Dreamweaver - How much I should charge?

Author

How much I should charge?

June2006

2006-02-27, 10:15 pm

It will be my first free lance project for building an online store for a local
clothing store.
I am not very sure how much I should ask for? should client pay for some
percentage in the middle of project?
I wish somebody can give me some tips, thanks a lot!

Cheers,
-June

darrel

2006-02-27, 10:15 pm

> It will be my first free lance project for building an online store for a
> local
> clothing store.
> I am not very sure how much I should ask for? should client pay for some
> percentage in the middle of project?
> I wish somebody can give me some tips, thanks a lot!

For a complete beginner, make sure you have a contract. That should state
the payment schedule. Typically, it's a % upfront and the rest upon
delivery, but that's flexible.

As for how much to charge, well, that's really up to you. Most folks would
suggest you charge enough to make a living, though.

If you had to do this full time, what would your hourly rate be? The
forumala:

Yearly Salary = Income - expenses

hourly rate = Income / # billable hours per year

# billable hours per year = (40 x 52) - vacation time - marketing time -
office management - IT support - job prospecting - sick time - other non
billable hours

expenses = software + hardware + office + insurance + pens + pencils + web
hosting + etc, etc, etc

-darrel

Total Yearly Salary You Want / Number of Billable Hours per yera

June2006

2006-02-27, 10:15 pm

Originally posted by: Newsgroup User
> It will be my first free lance project for building an online store for a
> local
> clothing store.
> I am not very sure how much I should ask for? should client pay for some
> percentage in the middle of project?
> I wish somebody can give me some tips, thanks a lot!

For a complete beginner, make sure you have a contract. That should state
the payment schedule. Typically, it's a % upfront and the rest upon
delivery, but that's flexible.

As for how much to charge, well, that's really up to you. Most folks would
suggest you charge enough to make a living, though.

If you had to do this full time, what would your hourly rate be? The
forumala:

Yearly Salary = Income - expenses

hourly rate = Income / # billable hours per year

# billable hours per year = (40 x 52) - vacation time - marketing time -
office management - IT support - job prospecting - sick time - other non
billable hours

expenses = software + hardware + office + insurance + pens + pencils + web
hosting + etc, etc, etc

-darrel

Total Yearly Salary You Want / Number of Billable Hours per yera

darrel

I really appreciate your detail suggestion.
it helps a lot

June

June2006

2006-02-27, 10:15 pm

thanks a lot for the info.

chopper21

2006-02-27, 10:15 pm

Depends on alot of things how can we know when you give us no info on the site. How many pages clothes ect.

Css Lover

2006-02-27, 10:15 pm

Get half the cash money up front, because once you commit to do it, you'll
spend a fair bit of time solving those little issues and therefore will be in
danger that the client maybe finds someone cheaper or tries to backslide on the
deal. I'd even write up a short contract so you both know what is being done
and the top cash limit will obviously be on that list. The client might want
you to update it, odds are you will need to hold the hand for a while which =
more precious time. Best to have an agreed price to update or add on new pages
ect ect.

As stated above you may need to buy software, and should buy it legit using
the clients money to do so, if it's something out of the ordinary.

June2006

2006-02-27, 10:15 pm

Originally posted by: Css Lover
Get half the cash money up front, because once you commit to do it, you'll
spend a fair bit of time solving those little issues and therefore will be in
danger that the client maybe finds someone cheaper or tries to backslide on the
deal. I'd even write up a short contract so you both know what is being done
and the top cash limit will obviously be on that list. The client might want
you to update it, odds are you will need to hold the hand for a while which =
more precious time. Best to have an agreed price to update or add on new pages
ect ect.

As stated above you may need to buy software, and should buy it legit using
the clients money to do so, if it's something out of the ordinary.

It looks like you guys had those experience already.
Thanks a lot!
yeah, I definitely need prepare a contact for that.

June2006

2006-02-27, 10:15 pm

Originally posted by: chopper21
Depends on alot of things how can we know when you give us no info on the
site. How many pages clothes ect.

the client told me she likes the layout is similar to www.shopbop.com,
but has less page, data and info on it.
thanks

Murray *ACE*

2006-02-27, 10:15 pm

Your first freelance project is an ecommerce site <shudder>?

