Hello,

Don't know if it fits in this catagorie, couldn't find a better one.

For example, a company asks me to make them a site, it will be in html with a little bit of css, with graphics done in photoshop. The layout will looks nice and functions enough because the pages only need to be filled with text/info about IT.

If I want one amount of money for this work, how much should I ask and where should I base it on?

I don't know exactly how long I need to get this done..so I'm confused on what to do. I don't wan't to get paid per hour.

Please respond soon...

personal preference...

Well you have to look at it this way.

Its your time, your software. So your customer has to cover those costs.
When I do web design on the side for people I typically charge $249 for the main design/layout, $49 per additional page, and $20/hr for coding the site.

So for a basic unique site with graphics I can normally generate $500. The work takes me 3 days or so. The first consulting with the business trying to find out what they want style wise. Then basic rough drafting. On the second I design the whole page. And on the third I splice it up and make it into a template and make sure that all corrections are made for the company.

But with 49 dollars for an additional page you mean a page inside the main page that includes graphcsi as well and text sorted some way..? And also..with 3 days or so..you mean 3 working days? Like 8 hours a day.

And what type of coding are you talking about? Same as me? Just normal html with some css, tables or tabless etc.

Sorry that I ask so much but I like to know the details :)

It sounds to me like you haven't really created many websites, or don't do it for business. Once you've got a few under your belt you should know how long it would take you to create the site. I've been working on websites for about 5 years now and for a simple site I could easily provide a quote within a couple of hours.

That said, my solution to you is to just sit down and figure out how long it'll take you to make the site. Do NOT just make up a number, it doesn't work that way. If the number of hours seems high, stick with it. If the number seems low, pad it out. In either case, add ADDITIONAL padding (some people add X hours or X% or simply round up to the nearest ten, whatever works for you) to account for mistakes and whatever else may pop up. Take those hours and multiply by your hourly costs and quote that to your client (so if you think 20 hours and you charge $20/hr, tell your client $400). If in the end you worked longer than what you quoted (or something cost more than you thought it would), you can either eat the cost or try to explain to your client why you provided an inaccurate estimate and why he should pay you more as a result :p If you produced the job quicker than what you quoted, you've just increased your profits.

Be warned... trying to work faster to increase profits usually leads to crappy designs. :S

One thing I never thought of and wish I had known before I started consulting work was this rule:

DO NOT charge based on the project itself, but on the value that will be derived by the client when the project is finished and in place.

Many consultants undercharge. I did when I started out and crashed and burned because of it. Don't make that mistake! :)

This depends completely on you. How much do you expect to make for your work? How long do you think it is going to take you? When you are designing a site, especially if you are low on experience, you may think it will take you less time than it actually will, so definitely give yourself space to work with, major space if this is your first time trying it out for money.

Hope this helps.

If you can get a nice simple design out and thats all they want and you dont have to spend allot of time on it then you shouldn't charge that much.

But alot of the designs you see around here are great quality and take up a good amount of time and they go signifcantly underpriced. Just don't sell yourself short. Charge what you feel you put into it.

Generally we charge approx $400 USD for a 4 page site including a contact page with php scripting.
The client has to supply text and photos, Hope that helps you out
(flash work and animation not included)