One of the main reasons we got out of the full time design business is because the client is never happy with the bill. I got a call today from someone wanting to know why their bill for work on their web site was into $1000 so far. The little bit of work we still do, we charge $75/hr for and that includes HTML, PHP, mySQL, and other work that we have to accomplish for web pages. I have about 9+ hours into a site wide java script menu system, and the update of several HTML pages throughout a rather involved site. That equated to around $675, which was cheap IMO, given we probably spent more time than I billed for, mainly because this person is a friend. The next round of updates and additions, and some rather major changes that had to be made in the code for the navigation system ran about $325 or 4 1/2 hours or so... I think one of the pages I had to build took 3 hours alone. Aside from the actual html coding, image resizing and placement, there was the time involved to add copy manually for tons of boring specs and other information that was extremely detailed and provided in a method that could not be easily copy/pasted. I got a call today asking why we are into $1000 for some "minor" changes... The things is, these changes were NOT and never are minor!!!! How in the hell do people get anyone to understand that time really is money, and that building a web page is not, point, click, - quick and its done.. If it was, everyone would do it themselves.
They'll always think building a website is like creating a word document or power point presentation.
I think you're missing two requirements of client management, um, relations: Communication of the specifications. Have it in writing, and signed off exactly what is to be done and the expected price. Then any "minor" change requests and their costs can be dealt with. Don't forget about the work already done that may have to be redone at additional charges. Get the client invested. I never supply content. That's the client's job, and it must be done to specs, i.e. delivered on e-media ready for use. In the example you mentioned, you should have got a properly formatted, DB ready file. The client you involve heavily is one that understands what's going on and knows the costs. cheers, gary
Exactly! Much appreciated Gary, but even after you go through all this, all reason goes out the window, and they still think that everything was, quick, easy and minor. Also, no matter how much you make them aware of the costs, they still come up surprised in the end... And, regardless of how packaged up you try to make it, there are always changes by the client that total change the parameters involved... Amazes me how people will spend $500/mo. every month for a tiny add in the yellow pages, or in a newspaper or magazine, but a one time fee for a web site makes them freak....
Thats why I think the sites that advertise $150 web sites do well, the customer knows the price and what they get is laid out for them (althought they're not really getting much at all).
They get what they pay for, and even those sites will still charge over and above that... That $150 buys you some pretty strict limitations!
I fully agree. The problem comes when they try to communicate what they need/require and either not get their point across or not understand what they reall y need.
I think they just don't pay attention to cost until the bill comes... Anyway, I always break up the bills over time to make it appear easier instead of getting one big bill. Plus the way some clients take forever to get you information, you really have to bill in stages or you are never gonna get paid.