Web Design/Programming Pricing

rheroux

I've seen a few threads concerning this, but I'm still stumped.

I'm currently redesigning a website for a real estate company.

Here's basically what I'm doing:
- A whole new sleek looking design.
- A backend that allows them to post, edit and delete listings.
- The ability for customers to be notified when any new listings are posted or when any listing has changed.
- The ability to post as many pictures as they want for any listing and to choose which pictures are included on the "main" listing page.
- A printable view of the listings is generated "on-the-fly" if a customer needs to print anything
- There is a secure admin section for creating and editing all the content.
- The ability to add and remove sales representatives and to reassign property to different agents.
- There is a news script on the front page that I've created as well.

There's probably some stuff I'm missing.

But anyways, do most people charge hourly or for the whole package?

And if you were to buy something like this, what would you pay for the whole package?

My problem is that I have no idea what to charge... I don't want to overcharge the customer, but I also don't want to undercut my own work.

I programmed and designed an inventory system for a customer a while back and they paid me $1500 Cdn for the whole package. However, then they kept requesting more stuff and didn't want to pay me for any of my work so I've stopped supporting them alltogether.

I don't want something like that to happen here, and I've already expressed this to the customer and they said they're willing to pay me on a monthly basis for support. And they'll give me more if they ask for more features.

So... I guess what I'm ultimately saying is... what the hell do I charge? 🙂

Thanks for any input.

pohopo

IMHO,

You must create a 'statement of work' which lists all the requirements of what you are going to build and include a provision that it will cost extra to add anything outside of these requirements. if you have a good SOW then it will be easier to determine the amount of work and a good price.

And make sure they sign off on the SOW before you start coding. Any new changes after the signoff will require a change control.

If you keep everything visible, at every stage, then the company will understand if extra costs arise. The last thing you want to do is surprise a client with extra costs. Or worse, you work twice as much because you are not able to bring yourself to say they need to pay more.

Elizabeth

Yes yes yes - get it in writing. What I usually do is estimate how many hours it will take to complete each phase of the project, bump that up a bit (like 15-20%) for unforseen circumstances 😉 and give them one price. I require 1/3 of the payment upfront, 1/3 after the initial design is approved, then the remaining 1/3 upon completion. I also include periodic meetings with the client, and I make it very clear that anything above and beyond the specific details of the proposal will be assessed at a fee of $XX per hour.

Something else I always put in my contracts is a clause on the client's behalf that basically says if I get the project done sooner, then I will only charge for the actual hours spent. That way they can rest assured I'm not padding the hours.