The cost of designing a new web site should always be considered bearing in mind its longevity and value-for-money compared with other marketing costs.
Often a web site can cost little more than a decent advertisement in a glossy magazine, which is often discarded at the end of the month. However, a web site can last for as long as you desire and will still be viewed many years after it was born.
For potential clients we would always suggest that, in evaluating the cost of having a new, professionally designed web site from an established web designer with extensive experience like Red Rhino, you consider the potential benefits and payback in terms of what business or exposure will be generated as a result of having the site. This can often result in the initial investment being very acceptable in terms of the potential for new (and ongoing) business, when considered over a typical 5-year lifetime of a web site.
So, how much will it cost?
Working out a cost to design a web site is similar to building a house. You couldn’t expect a builder to give you a price for building you a new house until you gave him the plans. Similarly, we can’t give you a price for designing your web site until we have discussed your needs.
The costs of designing a web site can vary enormously depending on your precise brief. Each project is different and the final price would really depend on the final specification and your exact needs. We quote on a ‘per-project’ basis and so some of the elements are quoted within a range, to give you a handle on the normal minimum and maximum budget costs.
What we can do, is tell you that we have an all-inclusive pricing policy and you won’t have any unwelcome surprises when it comes to paying!
Pricing Policy
At Red Rhino, we believe in all-inclusive prices with no surprises. When we quote for a project, you will be given an outline proposal with an estimate of fixed costs and specific item costs, within a range where applicable. The lower and higher points of the range are normally within 10%-15% of each other. The estimate is designed to give you a rough idea of what the project will cost.
If you are happy with the outline costs, we can confirm the final costs with you after further, more detailed information on your needs. On your decision to proceed, we will confirm how the project will be done, when it will be done, and will provide a cost that you can use for financial planning purposes.
If the project goes to plan with few hold-ups, the price you pay will be towards the lower end of the range for any items quoted in that manner. However, if there are delays or re-work outside our control (for example, where you have changed your mind on what you wanted) the higher final price will naturally be charged for any items involved. Either way, you will know before the work starts what your maximum cost will be, providing the agreed specification isn’t changed. Experience to date has shown that clients prefer this arrangement as they then can influence the final price paid.
We do not charge clients on a ‘per-page’ or ‘per-hour’ basis, as many designers do. Charging this way means that you are giving the designer an open cheque to decide how many individual pages are produced and how much time is spent on designing your site. You will, most probably, end up paying more than you should.
When we design a site, you are essentially paying for our time. This is mainly made up of time spent on, for example, programming, producing customised graphics, online form development, database design, ecommerce set-up and setting-up the site. You will be charged with any direct additional expenses incurred over that agreed but you will be informed and approve these before we go ahead and purchase additional elements, like fonts or photographic images.
Fair and Reasonable Pricing
We believe our rates to be fair and reasonable. Experience tells us that larger companies often charge two or three times our rates. Feel free to compare the quality of our work to many of the large national design firms. We hope you’ll find our work comparable (and often superior) but for less the price you’d pay elsewhere.
How to get the most for your money
With a little forward planning, you can help reduce the work involved and influence the final project cost.
- Plan your site carefully. This will save time and money by avoiding simple oversights or delays
- Write, edit and supply your site’s final content in advance
- Work closely with your development team – it is your money!
- Assign a specific contact person that will promptly address issues related to the development of your new site
Free Quotes
Each Web design job undertaken is priced independently, since no two are the same. This leads to a flexible pricing policy which benefits you. We provide free quotes, so contact us and ask for one! Try to give a little thought as to what you want as this helps us give you an indicative cost for the project you have in mind. Or, if you can’t be bothered giving it much thought, contact us anyway and we’ll talk it through.
