What does it cost to get a website? Find out how we set our pricing and what we feel is ethical when it comes to pricing. Plus our bonus tip on how we make sure you are happy with the price.
It seems nearly everyone I run into is interested in getting a website, because as soon as I tell someone what I do, they always seem to ask me "So, what does it cost to get a website?," which is similar to asking so... "what do houses cost in America?" In other words, it varies!
It is Tricky
Web design pricing is a tricky thing for website designers to set. If we bid too low then we end up losing time and barely making any money. If we bid high on the web design pricing scale then we might lose the client to a competitor or scare them away - when maybe all they needed was a simple site that would only take a days work. The interesting thing about web design pricing is that a website could cost anywhere from $500 to $500,000 and look basically identical. It is usually the amount of features and back-end work under the hood that affects the price.
Reminder: Price Isn't Your Real Issue!
Even though price seems to be the issue, it really is not... if you are concerned about price check out my web design pricing page to open your eyes to what you are missing out on (hint: it has to do with money).
Setting Web Design Pricing - How I do it.
So how do I set my prices? Well, I work it much like an automotive shop calculating parts, time, and labor, except I try to leave out the surprises and stick to the bid I provided up front. I feel that setting things such as features and price up front makes my life easier and my client happier. So I stick to the original bid unless some sizable changes are requested. My bids include each piece of software, the price of it (often free), how long it will take me to configure that part, and then the total with software, hourly rates, etc. Then they can choose to add or remove things.
A Lil' Something Extra
Now here is a little advice to other designers (and something to entice my future clients): Throw something in free, or in other words, add in a little extra. I'm not saying to be a doormat and give away the farm... but, I always want my clients to walk away feeling like they got a little extra out of the deal. Not only do I do extra, but I point out to them any extras and that they were included at no extra cost so that they recognize the added value I provided. Then even if for some reason they were not totally excited at the deal you settled on, they at least walk away feeling they ended up with a good deal.
Questions about web design pricing? Or want a good deal on a website?
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