Client Competitors and Ethics

[DonCoryon]

I was curious about an ethical question and I am hoping to get a consensus from the folks here at Web Developer.

If you are contacted by two prospects who are direct competitors, is it ethical to take both on as clients or should you refer one to another firm?

[Mayday]

Are you asking with regards to building web sites for competitors, as in, would it be unethical to sign on both Coke and Pepsi?

[DonCoryon]

Yes.

(Although I wished I had clients like that :))

[DonCoryon]

Basically, the two prospects have requested identical sites. I will essentially build the site once and sell it to both of them with some cosmetic changes.

It seems like a good deal for me but it also seems wrong.

[6StringGeek]

99% of all the sites out there seem to be semi-structural clones of a basic 1, 2 or 3 column design with a header/footer...unless you are doing something totally unique it seems that you'd just be re-skinning the same skeleton that everyone else does. I'd say go for it.

[4folds]

I have no issue with working for competitors as long as it's not a secret to them and as long as I have a contract with both companies that specifically lays out that I can work for whomever I want. I did have one client once that said they wouldn't have me do their site if I didn't sign a non-compete clause, and then I had to decide whether or not I wanted to do that or not. Typically I will not.