How much should I charge to develop a website?

Limit scope instead of over estimating. If you’re not sure of all of the elements of the projects, then quote for the elements that you know about. Everything else goes into later phases
If client wants many features right away(especially when time frame is tight) try to figure out what’s most important to them. Most important(whatever gets them into business quickest) goes into phase 1, everything else goes in later.
If project is large and you don’t have a lot of info, logically break the project up into phases, state deliverables for each phase and cost, let them pick and choose what’s important to them.
Basic rule: More specific you are, more concrete your scope is, less bullshit and scope creep you will experience.
We usually work with 30/40/30 payment schedule. 30% deposit, 40% on go live or completion(site does not go live or client does not get benefit of the site until you receive atleast 70% of the money) 30% 2 weeks after go live
Same payment schedule applies for phases, that’s why you want to have many smaller phases rather then 1 big phase, you will get money more frequently(cash flow is king)
Our rates are $75USD-$100USD per hour, we estimate 10 hours per week. (to balance commitments with existing clients) So if the project is $4000, it should take no longer then 4 weeks

Last rule: Know your project stage.

If client does not know what you cost, start off with estimate. This email should take you no longer then 1 hour. Only include what your understanding of the project is, how long you think it will take and $X. (this is too weed out mismatch in perceived cost of the project, because if the client thinks that it’s going to cost them $1000 and you think it will cost $10,000 then, there is really nothing to talk about(except when you can cut scope to deliver $1000 worth of value)

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How much should I charge to develop a website?

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