Website Design: 360 °
I recently ended a partnership with a mother/son design firm owners that were too difficult to work with. I’d built them a custom SEO website, owned and managed their domain with G-Suite email, managed and owned Google Business. When I sent them this invoice to transfer ownership, all hell broke loose. Due to their technical illiteracy, they were dumbfounded. Here are some pointers to support you in having these conversations up front so you don’t make this mistake.
The average business owner seeking a freelance web designer is doing so with very little understanding of what goes into creating a successful site. The post breaks down the different factors and average costs.
Website Design — Know Pricing Structure
Website design fee structures typically involve either hourly rates (ranging from $25 to $150 per hour) or flat fees, with project costs ranging from $500 to $10,000 or more, depending on complexity, features, and designer expertise.
Here's a more detailed breakdown of website design fee structures:
Hourly Rates:
Freelance Designers: Often charge between $25 and $100 per hour.
Design Agencies: May charge higher rates, ranging from $100 to $250 per hour.
Factors Affecting Hourly Rates:
Designer Experience: More experienced designers typically charge higher rates.
Project Complexity: Complex projects with many features or custom functionalities require more time and expertise, leading to higher costs.
Location: Designers in high-cost areas may charge more.
Specialized Skills: UX/UI designers who focus on user experience and interface design may charge higher rates.
Flat Fees:
Project-Based Pricing: Web designers may offer a fixed price for a specific project, which can include a set number of pages, design elements, and revisions.
Package Deals: Some designers offer different packages with varying levels of features and support, each with its own price point.
Factors Affecting Flat Fees:
Number of Pages: More pages typically mean a higher cost.
Design Complexity: Custom designs or those with many features will cost more than simpler designs.
Revisions: The number of revisions included in the package can affect the overall cost.
E-commerce Functionality: Websites with e-commerce features (payment gateways, inventory management) often require more development and thus cost more.
Other Considerations:
Maintenance and Support: Ongoing maintenance and support for the website can be a separate cost, either on an hourly or monthly basis.
Hosting and Domain Name: These are separate costs from the design fees and need to be factored into the overall budget. This includes email associated with the domain which is typically charged by user count.
Content Creation: If you need help with creating website content (text, images, videos), that will also incur additional costs.
Search Engine Optimization (SEO): If you want your website to rank higher in search results, you may need to hire an SEO specialist, which will add to the overall cost.
Sources:
https://www.freshbooks.com/hub/estimates/how-much-do-web-designers-charge
https://www.ripemedia.com/a-web-design-pricing-guide-this-is-what-you-can-expect-to-pay/
https://www.elegantthemes.com/blog/design/how-much-does-web-design-cost
https://elementor.com/blog/web-design-pricing-guide/
https://www.fiverr.com/resources/guides/graphic-design/website-design-costs
https://cmsminds.com/blog/web-design-cost/
https://talo.com/costs/website-design-cost
https://www.forbes.com/advisor/business/software/how-much-does-a-website-cost/