How Much Will My Web Site Cost?

It seems the very first question web designers get is "how much will my web site cost?" This is a very valid question, we all want to know how much money we're going to need to spend on any given product or project.

Our reply to this question is "what features do you want your web site to have?" Until we know that, we can't possibly give you a price. Telling a web designer "I want 10 pages with a shopping cart" is not nearly enough information on which to base a cost estimate.

Why Isn't it Enough?

There are thousands of combinations of features available for a web site project. If you think of having a web site designed in the same frame of mind as purchasing a new car, this might help. When you purchase a new car there are options to pick and choose from, same as there are options for having a web site developed. The difference is that when you select an option for your new car, it's a part that is made by a machine and there are probably hundreds if not thousands of these parts on the shelf ready for the car maker to drop it into your new vehicle. Dropping a feature into a web site is not the same. It can take many hours of work to configure a script (even if it's a pre-made script) to do what you need it to do in order to function properly on your site for example.

Below are some suggestions to help you with the initial phase of your web site development adventure. Following these suggestions will help you and your designer keep your costs as low as possible.

Surf the Internet - Get Some Ideas!

You don't have to restrict yourself to surfing on your own site's topic. With the abundance of web sites on the Internet you'll find many a feature that you might like to have in your own site. It's probably safe to say that any feature you see on another web site is able to be used on your own web site - but may have to be modified for functionality, customizing it's look to coordinate for your site and also "no direct copying" for copyright reasons.

For example, let's say your site topic is "dog grooming" but you find the absolute perfect navigation menu on a real estate web site. Well, we can put a version of the real estate navigation on the dog grooming site.

However, do not expect us to develop a site for you that "looks just like this one." Think about this ... do you really want to have your web site look like someone else's? There are many reasons why not to look like another site, including it not being good for your business - but because more importantly, it would also be in violation of copyright laws and could get you and the designer sued.

Make a List!

Keep a list of web site links (also known as url's) of sites that you find options on that you'd like to have used on your own site. Make notes and very important - give this list to your web designer early in your planning stages so that he or she can see exactly what you're talking about. This is so much easier on both you and your designer than just explaining what you want. Designers are usually quite visual people and being able to see what you're talking about is so much more help than verbal or written explanations and probably one of the best (and easiest!) things you can do to help your designer. This in turn, helps you keep your costs down. If a designer can see what you like, they can produce a similar sample for you (also known as a "demo" or "mockup") following your example links. This is much quicker and easier than for a designer to work blind, guessing what you like. You save the designer hours of work and in turn - you save yourself paying for hours of work resulting in something you don't like.

That All Important Budget

Decide what you're able to spend before you contact a designer. It's very important that your web designer knows your budget. Maybe you don't have any idea what a web site costs. This is quite normal, but telling your web designer that you don't know how much it costs is of no help at all. Most of us are very happy to do whatever we can to work within your budget - if we know what that budget is. Being honest and up-front with your designer is one of the best ways to help us to help you.

Small Budget? We Can Help!

If you have a small budget we can offer you options to get you started. Perhaps start small and add later. Maybe that flash design you just have to have won't be in your budget now, but we can help you find satisfactory alternatives.

Many designers offer payment plans. One of our jobs as a web designer is to give you options and alternatives but we can't do that unless you're up front with us about what you have to spend and that's one decision only you can make. Web designers work best for you when we know what we're dealing with so don't be ashamed to tell us. We understand that not everyone has a budget the size of Fort Knox!

If you have a substantial budget this of course is great, but a responsible web designer will help you to keep your costs down. There may be absolutely no reason at all to spend all your money!

Listen To Your Designer

Your web designer is a professional, which means we know what we're talking about. Try to keep an open mind when planning your web site. What you want may not be what's best for your web site. Your designer can help you make informed decisions by giving you input on your site ideas, what's good, what's bad. You will make the final choice, we're not here to tell you what to do but instead to tell you what is best for the site. You make the final decision, but don't shut your designer out when they're trying to explain something to you.

Cooperate With Your Designer

If you want your project to go smoothly and for your designer to get your site up as quickly as possible, he or she needs your cooperation during all phases of its development. Many web sites are delayed because the client doesn't cooperate as needed. A good web designer strives to put your site up within the most reasonable time possible. We're not going to send Uncle Veto to break your knee caps if you don't provide your content in a timely fashion, but we can develop your site more quickly with your cooperation. Your web site is a priority to us - we need it to be a priority to you.

When a site is planned for development most designers work on some kind of schedule. If we don't have your content at the time we were expecting it - we can't work on it. The time-line for submission of content is normally spelled out in either the original proposal or your contract. Some designers will charge an additional fee for late content.

One of the reasons for this is because there are a multitude of designers out there who's design work is their livelyhood. It's what pays their bills, feeds their kids and puts a roof over their head. Just because they may work out of their home doesn't mean they don't consider this a real job! Some of us work harder "at home" than people who work outside the home. We may be on just as tight a budget as you are. If you delay your own site development, you are also delaying your designer's paycheck. Think about it ... what if your paycheck were delayed?

To help you to be as ready as possible for your web site adventure, please visit our "Are You Prepared" page for tips and hints on client preparation. Following these simple steps will help you keep your costs down.

Selecting Your Web Host

Do not sign up for a hosting service without first discussing possibilities with your designer. Some people go ahead and do this and then find that the host doesn't provide what's needed to house your web site so that it functions properly. Don't take a chance on wasting your money. For optimal results, the host can and should be chosen after the details of your project are firmed up and after discussing your hosting choice with your designer. Your designer will know what features you'll need in a hosting service and can help you make an informed decision.

Don't Know Where to Start?

Make use of our Web Site Planner! It's designed to walk you through a "feature selection" process. Once submitted to us, we know what you want and then (and only then) we can estimate your costs for you. Asking us what it will cost before we know what your wants and needs are, is putting the cart before the horse. Following the steps I've outlined will help you keep costs down.