The most complicated thing when starting to work in the world of web design is having to make a budget. It is the most complex step to take and the one that brings us closer to the world of work and takes us away from the student. And we all doubt about the same: Do I charge a lot? What do I have to charge? How do I write it?
En Creativos Online ya we address this same issue but in the field of graphic design, and we saw that these posts are of great help to you. For this reason I decided to write this kind of guide on how to make a web design quote, which I hope you find useful. Remember that you can comment on him in the comments section at the end of the post.
Factors influencing the web design budget
The structure
- Website made "bareback": that is, without a content manager. You have to type HTML, CSS and PHP code to place each section on your site, decide its appearance, etc. The client, in order to modify the contents of the page, will either have to learn to navigate between code to do so (very unusual) or will have to come to us to request a quote to update it.
- Website with CMS (WordPress, Prestashop, Magento, Joomla ...): with content manager. In this way, the client will have an intuitive and comfortable administration panel from which they can update their own content without the need for our attention. Yes, you will need us when updating the CMS version, incorporating functionalities, etc.
The design
- Template Delivery to Italy takes one or two business days: very unusual situation. We would charge for the template installation and customization of the basics (such as customer logo).
- Free template Custom: also, rare. We would charge the same from the previous section plus customization of the colors of the web, the layout of the content (fonts, sizes, margins ...), etc.
- Premium template: most common. We would have to charge the cost of the template itself, the installation of it and the customization of the basics.
- Template premium adapted: the most common. To what was said in the previous section, add customization of web colors, content layout, installation of a plugin to obtain specific special elements (sliders ...).
- Integrated right from the start: that is, typing pure HTML and CSS code and designing all the graphic elements in Photoshop. It is the most expensive option, obviously, due to the time we have to dedicate to it.
Content
- More sections, bigger budget. Logical, right?
- The cost of pictures of the web will be borne by the client. It must be made very clear from the beginning. And it is not the same if we have to look for the images in a stock of photos (we will charge for it) than if the client does and sends them to us.
- Languages: It is not the same to make a website in one language than to do it in two or three. Ideally, it is always the client who provides us with the translated texts.
Weather
- How much less time The client leaves us to create the web, the faster we will have to work and the more expensive the project will be.
Customer changes
- As in graphic design, in the initial price of the budget it is good to indicate the number of free reviews (as a guarantee) that we contemplate that the client can do. Once that number is exceeded, we must collect the amount that we have indicated. Some people, instead of charging for each modification, charge the number of hours it will take to make the change.
Customer size
- It is not the same to make a website for a small self-employed who is starting his adventure, than to make a page for a multinational.
Sections of a web design quote
First of all: customer data, your data, date, invoice number ...
- Project description
- Development platform and tools
- Design and layout
- Contents
- Hosting and domain
- SEO, SMO, SEM ...
- Training and help
Resources to help you write a web design budget
- Creativasfera web budget model
- Web design budget model (from 2009)
- Example of a contract, quite developed and “informal”
- Rates and budgets for web development
- Rates example
- Tips when preparing the budget
More information - How to budget for graphic design | Tips and Resources
Very interesting, however I think it is necessary to add something very important: Analyze the time in which the site is going to be developed. Sometimes the contractor does not have everything ready, or someone influences an intermediate decision and that substantially changes the quote budget. In short, I believe that we must always analyze from the beginning the time that that client can occupy us (additional) outside the creation of the site.
Very true. Our intuition is very important, and knowing that dealing with a client who has a very clear idea of what they want is not the same as dealing with one who navigates between various concepts. It is so difficult to calculate the time correctly ...
From my experience I can say that each client is different. The general ideas that are explained in the article are fine, but in the end it is our own experience that will lead us to success or failure.
During all the years that I have been working, very few clients have delivered me everything I need (logos, texts, photos, etc.) on time. One can be very strict with the way of working, but then reality slaps you and if you want to work in the end you have to adapt a little to each client ...
Very well covered the points to create a budget to design a web page. It would be necessary to delve a little into web design for mobiles and tablets, which are increasingly receiving more visits from these devices.
My main advice for budgeting is to include all the details as well? how to establish the details of the design, forms of payment and delivery times, so that everything is clear for both parties before starting the work and thus avoid later misunderstandings. It is best to write everything down in a document that we both have and include both the design proposal and the budget. I congratulate you for your contributions, you have made this process much easier for me, which at first seems cumbersome but in the end it has to be done. Greetings from Mexico.
My main advice for budgeting is to include all the details as well? how to establish the details of the design, forms of payment and delivery times, so that everything is clear for both parties before starting the work and thus avoid later misunderstandings. It is best to write everything down in a document that we both have and include both the design proposal and the budget. I congratulate you for your contributions, you have made this process much easier for me, which at first seems cumbersome but in the end it has to be done. Greetings from Mexico.