Pricing for web solutions?

[BuezaWebDev]

Hey guys, I need your suggestions on how to price certain web solutions.

One method of pricing:

Small Business
$20 / hr = including php/mysql projects, graphic design, the whole package.
Medium Business
$50 / hr = including php/mysql projects, graphic design, the whole package.
Large Business
$80 / hr = including php/mysql projects, graphic design, the whole package.

another method:

Basic pages:
$10 / hr = only HTML, css and graphics

Above-basic pages:
$20 / hr = html, css, graphics, flash

Better pages:
$40 / hr = html, css, graphics, flash, php, mysql, javascript, dhtml

all packages will be compliant to XHTML 1.1, CSS and Section 508. Also CSS based designs.

Now, the thing is, I don't know which method of pricing is more "efficient" and "simplified", so that any potential client would think, "Oh yeah, that seems affordable and it has what I want..I'll go for this one".

If you have another method, please suggest it!

Cheers :)
Jaime

[buntine]

all packages will be compliant to XHTML 1.1, CSS and Section 508. Also CSS based designs.

Whilst important, this is not as imperitive as productivity. Do some market research, the chances are that your local competitors will not be writing XHTML complient Web Sites, which means they will be getting more Web Sites completed -- more profit! You must ensure that you will be able to keep up with them, if not, you should consider dropping some of the perfection of your designs.

My research shows that customers dont care about perfection anything like we do. They want shopping carts and databases, not xHTML.

Hope this help you out a bit. No doubt it will start an argument:p

Regards.

[sharkey]

Gotta agree with buntine they dont care about web standards and valid xhtml etc all they care about is the features such as shopping carts/databases and a nice design.

[BuezaWebDev]

ah, thanks for all the nice suggestions and comments!

I got a question though, is it the best thing to do to tell them about accessibility and validity? Or do the web site fast to get the paycheck right away?

[sharkey]

I wouldnt go into great detail about accessiblity and validty but at least tell them so they know you give a damn about making sites so everyone can access the content etc this will make you look more pro:D

[buntine]

Yes, difinetely mention it. And if the client only wants a three-page personal site, then a bit of perfection would be alright. ;)

Though, you will most likely be spending alot of time on writing Web Site proposal documents, System Anaylsis documents (if you use Database's) like ER Diagrams and Data Dictionary's. Of coarse, the preceding is not mandatory -- but I would definetely recommend it if want to be successful.



Regards.

[Reli4nt]

Mention accessibility, and validation and be very out spoken about it. Tell them that its an additional service that you'll throw in for free. Make it a bargaining tool when they want to talk you down if you like.

As far are the pricing structure, try the first one for the next 5 clients, then switch to the second scheme. You should quickly find out which works best for you.

[Reli4nt]

PS Bill $80 an hour to everyoen and then give a small business discount. It makes small businesses happy and it will appear less arbitrary to large businesses.

[BuezaWebDev]

Ah, I see what you mean.

$80 / hr as standard rate...interesting. :)

[buntine]

That was my fee. $80 per hour for standard programming. If something more was required (travelling, business meetings, etc) I would charge extra.

Regards.

[Reli4nt]

We bill $75 for design, $85 for programming but we usually end up tossing in a few free hours and we always cut smaller busineses and non-profits a break.

[davidbrent]

i am not really a business not even sole trader but i do do free non-profit websites!

[Reli4nt]

Then send me an email. I get lots of requests and I do what I can.