of business knowledge.....

Never be affraid of asking the most stupid question at a board meeting...... worst way they may appreciate you because you made them laugh!!!

You are going to ask the company what they want in the way of your services - ask them how they would like / are used to having their quotation presented????? not even a dumb question really!

Or: phone every other web designer in the area and ask them how they would present it to you!!

Good luck, hope you get it...

[scenesone]

thanks for your reply

Originally Posted by whats going on

I may not be web designer of the year but have a fair amount of business knowledge.....

Never be affraid of asking the most stupid question at a board meeting...... worst way they may appreciate you because you made them laugh!!!

You are going to ask the company what they want in the way of your services - ask them how they would like / are used to having their quotation presented????? not even a dumb question really!

Or: phone every other web designer in the area and ask them how they would present it to you!!

Good luck, hope you get it...

[ADAM Web Design]

You do it pretty much the way I do it, and it's worked well for me.

The only thing I do is that I break down the site into its various sections so that they can see the cost of each item. You know, "search $200, layout $500, self-admin $1100, etc." (NOT ACTUAL FIGURES.)

Then I explain the hourly rate at the bottom of the quote.

If it works, why screw with it?