I am thinking of starting a webdesign biz soon but I'm afraid I'm not too knowledgeable when it comes to having a business online.

First of the things I need to decide (or perhaps, my worries) is how much I need to charge. I can say that I can make a decent design (although not too advanced like sites full of flash and javascripts, aside that it's not my cup of tea, i don't think that a *decent* site needs all those bells and whistles). I wouldn't hav my own office and would be working at home (webdesign being my sideline). What reasonable prices can I charge? I was thinking of about $400 for the "set-up" fee (initial charge for the design itself plus the pages and all) and a monthly maintenance fee of maybe $30 per hour for maintenance and $20 for other *extra*jobs, exclusive of the charge for the server if I will be maintaning the site. However, for "design-only" order, I was thinking of about $500 up (depending on the job). Do you think it's a decent price?


:)

It will all depend on your style and quality. You will need to show us your work so we can give you a better idea. But really its all up to you what you charge. Its then upto the customer if they are willing to pay that price.

Originally posted by One Web
It will all depend on your style and quality ... Its then upto the customer if they are willing to pay that price.
yep, 100% agree but considering my status in the biz, is it reasonable for me to charge such price?

The designing and maintaining sites are two different functions. If you have good designing skills you can work from anywhere. There are a lot of designers in the market. It all depends with whom you are competing with as far as quality and cost. Wish you good luck.

okay, thanks for you help.

one last thing: how can I show to my customers that I've really worked, say, 3 hours? I mean, if they're paying $30 per hour of maintenance, maybe there should be a mechanism from which they are assured that I really worked for 3 hours. Or is it just a matter of "honesty's the best policy" and "I trust you"?

Originally posted by cfraider

yep, 100% agree but considering my status in the biz, is it reasonable for me to charge such price?

It is if you have a nice style and ok quality.

Originally posted by cfraider
okay, thanks for you help.

one last thing: how can I show to my customers that I've really worked, say, 3 hours? I mean, if they're paying $30 per hour of maintenance, maybe there should be a mechanism from which they are assured that I really worked for 3 hours. Or is it just a matter of "honesty's the best policy" and "I trust you"?

if you used 3 hours to update the email adrees of your customer... he will very mad :D

I started off charging only $25 about 6 months ago and I slowly built my way up to where I am now :)

Don't overcharge, but also don't undercharge.

$ 25 for a site like www.advantahost.com ?;)

Originally posted by nin
$ 25 for a site like www.advantahost.com ?;)

Of course not :D

if they're paying $30 per hour of maintenance, maybe there should be a mechanism from which they are assured that I really worked for 3 hours. Or is it just a matter of "honesty's the best policy" and "I trust you"?

It all depends on the kind of job you are doing. Say for example : if I ask you to make one Email ID on Yahoo and you charge for 1 hour to make an ID. Customers are no fools. They know what for they are hiring a person.

But you can always charge minimum time. So you can say $25 per hour 1 hour minimum or half hour minimum.

Designers normally charge on template basis. Also they provide mockups for client. Your charges are fine, Hourly charges are normally 15$ - 20$ depending on kind of work and skills required.

You should have good reason to prove your hours and the rate.