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_gail
Posts: 2876
From: So FL
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Website job budget/pricing - 2/3/2003 8:29:48
When asked to develop a website, how do you work with a client regarding pricing? Do first ask the client what their budget is then work within that framework? Or do you simply work up a price based on what the client says they want without any knowledge of the monies they' ve allocated for the job?
I typically ask clients what there budget is and, thus far, no one has objected to providing that information. However, in recent conversations with a bunch of businesswomen, a few said they would be reluctant to give a web designer that information up front.
Would like to hear your thoughts on the matter, and your approach.
thanks, gail
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Andy from Spain
Posts: 922
From: Ipswich
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RE: Website job budget/pricing - 2/3/2003 10:04:12
Hi
I would never ask a client about their budget - I' d weigh up want my time was worth to me and what their requirements are with how much I wanted/needed to do the job and come up with a price. Easier said than done of course!
Cheers
Andy
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_gail
Posts: 2876
From: So FL
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RE: Website job budget/pricing - 2/3/2003 10:26:11
quote:
ORIGINAL: Andy from Spain
I would never ask a client about their budget -
I suppose this is the preferred way, particularly when dealing with a large company.
However, in a business my husband and I owned for many years, we would ask this question. We had already established a relationship with the client which was built on trust. I suppose, like so many other things, each situation is unique and you have to get a sense as to the best approach.
gail
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abbeyvet
Posts: 5095
From: Kilkenny Ireland
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RE: Website job budget/pricing - 2/3/2003 10:42:54
If I have worked for a client before and know them reasonably well, I might ask this, otherwise never.
I have 2 approaches.
1. On my site there are a number of prepriced packages, grossly underpriced in the main at the moment but I am working on that  . Sometimes people contact me about one or other of these, so that gives me a ballpark to work from, though I have NEVER had a client form whom any package was an exact fit. So we just discuss their extra or different requirements and adjust from the base of the package price.
2. Where initial contact is not in this way, I work like Andy, find out what they need, figure out how much work, time, cost etc is involved and then quote them. In this I may have to include purchases of scrpts, programming that will be subcontracted or whatever, so it can take some time.
I give a fully itemised quote - how much for each stage, for integrating/customising each piece of functionality and so on. With, usually, a portion allocated to an hourly rate that will apply for extras requested during the build stage (there are ALWAYS extras).
Then if they fall over in a faint because it is too much then we can look at each item in turn and see how it can be reduced in cost, if indeed it can. After that it is up to the client, that is my price, they can take it or leave it.
One thing that makes this easier is that I have never actually approached anyone and offered to build a site for them, in which case they would have no idea what they wanted and you would be starting from a different base entirely. It always starts with an approach to me so I have a chance to ascertain what they want/need, advice about possible ways of acheiveing it and then price from their.
To be honest their budget is not that important to me at the outset - I have a price for my work and if I price a specific set of specifications at, say, a total if $2000, then the guy whose budget is $2000 is happy, the guy whose budget is $10000 is ecstatic, the guy whose budget is $1500 we can probably accommodate but the guy with $500 is out the door, he obviously has a totally unrealistic view of what is invloved and I cannot work for him and live.
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LB
Posts: 5551
From: Montana USA
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RE: Website job budget/pricing - 2/13/2003 1:34:22
Good point on that, Katherine.
Funny, though... I' ve just found myself asking someone what their budget is. Not how I' d normally look at something, but knowing from the get-go that the budget is tight, and that I' m still willing to do something if possible, then knowing what that budget might be allows me to not waste time in with a proposal that includes things to immediately push it outside their range.
Expediency in this case, which again would allow me a little bit of leeway in pricing. At times I enjoy doing something that can show quick results on a smaller site... ironicly, I had an opening at a large project this week, but I don' t have time for it and I also didn' t have the right mind set to be able to easily delivery what they want. I could have done it, but I wouldn' t have enjoyed it and therefore it would have taken longer to trudge through it.... and that I would have taken into account had I bid on it.
Linda
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adambrooks
Posts: 145
Joined: 1/8/2002
From: Charlotte / Matthews NC USA
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RE: Website job budget/pricing - 2/13/2003 9:26:47
Gail,
I tend to give the client a high-end and a low-end project estimate. I also let them know that estaimes can fluctuate +/- 20%. Add-ons and customization that they want or need costs extra unless included in the estiamte.
For most smaller contracts (under 10K), I price it by an hourly estimate and keep the client updated as we go through the process. Be sure to include your time deling with the client, providing consultation, support calls, etc.
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