LooseSuits

Just keep in mind, if you decide to go for a "salary" type thing, where even though you'll be committing loads of time in the beginning you think you'll make it up over time...web businesses flop every day, and often very quickly.

As for quotes and what you should be getting paid, well that's a fine art.

For an eCommerce solution a customer might pay between $5000 and $500,000. Small Businesses who want to do it right, though, will still be looking at approx. $5000.

That's just my opinion.

Just to maintain a site, if it's one that you built well in the first place, and particularly if you give the guy a backend like WordPress or something, can be very lucrative.

I'd start off hourly, figure out what you think you're worth, and make him a "salary" offer after approximately 3 months.

Or after evaluating your skills and any projects you might have in the near future, if its a friend - you can commit say for two weeks for a salary type rate (fixed rate) and after that you can go on to maintain his site on an hourly basis with a friendly rate.

This way, you won't loose your friend and won't suffer.

Hope I gave a useful idea ..

Regards

Mutahir

PS : I have seen people over the web, offering something from $ 50 an hour going up to $ 100, then again depending on what are the requirments.

@clicknathan
Thanks for your input. Well, I'm still getting the details. I'm very familiar with using WordPress and will continue to consider if it's an appropriate fit in this case. I agree that it would be great if I can pull it off using that platform. Many pluses to using that. Figuring out what I'm worth is a struggle as I'm sure many first-timers wonder the same of themselves. I like your idea though about converting from an hourly to a salary option over time.

@mutahir
And thank you for your input as well. Again, another great idea I hadn't considered by starting with one rate, but converting to another that might be more comfortable for both parties. Charging what you suggested makes sense to me as it would definitely require more time up front. Once I get things established, then (hopefully) it should be better as time goes on.

Thanks again for everyone's help. If there are others out there with another take on this, I'm open to it. :)

Yeah and Mutahir's idea brings up another point.

When I started out freelancing I experimented - $25 / hour at first, then the next project $30 / hour, and so on and so on, until I finally got to the rate that I'm comfortable with. You'll know when it's time to raise your rates by doing these little experiments now and then and, if people like your portfolio and your presentation, you'll land the job.

I have an update.

A few things I've learned since I've first posted this topic is that you definitely want to charge a fair price for your time and talent. Even if it's for a friend, don't sell yourself cheap. Don't price gouge either, but definitely treat yourself fairly.

Next, charge half up front, and the remainder at the completion of the project. This gig I took on with my friend didn't turn out very well. We left it amicably, but he decided it wasn't working out despite my best efforts. That's okay, it just wasn't meant to be.

As part of the 'fact finding' try and get a feel for how much he thinks it is worth to him as well.

Some people have no idea of the work involved, they see blogs and webs springing up all the time and think "I'll have one of them".

I always determine their budget and what it is worth to them - end of the day I can be more flexible on my rate than they can be on their budget, and once 'in' things usually grow in terms of rate, time, reward etc

Agreed, Marshall. And yeah, always a good idea to get some amount up front.

I usually do 1/3rd up front, before I even think about the design, just to make sure they're serious. That'll also give you an idea of their ability to pay.

For example, in the past I've charged a client and 3 months later they get around to paying me.

Now that I do it 1/3rd up front, and they want you to start tomorrow, they'll pay that same day. So when final payment time comes around, and they dick around for a few weeks, you can remind them that you realize they have the ability to pay and to get it done. I also make it clear that no site goes live until all cash is paid, and put in a 2 week stipulation, something like "If you don't pay within 2 weeks, you get a nice late fee."

Depending on the laws of various places, this late fee could vary. Since stating that, I've never had to charge one.

Congrats on your business and good luck keeping it up!

@ clicknathan - agree totally

Its expesenive stuff web design, I know, I am one.

:D

Ben