Website Cost

CLIENT – How much will it cost to build my website?

DESIGNER – $12,000 dollars.

CLIENT – That’s too expensive for a website!

DESIGNER – How much do you think it should cost?

CLIENT – $1000 max! My Niece does websites on the side and said she can build me a wix website.

DESIGNER – I can’t do the website for so little.

CLIENT – Designers in your line of work want to make a huge profit!

DESIGNER – I’m sorry you feel this way. Why don’t you or your Niece do it?

CLIENT – I don’t know how to do any of that, and my niece is really busy.

DESIGNER – For $3000, I can teach you everything you need to know to build your website. You can then use $1000 to do the job, and you’re still saving $8,000. Also, you will obtain all the knowledge and the experience for the next time you need to change or update your website.

CLIENT – Deal!

DESIGNER – Great! To start, you need to buy licenses and hosting. You will need an seo subscription, a security plugin, a wordpress website theme, graphic design softwares, a good computer that runs the design software, a CDN, SSL Certificate, a heat mapping subscription, a CRM, a email marketing software, directory submission software, and some other things.

CLIENT – But, I can’t buy all that for just one website!

DESIGNER – Ok. I can rent you my computer, software, and server for another $500. You’re still saving $7500.

CLIENT – That’s cutting my savings, but I will rent your stuff.

DESIGNER – Perfect! I’ll be back Saturday and we can start training.

CLIENT – Wait! I can’t Saturday. I only have time today.

DESIGNER – I’m sorry, I only teach others on Saturdays. I have to prioritize my time and my tools are used during the week for other projects I have during the week.

CLIENT – Ok then. I will sacrifice my family’s plans on Saturday.

DESIGNER – Right, me too! Oh, I forgot. If you’re going to do the job yourself, you need to hire a programmer. There’s a high demand nowadays, so your best bet is to get a go through a freelancing website and post what you need to get done that is custom on your website. Once you post it you’ll have around 100 responses, you’ll have to find the best one by interviewing them and getting references. Also you will need to make sure that your website is fully ADA compliant or you can get sued (happens more than you think) and you need someone that’s certified in the most recent update 2.1. That will run you about $6000, you’re still saving $1500.

CLIENT – A hundred responses? ADA Compliant? On Saturday? That’s too overwhelming for me. I don’t know how to interview, get references, or find a certified ADA Compliance expert!

DESIGNER – I guess you’ll have to learn how with my help. By the way, do you know how to create a brand strategy or marketing plan?

CLIENT – You know what? I’ve been thinking. Probably is better for you to do the website. It’s better to just pay you to do the job right and not having to go through all that hassle.

DESIGNER – Good thinking. Sign here and let me get to work.

This is the truth.

People are not just paying for a website, they are paying for knowledge, experience, tools, time, family sacrifices, and other things you bring to the table.

Don’t let clients dictate the value of your work.

Source: Adrian Boysel