Topic: Uh oh! I got a client! uh oh!

Well my friends... I have a client interested to have their entire site designed. So now I am doing some research on how to write a proposal and things like that.

Anyone has any suggestions? What should I ask them? How about pricing? How much? It is going to be a simple site, no database (some other guys is doing that) just strictly graphics.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated...

Thanks!

:: Max ::

writing the proposal...thats half a technical writing course in itself.

I can point you to some usefull documents like a non-disclosure agreement and a Memorandum of engagement. Here ya go secret sites Its the site thats the companion to the book 'the secrets of successful websites', a pretty decent read for backend office/project management info.

As for questions you can ask them I would hunt down a 'project profiler' I know I have seen a version on the web you can custom tailor for your needs. It will ask the client all the basic questions about how,what,when and why of a web project.

Pricing...thats your choice, mabye hit some local web companies websites or call them pretending to be a customer and ask how much they charge for x, y, and z web services to help build a range for you.

Good luck

**applauds Ducati**


Congrats!!!

(altho i have no real advice to help you)

Good luck!!

People.. I need some more help here!!!!!!!!!!

:: Max ::

Your job is to do just the graphics? or HTML as well?

Make sure you right up exactly what your responsibilities are, and exactly what they are not.

Make sure to give yourself an out at any time(you get no pay), and to only allow them an out if they pay you (incrementally to what you have done), and you keep all the work, they get nothing, they can pay full price if they want to keep what you have done so far.

Make sure to charge for sketches.

Make sure to make rules for changes they may want. Minor changes are free at up to middle of project, after middle of project penalties of 5% are levied on the bill for minor changes. They can do one major change up until the half way point, after than charges of 20% to 50% can be levied. It sees rough, but you won't have to deal with them telling you that they no longer want right hand navigation, they want left hand with a drop down menu.

You need to charge them for everything because if you do not they will take advantage of you.

Also make sure they know that the product is delievered "as is". All future updates and changes will cost them.

I normally charge by these rules:
$50 per hour for graphics and such (I am still a beginner).
$50 per hour for HTML/CSS coding price may vary on what type of design.
$100 per hour for backend server side developement, or server configuration.

I do this all in my head however. Or when i go home to write up the proposal.
I figure say, 8 hours on graphics = $400
2 hours on html/css = $100
20 hours on backend coding elements = $2000

Total $2500 + 20% + tax

Grand total New York State: $3240

Give them the list, and the price, and then call them back on it in 2 days.

I am sure I have forgotten a lot of minor details in this write up. Just remember you want to cover everything you will be doing, as well as everything you will not be doing.

Good luck with it,

heh.. now that's what I am talking about...Thanks

:: Max ::

Also, once I go through that same thumbnail process, add up the hours and multiply by [your rate], we have a nice number of dallars, say $3240. Right off the bat, I want money, some call it an "earnest" payment, sometimes it's just 30-50% of the projected cost, down-payment. Depending on the length of the job (calendar time), you may want reviews (and more money!) at set intervals along the way, say you expect to hit the half-way point by the 25th, you want to sit down with the client, make sure all is still on track, they're happy and so are you, (and now it's time for another 25%, maybe?) Even if no money changes hands here, this meeting is still a good idea, make sure the decision maker gets to give the thumbs up, and not just a junior at the organization.

For small jos, with clients who have a known history of paying their bills (to *you*! Don't trust hearsay. The quicker you get the client writing you checks, the quicker they'll start seeing your time as valuable, this will cut down on time wasted in meeting etc...) I like to keep a runing log of the actual time spent working on their job, and what happened during those hours. No unneccessary detail, but a rough idea of what you were doing, interface, coding, etc... This will be a big boon when it comes to sending invoices, believe me.

Congratulations Ducati! This is big time, I'm proud of you.

Your pal, -doc-

So.. then.. am I going in the right direction here? I didn't meet with them yet so I am trying to get my feet wet in this whole "americana" deal
www.simplifiedesolutions.com/nexthome.jpg



:: Max ::