I'm new at web design and I've always wondered rather people that designed websites charged an hourly fee, or a page fee, or just an over all fee for developing websites. And now that I'm learning to do it too i wanna peruse this curious matter hahaha. Thats if you don't mind telling :p.

SO do you charge
1. By the hour?
2. By the Page?
3. An overall fee for the size of the site?
4. Or do you just have a set fee for all sites?

The way I charge for my websites is:
1. Go over with client exactly what is needed for the site (flat site, databases, how many pages, etc.)
2. What the client will supply (content text, pictures, etc)
3. Then I work out number of hours it will take me to create the finished site and price it out based on an hourly rate.
4. Take this back to the client as a proposal for them, if they agree to it we then sign a contract stipulating all the work to be done, what they will provide, and any costs added if they can't provide something needed.
5. The contract will also contain clauses for a mock-up site to be delivered for their approval.
I allow 3 mockups delivered before it must be finalized, any changes after that are an extra charge at $X per hour.

I have standard contracts for my clients that have been written by my lawyer. These have saved me countless hours and dollars with my clients. It also shows that you are a professional.

Mike...

If you do a bit of snooping around on sites offering web design/development, you'll find it's #5...All of the above
I've seen quite a few sites that charge per page. They tend to be rather inexpensive and seem to rely on templates over custom design. Other template sites offer package deals (3 pages, 1 form, whatever...) with a set price for each package.
It's common for established designers to charge a price per project that's actually based on their hourly rate - over time you learn how much time you need to budget for, add in a little extra time to account for unexpected glitches and then present the client with the over-all project price. One can then charge per hour for additional add-ons and changes not covered in the original contract.
Get Googling and see what's common in your area

Thanks for sharing that, Mike!



Don't even bother firing up the computer until you've got that signed contract in hand!

You can also check out Craigslist for your area and follow the links to other sites to get a feel of what other freelancers are charging. There are some talented people out there offering inexpensive websites. You don't want to be way out in left field.

Ya'll make it sound as if everyones out there to cheat you .
Lol like i said this i my first webpage and the job was actually offered to my dad and he told them i would do it. But they never went over a set price. But I've taken specifications form the company owner as to how he wants it too look and done as he said and hes seen the mock-site and loves it. I have to give him a price come Monday and i have no idea what to charge. It took me longer because i started out not even knowing how to start designing a page. He understood that at the beginning as well, but i can not charge him for all that time because of my incompetence. Now i could spit out that website in considerably less time.

What I was thinking was this, and tell me if its a sound plan please.
I go back and make another version of it from scratch and time myself properly on it. Then charge the company by the hours i put in on it. Still not sure how much i should charge an hour. Then on my next site (since I will be talking to them and not my dad) ill determine it all upfront and save myself this little predicament.

Also Mike, you said you charge if they don't provide anything? I took a few pictures from the website and took some myself. They gave me a description of the products but thats it.

Thanks

Also tha signed contract and everything. Should I start giving them to people before hand? To me, I'm just a small town boy, it seems rude. This is my first experience really with dealing with actual businesses so all tips are good.

Thanks again.

I have never used a contract. In fact, my whole ideology is keep it simple and collect only for the work I have delivered. I have never had a problem.

No maintenance contracts either. I may not want to do this in 3 months and pack it up whenever I feel like it and owe nothing.

You can always have a 50/50 verbal agreement. 50% good faith money and the other half on delivery.

I think the key to avoiding problems getting paid and avoiding contracts/legal battles is to be honest and deliver what you promise. You may not know everything but the key is knowing how to find the answer. There is no shame in admitting that and it will likely earn trust and respect.

Individuals claiming to be an expert web designer, SEO expert, and expert system admin hosting their own servers aren't fooling anyone. I think people get into trouble by falsely advertising their capabilities to land that $1,000 job and the client was expecting more than what was delivered.

I agree with you. I have no contract with this person so if I'm to busy later on or don't want to do it all i gotta do is say no. Which is good for a kids who's about to be in college. Now his site really wont need maintenance, he sells boats and all he needs is new boat pictures to give them an idea of what they look like. And yes I asked a lot of questions on here while i did that one, and ill probably ask a whole lot more on my next one. I still wanna learn to code, hell i need to learn to code it would make fixing problems a lot easier,i believe.

But he payed the last person 20 bucks an hour, so i was thinking 10 would b fair for me. Then now that i know more about it i could charge my next client 15 or so maybe even 20, I don't know.