Business tips for a first commercial web design venture

I’ve been approached by a local business to build them a new web site. While I've done several website before either through work or for friends, family and local clubs, this is the first private commercial project of my own.

I have the technical skills to do the project and the time in which to make it all happen. I was just wondering if anyone could offer some advice on how to approach the project from a business PoV. I've already done a ‘review’ of their current website (which they were ripped off by a shoddy service) and have a skeletal plan for the redesign, but just wondered how the other designers/developers approach such projects. This is a relatively small company (only three or four staff) who are not at all tech-savvy. I don’t want to take them for a ride and plan on offering a great service to build a client base from word of mouth.

Things like:

1. At what stage should I request payment for the service be made?
2. The site consists of about 15 static pages, what would be a reasonable fee to charge?
3. How do you handle post-implementation service such as changes and amendments?
4. How do you document/contract the service?
5. Any other tips you would give to a first-timer like myself?

Thanks for reading, any advice welcomed.

 

Our designers, request 50% down, 50% when complete. They give us 53 hours of designing, with 11 hours of that time, being changes. After that we pay more. When we approve the project, we have to sign a contract that covers, rights, payment, and that we approved it, laws, late fees, or interest rates on late payment. Basic stuff, really. Google for examples: http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&safe=off&q=website+design+contract&btnG=Search

 

I really hate to give you a generic answer, but "It Depends" some websites cost more than others due to the programming behind it.

If you'll be using flash, and high end things of that nature it will cost more for example.

 

Thanks for the info. The site will be static pages (html and css) with maybe a tiny amount of server-side coding neccessary, but very little indeed.