[freelancer]

Ok, I've been freelancing (full time) over a year, and things are going ok.

But, I still have issues with charging people. I prefer to quote on a per project basis. So, I am asking people to be honest now, and give comments on my estimates for the breif's below. It will give me an idea of whether I am too cheap or too expensive.

Small website

This is a very small site, which has 5 pages in total (I dont really charge per page or anything like that).

The owner wants a totally unique and custom design, xhtml and css valid. They want consideration given to accesibility e.t.c

The site will have a contact form, and needs to include hosting for 1 year and a domain.

How much would you charge / be happy to pay? Personally, I'd be charging someone like this £300 - £500.

Small website + CMS

As above, however the owner needs a cms integrating into the site, where they can edit pages and add them e.t.c

I'd charge £600.

Your honesty is appreciated,

Thanks,

Ben

[Peter W]

They both look about right to me, but if the very basic website was £500, I would expect to pay a lot more than £100 to have the CMS integration.

[rgbartlett]

Agreed, I'd be happy to pay £300-500 for a basic site, depending on quality, look, number of pages etc. But to add CMS I would presume would require more work to allow them to add new pages, or new content to existing pages, so I'd expect to be looking at £750 ish for the website with CMS. Obviously it all depends on the quality of the work as well!

[Indizine]

I also believe there is more than the product built into your pricing when it comes to trying to compare. Plus, you may not have overheads a studio with premises, etc. It is only if you do a like4like with another freelancer in your same position that you can make a direct price comparison. People dont just buy the product, they buy the brand, ie, the service as a whole within your brand; the quality, the aftercare, and so on.

A lot of people think brand is just your logo or a trademarked product. It isnt.

[Alvin]

Interesting.My perspective would be what type of product /service they were selling and its potential value.?

You don't mention SEO.

But I would always build that into a site,and would not take on a project unless I thought it stood a chance of getting on page 1 of google for there products.

I know I stray a bit from the OP's question.

but am exploring the wider implications of web site design.

I have built single page sites that return 10k a year with no ongoing work involved ,so I waffle a bit ,but you see where I am coming from.

Alvin

[freelancer]

Originally Posted by Alvin

Interesting.My perspective would be what type of product /service they were selling and its potential value.?

You don't mention SEO.

But I would always build that into a site,and would not take on a project unless I thought it stood a chance of getting on page 1 of google for there products.

I know I stray a bit from the OP's question.

but am exploring the wider implications of web site design.

I have built single page sites that return 10k a year with no ongoing work involved ,so I waffle a bit ,but you see where I am coming from.

Alvin

That is quite an interesting point Alvin.

I didn't mention SEO, because alot of clients dont ask for it or even need it. Many don't want people to visit it from google, some simply put it on their business cards and refer people to it if their busy, or use it at networking events e.t.c

However, I do think I need to include some sort of basic SEO into all my prices, so thanks for that. The sites I build are Search engine friendly (i.e. I use proper text, never put text in images, or use javascript where it hurts e.t.c) so I am going to factor this into it.

Thanks,

Ben

[Paul Norman]

this is a very very difficult question. Your prices sound extremely reasonable to me. However, the question is complicated by not knowing the full brief, for example, as Alvin mentioned, what is happening about SEO? How much joined up strategy is needed, to ensure the website represents your brand, and is consistent with other marketing? What level of maintainance is included?

I would be happy to discuss further, but, I have had quotes for a web site ranging from £200 to £2000. However, they were not quoting for even remotely the same thing when you looked further, and I actually took the more expensive one. The client for whom I was placing the work was very happy, too, and the site has good results.

[RedEvo]

Why not work out what you need to charge to make the salary you need to make. Here's a simple explanation of how to so that

d

[Alvin]

Originally Posted by RedEvo

Why not work out what you need to charge to make the salary you need to make. Here's a simple explanation of how to so that

d

Not with you on this one David.

I don't see what salary is needed is related to what one is worth.?

unless you are designing a bog standard non ranking website.

Alvin

[Indizine]

I think Ben needs to work out if he only ever wants to achieve a good regular salary as a freelancer or, to build and grow a business.