--
Murray --- ICQ 71997575
Adobe Community Expert
(If you *MUST* email me, don't LAUGH when you do so!)
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"June2006" <webforumsuser@macromedia.com> wrote in message
news:du06iu$f6b$1@forums.macromedia.com...
> It will be my first free lance project for building an online store for a
> local
> clothing store.
> I am not very sure how much I should ask for? should client pay for some
> percentage in the middle of project?
> I wish somebody can give me some tips, thanks a lot!
>
> Cheers,
> -June
>
>
>

Baxter

2006-02-27, 10:15 pm

Murray
That should be first job add <104% for overhead>
Dave

"Murray *ACE*" <forums@HAHAgreat-web-sights.com> wrote in message
news:du08l0$ho8$1@forums.macromedia.com...
> Your first freelance project is an ecommerce site <shudder>?
>
> --
> Murray --- ICQ 71997575
> Adobe Community Expert
> (If you *MUST* email me, don't LAUGH when you do so!)
> ==================
> http://www.dreamweavermx-templates.com - Template Triage!
> http://www.projectseven.com/go - DW FAQs, Tutorials & Resources
> http://www.dwfaq.com - DW FAQs, Tutorials & Resources
> http://www.macromedia.com/support/search/ - Macromedia (MM) Technotes
> ==================
>
>
> "June2006" <webforumsuser@macromedia.com> wrote in message
> news:du06iu$f6b$1@forums.macromedia.com...
a[color=darkred]
>
>

PeteC

2006-02-27, 10:15 pm

June2006 wrote:
> It will be my first free lance project for building an online store
> for a local clothing store.
> I am not very sure how much I should ask for? should client pay for
> some percentage in the middle of project?
> I wish somebody can give me some tips, thanks a lot!
>
> Cheers,
> -June

Have a look at news://forums.webdevbiz.net/public for more help (the website
at http://www.webdevbiz.com/ also has some useful information)

Tip: Find a local (experienced) web dev shop, and offload the ecommerce side
onto them. You don't need that level of grief and potential legal liability
on your first project!

HTH,

Pete.
--
Peter Connolly
http://www.acutecomputing.co.uk
Derby
UK
Skype ID: acutecomputing

Murray *ACE*

2006-02-27, 10:15 pm

Too low. 8)

--
Murray --- ICQ 71997575
Adobe Community Expert
(If you *MUST* email me, don't LAUGH when you do so!)
==================
http://www.dreamweavermx-templates.com - Template Triage!
http://www.projectseven.com/go - DW FAQs, Tutorials & Resources
http://www.dwfaq.com - DW FAQs, Tutorials & Resources
http://www.macromedia.com/support/search/ - Macromedia (MM) Technotes
==================

"Baxter" <baxter(RemoveThe :-)@gtlakes.com> wrote in message
news:du09ia$iqj$1@forums.macromedia.com...
> Murray
> That should be first job add <104% for overhead>
> Dave
>
> "Murray *ACE*" <forums@HAHAgreat-web-sights.com> wrote in message
> news:du08l0$ho8$1@forums.macromedia.com...
> a
>
>

June2006

2006-02-27, 10:15 pm

Originally posted by: joeq
i would never - not in a million years - pay a complete beginner money at the
inception of the project.... they haven't earned that leap of faith. he should
get a percentage upon approval of the first round of layouts.

Well, you totally misunderstand the whole point.

I am not a BEGINNER!! I am a full time web designer who works for a big
corporation for years!
I just started my own business at my spare time and had a contact work I need
to work on.

joeq

2006-02-27, 10:15 pm

i would never - not in a million years - pay a complete beginner money at the
inception of the project.... they haven't earned that leap of faith. he should
get a percentage upon approval of the first round of layouts.

Bonnie

2006-02-27, 10:15 pm

June2006 wrote:
> As stated above you may need to buy software, and should buy it legit using
> the clients money to do so, if it's something out of the ordinary.
>
> It looks like you guys had those experience already.
> Thanks a lot!
> yeah, I definitely need prepare a contact for that.
>
You might want to go to www.webdevbiz.com and join the forum there.
There are some good articles there, too, about getting clients, etc.

(Some people say you should find out what your local plumber charges and
charge the same.) ;-)
--
Bonnie in California
kroko at
sbcglobal dot net
http://www.theanimalrescuesite.com/...ts/CTDSites.woa

.: Nadia :. *ACE*

2006-02-28, 3:14 am

Excellent advice Peter !

