Your company’s website is invaluable because it handles everything from clients and sales to customer service. If you don’t have web design skills to build your own website, you need to hire a professional web developer to do it for you.
There are usually two types of website designers available for hire:
- hourly rate
- project rate (most common)
Which one you hire will ultimately depend on your needs, so it is essential to gauge the advantages and disadvantages of both.
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Website Cost by the Hour
Most per-hour web designers are freelancers and are less likely to be a full-service web design company. The good thing about paying web developers on a per-hour basis is that their work and output are typically very transparent. They have to keep detailed track of the time they spend on your project as well as any expenses that they incur, so you will not be left wondering where your money went. This is also great for cases where you are not quite sure what you are looking for and would like to work with the designer closely. Because they are paid by the hour, they won’t complain if the process takes a little longer than originally anticipated, which allows the two of you to work together to improve the final product.
Of course, the same advantages can become problems as well. Since the designers are paid by the hour, you have to be cautious when asking for multiple revisions because that can add time and cost you more money. In fact, a lot of web owners end up paying more than they anticipated because they couldn’t decide on what they wanted, which added time and cost to the final contract.
Project Rate
Most web design companies charge per project instead. These are the more skilled and veteran developers that have enough experience to give an accurate estimate for how much they think a project will cost. This is better for people who are working on a strict budget. If you only have a specific amount, and they contract to complete the project for that amount, you are guaranteed an output with what money you have.
In addition, you won’t be charged for basic revisions because they are covered in the quote. Be mindful, though, that most senior designers stipulate a cap on the number of revisions in the contract so that they don’t keep going back to the drawing board endlessly.
The disadvantage of paying per project is that it can be much more expensive since designers may factor in a lot of buffers and overheads that may or may not be used. Also, these developers tend to be more experienced, so their asking price is higher. But, you get what you pay for so paying more usually equates to a better final design.
Both cases have pros and cons, and one option might work better for your business than the other. It is best to talk honestly with your web designer and decide on a fair price structure so that the final arrangement fits your budget, business needs, and time frame.