Sijun Forums :: View topic - How much should I charge a client? Please gimme some help!

jasonN · Posted: Tue Jun 06, 2000 3:11 am

Okay, I need some advice. My friend and I are making a webpage for a local computer business shop and we are unsure how to charge.
The site will probably consist of a few sections, graphics, simple interface, text and maybe a photo or two. We aren't putting in any databases or cgi forms or anything like that. We're just going to make a simple, attractive and functional small business site.

What are the suggestions of price? Or at least price range, I'm not too sure what to charge.

And also, does anyone know a good, fairy cheap domain name registration and webspace provider?

Thanks people.

-Jason

Spiritwolf · Posted: Tue Jun 06, 2000 3:52 am

For a local computer business shop? If you haven't done many web jobs I would suggest that you charge the absolute minimum (take care of your expenses at least). The best idea would be for you gain a lot of trust, and use this relationship to market to other potential clients. Doing this will help you build a stronger portfolio, and give you a viable marketing opportunity (make out some flyers, business cards, maybe even a sign if the store owner will allow it) and have them do some of them to the marketing for you. Offer a commision or bonus (maybe an upgrade to their website) for every referrel they send you. Trust me, free marketing is a giant bonus, especially when it is backed up by word of mouth. A lot of successful website developers started out this way, but now they can name their own price (well, withen reason). Don't create an island for yourself - becoming friends with businesses that can help you is often more important then making a one-time sale.

Just my 2 cents,
-Spiritwolf

chalker · Posted: Tue Jun 06, 2000 5:22 am

I got the same question for a drawing ?

How much could you charge for a drawing ?

like eh an hour work ?

Thnx anyway

zapman · Posted: Tue Jun 06, 2000 8:46 am

Jason: I am a web designer, I charge by the Hr. I design the layout of the website and somone takes teh PSD (photoshop file) and cuts up the image to be made a HTML out of.

Skills are High Charage by the Hr. the clint will jus thave to Trust you.

If the Clint is tryign to SELL something on-line Charge them MORE!

NOTE: dont go easy on the client because you know them.

Chalker, For Drawing? charage whatever you want based on the time it took you to complete the artwork to the detail and idea you put into this as well.

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ZAPmAn
Digitize Design
art, fart, and be smart.

zapman · Posted: Tue Jun 06, 2000 8:50 am

"And also, does anyone know a good, fairy cheap domain name registration and webspace provider?"

registration for domain name (www..com) They are all the same Price. And this shold be paid by the clint.
They are based on Years. more years you want the less price you pay.
webspace provider? oum..you have to look that one yourself.

something around 20-40$/hr is what you want to Charge.

Spiritwolf · Posted: Tue Jun 06, 2000 10:05 am

http://www.registerfree.com/

I'd start there if you haven't already found somewhere else. I know one of the executive officers there and they are completely legit. I haven't read their TOS or have investigated it further, but you might want to.

LoneDragoon · Posted: Tue Jun 06, 2000 10:49 am

I'm the lead programmer of a web design firm, we charge anywhere from $500 - $5000 (canadian) for a site, depending on what exactly the client wants. the client also pays for domain registration, hosting etc.

For the type of site you're talking about, we'd charge $500 or so.

We thought of charging by the hour, but we can whip up a full corporate site with ASP / CGI and what not in about a day or two when we apply ourselves. charging by the hour would really screw us over.

as for domain registrars, we tend to use register.com its a bit more expensive than register free, which'll charge you about 20 bucks a year.

register.com charges 35 a year, BUT they offer a very good interface for making changes to your DNS as part of the deal. as for hosting, I really cant say. It's probably best to deal with a company in your area. most ISP also offer hosting, but before you commit to one, try out some of the sites that they host, make sure they load fast, and that they arent constantly down.

anywho, I've rambled on long enough, good luck

Physch · junior member Member # Joined: 02 Feb 2000 Posts: 22

Hehe... That's a tough one, dude.
I'd charge them $1,000 at the most. If you work fast, you'll prolly come out at well over $50-60/hr. That's not bad.

synj · Posted: Tue Jun 06, 2000 12:50 pm

i used to charge a little bit. and yeah word of mouth was great, but that money went bye bye fast. and now i dont do freelance anymore - so was it a waste? not really because i learned stuff but not enough money to buy enough chocolate milkshakes and bounceyballs can get to you.

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-dan 'synj' paladin
animator/producer
synj industries, inc.
Z.com

mrjoker · junior member Member # Joined: 16 May 2000 Posts: 23

I register all of my domains through http://www.joker.com . They're THE cheapest and I have had zero problems with them. Truly great service.

psi burn · Posted: Wed Jun 07, 2000 1:24 pm

the 2 best ways to decide how to charge a client is

1.) if youre designed a website for a client/company which will financially benefit from the site (such as if you designed a site for a sneaker company), then you want to charge around $800 to $1000 dollars, otherwise...

2.) if its more of a personal site or the like, charge by the time you spent on it. i usually count how much money i am not RECIEVING by spending time on the project, then charge them by that.