The webbiz forum would be an ideal place for June to hang out if she's
started her own business :)

June a lot of regulars here hang out at the forum also, and you'll be made
to feel real welcome. You will need a news reader (like OE) to access it
though.

--
Nadia
Adobe Community Expert
--------------------------------------------
http://www.csstemplates.com.au - CSS Templates | Free Templates
http://www.DreamweaverResources.com - Dropdown Menu Templates|Tutorials
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-------------------------------------------------

"PeteC" <noemailrequired@nospamrequired.co.uk> wrote in message
news:du0a2e$jf2$1@forums.macromedia.com...
> June2006 wrote:
>
> Have a look at news://forums.webdevbiz.net/public for more help (the
> website at http://www.webdevbiz.com/ also has some useful information)
>
> Tip: Find a local (experienced) web dev shop, and offload the ecommerce
> side onto them. You don't need that level of grief and potential legal
> liability on your first project!
>
> HTH,
>
> Pete.
> --
> Peter Connolly
> http://www.acutecomputing.co.uk
> Derby
> UK
> Skype ID: acutecomputing
>

Gary White

2006-02-28, 3:14 am

On Mon, 27 Feb 2006 18:57:37 -0600, "darrel" <notreal@nowhere.com>
wrote:

>Total Yearly Salary You Want / Number of Billable Hours per yera

I'm still looking for that client that's willing to pay $6,429,788.52
per hour!

Gary

.: Nadia :. *ACE*

2006-02-28, 3:14 am

Let me know if / when you find them.. I could use one of those clients right
now <lol>

--
Nadia
Adobe Community Expert
--------------------------------------------
http://www.csstemplates.com.au - CSS Templates | Free Templates
http://www.DreamweaverResources.com - Dropdown Menu Templates|Tutorials
http://www.macromedia.com/devnet/dreamweaver/css.html - CSS Tutorials
-------------------------------------------------

"Gary White" <reply@newsgroup.please> wrote in message
news:lim7025dh713bj4rciupmtvkal5qdguepa@4ax.com...
> On Mon, 27 Feb 2006 18:57:37 -0600, "darrel" <notreal@nowhere.com>
> wrote:
>
>
>
> I'm still looking for that client that's willing to pay $6,429,788.52
> per hour!
>
> Gary

Gary White

2006-02-28, 3:14 am

On Tue, 28 Feb 2006 16:11:05 +1100, ".: Nadia :. *ACE*"
<forums@NOWAYperrelink.com.au> wrote:

>Let me know if / when you find them.. I could use one of those clients right
>now <lol>

Perhaps I could sub the actual WORK part to you. ;-)

Gary

(_seb_)

2006-02-28, 6:18 pm

June2006 wrote:
> Originally posted by: chopper21
> Depends on alot of things how can we know when you give us no info on the
> site. How many pages clothes ect.
>
>
>
> the client told me she likes the layout is similar to www.shopbop.com,
> but has less page, data and info on it.
> thanks
>

*that* site probably cost around $10,000

--
seb ( ---@webtrans1.com)
http://webtrans1.com | high-end web design
Downloads: Slide Show, Directory Browser, Mailing List

Donna Casey

2006-02-28, 6:21 pm

June2006 wrote:
> It will be my first free lance project for building an online store for a local
> clothing store.
> I am not very sure how much I should ask for? should client pay for some
> percentage in the middle of project?
> I wish somebody can give me some tips, thanks a lot!

I like to document what I think are the key milestones of a project -
from graphic design (if you are doing that or working with someone who
will provide it) to deployment of the site. Certain logical milestones
might be:

--approval of graphic design
--proof of concept working markup for layout and menus
--implementation of backend programming
--buildout of site with content

you can base your milestones on the project's specific requirements, but
a contract to meet those milestones, coupled with signoff on each is a
logical point at which you should receive an installment of the agreed
price.

After all, if you are doing the graphic design and have provided the
files for the approved design - you've DONE that work and deserve
payment for it.

I typically get a deposit (20-25%) of the project before starting (but I
work on referral basis or repeat clients and am not on my first
freelance project, so you'd have to work into that, probably) and divide
the total payment of the project over the milestones that the client and
I have agreed on.

It's not the only way I work, but for big projects and for clients who
don't want to be one in a crowd (priority, fulltime development) that is
a requirement. I have to have a regular income, right? So they cannot
expect me to go for months without billing.

HTH
:D