how to charge for web design?

[3dmagicaldesigns]

When you are at the office working on some project and you get a call or email from a potential customer asking for a quote what do you do? how do you charge him? which parameters should you use to obtain good profits and the most important thing: get the client?

There are many parameters that you need to consider:

• Time that you or your company will spend developing this project.

• Your customer ( company or person), it is obvious that you can charge different depending on the customer, you can't charge the same to Pepsi than to your neighbor or to a starter company.

I have readed different opinions on the internet and many of them agree that you need to follow a sequence so you can charge properly without overbill your potential customer. The fact is seek for the ideal balance considering some aspects exposed below:

* Time and Resources
It is one of the most important aspects to consider, that's what you will spend developing the project. Since your client gives the OK to start with the project's development you need to consider the project features and pay attention to the following items:

• Software to use
• Pictures processing
• Text for the website

For the last item you will have cases where your client doesn't even have the text in any electronic format ( which means more work for you)


As far as resources: if you are a freelancer, think about the expenses that will come from your pocket ( internet access, software, etc). This may seem a minor expense, but be careful! calculate this monthly, you will notice that the price that you were considering as "profitable" has been spent in transportation, gas, electricity, etc

* Don't standarize your projects
There are many answers regarding this topic, I have read about opinions that talk about find a way to standard the design costs but let me tell you that there is not an idea or software that can provide an accurate idea, the designers deal with creativity and it is something almost evil that you have to put a price to your ideas.

An intangible product like Web Design can't be standard, it is too difficult overall because you handle different projects, different people, strategic alliances, casual or sporadic clients, family clients, colleagues collaboration, outsourcing, etc. A time will come where the fees will become standard, in the meantime we will have to base this in our vision to quote, you will need to be ready to lose some profits and gain experience.

[ChiefLee]

Very important to make sure both the developer and the client have a clear understanding of their responsibilities to the project. Client needs to have clear expectations of what will be delivered. Helps to avoid billing problems at the end of the process.

[3dmagicaldesigns]

Totally Agree.

I highly recommend to send the client a complete questionaire where he/she can fill all the information about the project, it will avoid future misunderstandings and if the project requires additional features that were not specified when the contract was signed, then you can charge for your additional effort.

[zeruel]

Thanks for that. Definitely a very good article guide.

A questionnaire I guess is a standard way of knowing your client's expectations. I believe that having questionnaires ready for your client can make the work agreement easier and faster.

[jason146]

its surely helpful topic to get a potential clients but always be honest with your existing company as we are doing such type of things outside the office so we must take care of these things.

[3dmagicaldesigns]

Hey Guys, I just found this interesting online tool

FreelanceSwitch Hourly Rate Calculator

Enjoy

[S2 Web Design]

That's a pretty cool tool for this purpose. I wish I had come across something like that when starting to charge clients back in the day.

[alvin]

Its really cool tool thanks for sharing this info

[CoolGadgetGuy]

Originally Posted by 3dmagicaldesigns

Hey Guys, I just found this interesting online tool

FreelanceSwitch Hourly Rate Calculator

Enjoy

Great tool. It makes coming up with rates so much easier. Thanks for posting the link.

[LD]

A nifty way to find your "charge out rate". Did this many years ago in a biz seminar - with a pencil and paper - low tech.

[teeravuss]

I've always found it to be a sticky situation in regard to charging for web (or any other) design work. I do believe keeping a log of your hours is a MUST.

[Harmain]

verily it depends on your art and time spending.

[mjtaylor]

Originally Posted by 3dmagicaldesigns

Hey Guys, I just found this interesting online tool

FreelanceSwitch Hourly Rate Calculator

Enjoy

So do you have anything to do with this tool? Looks kind of like a sneaky link drop to me.

Pardon me if I am wrong ...

[morestar]

It's funny cause I recently wrote a little excel script that times you're work by the minute. I now use it all the time when doing client work.

I was selling it but that didn't go far, so I'm giving it away for free if anyone wants it. It's worth the try...

Just PM me and I will send it to you = )

[ristenk1]

I'm having trouble with this too. I made the mistake of charging an upfront fee and now am having the trouble with what I read is called a client's "creeping scope" of what they expect to be done. Ah, maybe it wasn't a mistake, me charging them an upfront fee because I'm trying to build a portfolio; but it has caused the problem of me not being upfront in telling them how many redesigns they can expect as part of the process. This is all new to me and the learning curve sucks.

[morestar]

yes ristenk1, that's what I went through. Now I nicely say I charge from $30.00 to $45.00 an hour (or whatever I want to charge) and do so...then I switch on my excel billing time clock and do the work. I give them a brief explanation of how long certain tasks 'should' take but I get paid for every single piece of work I do. They don't complain either. They like my hourly rate considering huge firms charge upwards of $80.00 an hour or more...

So even when they call for edits, again, i just switch on my clock and bank the hours until I've reached enough to get a cheque from them = )

[thebadhackerz]

all the discussion shud be on papers else client keeps adding additional things that were not in the scope at first place