Hi I wondering if any could help. I have been offered by my friend that owns a computer repair shop to do all his website which include hosting and updates. He currently has 20 customer that he would like me to maintain and future business. Now to my question

I am really not sure how the industry works. This is mainly for new customers that we get. Should I charge them a large up front fee and montly/yearly hosting service or should I charge the a lower annal fee per year.

Also after site is built does company we built site for own the completed website or do we. Just wondering if we charge lower up front and hope for customer to stay with our hosting what if they want site and host with someone like godaddy for about a $100 bucks were we spends hours on design.

I would like to know if any in this forum can help advise what most web design companies are doing before I commit to buying programs, attending classes and quiting my current job.....
Thanks

Charge them a set up fee - The price of the design.
Then a Hosting/domain Fee - If you have you own server, set yourself a price. But if you just buying them an account somewhere take the current costs and add a management fee. Though avoid hosting clients websites (unless they really want you too), otherwise you become the web hosts tech support guy.

I only have a few points for you but they might help. First of all, write a contract for EACH customer. Make sure you state that you have the right to re-use their code and any images used in the creation of the site to prevent customers from hasseling other clients of yours. If you host their content, make sure you state that they must have a copy of the files somewhere else and you are not responsible for data loss on the server and you may discontinue hosting their site at anytime (let them know you won't, its just a precaution.)

Also, offer them 2 choices. If they want to upgrade often, charge a monthly fee. If its a rare thing then tell them they can pay small fees per change as they need them. I personally like to have slightly higher prices, then reduce the price after back to what it should of been telling them that their site went much quicker than expected and you are giving them a "discount." Again, they feel like they won.

If you would like to host their sites, offer them the hosting at a rediculously low price. Then slightly bump up the cost of the site, most people will feel they are getting a really good deal because they really don't know that it can be extremely cheap to get hosting.

Also, rough out a site design for them and send them a pic of it. If they like it..then add the details to it, code and charge them. This is to prevent you wasting your time on a great design that might not fit their "tastes" for web design.

Originally Posted by thedude-tpm

Hi I wondering if any could help. I have been offered by my friend that owns a computer repair shop to do all his website which include hosting and updates. He currently has 20 customer that he would like me to maintain and future business. Now to my question

I am really not sure how the industry works. This is mainly for new customers that we get. Should I charge them a large up front fee and montly/yearly hosting service or should I charge the a lower annal fee per year.

Also after site is built does company we built site for own the completed website or do we. Just wondering if we charge lower up front and hope for customer to stay with our hosting what if they want site and host with someone like godaddy for about a $100 bucks were we spends hours on design.

I would like to know if any in this forum can help advise what most web design companies are doing before I commit to buying programs, attending classes and quiting my current job.....
Thanks

First, don’t quit your job. Web clients are tricky. They never seem to understand the true value of a website and your services.

Every company owns their website and you should make it clear to them that they do and they can talk ether website anywhere they want. This will make them more comfortable about signing up for yearly hosting plans, etc.

Please feel free to contact me with more questions.

Cheers,

SiteBetter

you can start the website development business as a part timer to start with.Do't leave your regular job.once you get good contracts you can do it full time.

Yeah, starting a web design business is not that easy, those advice are great, you should consider those as your references is starting a wed design business.. but don't just leave your regular job, try to get some great contract first and you may do it as your full time job...



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Indianapolis SEO

for a successful carrier on web designing you must have a good portfolio on your works + a good website for your company +
good customer care + little advertisement

I also have my own web design business establish last year. Wish us all the best and success in the future.

I would like to know if any in this forum can help advise what most web design companies are doing before I commit to buying programs, attending classes and quiting my current job.....

Don't quit your job. My partner did that after smooth-talking by an ex-friend who told us how lucrative the web design business was. It was a disaster. Her standards were so low we were ashamed of her work. We've now lost the money we gave her and have started up our own small company in our spare time - not by any means a road to riches but something we enjoy. Be wary.

web design is an interesting business. It can be great for 3 months and than horrible for six months. Like everyone else stated you should hold off on quiting your job. You can do it on the side to start.

Make sure to have a contract. We always have companies pay the entire amount before we release the site on to their own hosting. If it isn't with you, you cannot guarantee they'll pay for it.

I came to this site as a novice looking to learn more about website design. I am way over my head, but I don't want to spend $5,000 on a new site the size of the one I designed. I am new to this site and unlike most of the others, I am not a professional web designer. I built my company website with MS Publisher and I am trying to learn about html. I would be interested in discussing how you might be able to help me. I am located in Chicago, but that probably doesn't matter too much. I would like to work with someone that might be new to the business and could be less expensive than the established designers.