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How much does a website cost?

This common question is very much like asking; "How much does a car cost?"

Answer - It depends on what kind of car.

With websites, the cost depends on the size and design complexity of the end result desired. It also relies on the decision to set up the site on personal servers or those of a commercial hosting company. But most importantly, it relies on the development company's attitude about the value of their services combined with their assessment of the web development market.

The Internet is already overcrowded with thousands of budding developers wanting your business. But strangely, the rules of supply and demand do not necessarily apply. web design prices are often exorbitant regardless of the developer's skill or the quality of service provided. Is this because of ego or exploitation? Both?

Shopping for a developer is a daunting task and the unprincipled developer can use this to their advantage. The consumer often has little or no experience with the services being rendered nor with the appropriate charges for such services. Fueled with this unknowingness is the eagerness in some clients to "have a website at any cost." It's a risky environment for any consumer who fails to thoroughly comparison shop.

On the other hand, while deals on web development can be found, they sometimes come with a trade-off in professionalism or experience on the part of the development company. But this doesn't have to be the case. You should never have to compromise the quality of your website for the sake of affordability. At Beans & Franks, we've put this theory into practice.

There are a few ways to charge for website development...

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In this method of invoicing, the client is charged for every single procedure performed in the creation and maintenance of their website. It is a very detailed method, but not a very cost-effective one for the client. For the developer, it can be quite profitable.

`A la carte invoicing often suffers from intentional price padding. As a developer sets the prices for each procedure they offer on their buffet table of services, they tend to inflate their charge for each individual service. This is so they can make a comfortable profit from any work order, no matter how small. Should the client want even the simplest quick fix, the developer will charge a fee that satisfies his or her inflated notion of self-worth.

Perhaps some clients don't understand the broad volume of work that goes into a website, and therefore, `a la carte invoicing still exists. With the dozens of procedures involved in just one page of a website, even a simple three or four page site can quickly accumulate a large tab. Unless the `a la carte developer gives a discount for volume work orders, they eventually suffer from very disenchanted clients.

This method of invoicing is effective but has its drawbacks as well. Here the client is billed a set rate for time spent in the creation and maintenance of their site. The details of development are not typically presented on an invoice, just the time taken to achieve the desired result. Simple? Perhaps.

Problems arise for the client however, when a slow and unskilled developer spends more time than is necessary on various procedures in the development of the site. Not only will the client be charged excessively but their site will likely take too long to complete. It is in fact in the best interest of the developer to drag their feet.

We want above all else to have happy, successful clients. For us that means providing websites that are done professionally, on time and on budget. In determining how to charge our clients we examined how to keep both them and ourselves happy. We are in this together, right? We then set the following guidelines -

Work is work and it's "all good" to us. We want as much work as possible and this means working efficiently; both skillfully and quickly.
The simplest procedure is just as important as the most complex.
Stay lean to keep overhead low.
Stay flexible and open to suggestions.
Keep all agreements simple and straightforward.
Rates will cover operating expenses plus a modest profit.
Know the web Development market and undercut the competition without compromising quality.
No fees for consultations.
Never a nasty surprise in the estimation of cost.

Costs are typically based on the length of a project so the obvious question then becomes ; "How long will it take to launch my website?"

Answer - We need to talk.

What elements for the site are you bringing to the table? What needs to be created from scratch? What branding and marketing considerations can we conribute? How many pages are suitable? What scripting is needed? What interactivity is desired? What animation, graphic elements and multimedia? What additional expenses will be encountered in building website assets? These are just a few simply stated considerations.

Admittedly, the process from concept to launch can be complicated. When a vision of your potential website is agreed upon, we can then chart out a timeframe and an estimate of the cost. If you like the offer, we formalize an agreement and then go to work.