Hello, all! Thank you for viewing my post.

I've been designing web pages for a little over 2 years now, mainly developing websites (between 3 to 5 pages) for family/friends and creating auction templates for eBay powersellers using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. I use PhotoShop and ImageReady to create graphics.

About a month ago, I began targeting my web design/development services to small businesses and private organizations, and yesterday, I received a phone call from my first potential client that wants me to develop a 15 to 20 page website for an online vacation company. The problem is that I've never developed a 15 to 20 page website in my life, but I know that devoting alot of my time and work, I can do it. We (my client and I) have not yet discussed any details about the upcoming project. This will all be discussed tomorrow. The short-term project will begin on Monday, 11/15/04.

These are my questions:

Does anyone know where I can find a good sample web site design contract?
What should my client and I discuss before I start working on the project?
Would it be better for me to charge an hourly rate or a flat rate fee? If an hourly rate, how much should I charge?
How much should I charge for web site maintence. hosting & SEO (novice in these areas)?

This phone call caught me a little offguard because I did not expect to receive project like this so soon, but I'm sure that I can get the job done.

I have more questions, but I believe I'll easily find the answers to them throughout my work on this project. I pick up on things very quickly.

Thanks in advance for your opinions and advice.

~*"As a woman thinketh, so is she."*~ designdiva

If I could give you any advice at all. Build your own website. Tinker with it over a few months. Research what works well, what doesn't, and what doesn't matter. Get advice from other webmasters, but don't take it personally. Webmasters can be an arrogant group of people. (go figure). Once you feel your own website is doing better, then start with some small jobs. Slowly build your portfolio until you have established a good reputation for your work and service. Once you have the client base, then you can go out into the world of a professional webmaster.

You can't be an expert on everything. Oursource anything you aren't good at. Get better at thing things you are good at.

Remember to get reference letters from satisfied customers.

Good luck.

to answer your questions...

Does anyone know where I can find a good sample web site design contract?
* well i would suggest looking at sitepoint.com they have some resources or google it

What should my client and I discuss before I start working on the project?
*i would get a much more detailed requirment list from the client if all they mentioned was a 15-20 page website
ask them if they know any other vacation websites that they would like you to base theit site upon

Would it be better for me to charge an hourly rate or a flat rate fee? If an hourly rate, how much should I charge?
* the industry standard is 50% before and 50% after project completion. however you can go about it as you wish

How much should I charge for web site maintence. hosting & SEO (novice in these areas)?
* again youll have to research prices since hosting you have a million different types of packages out there (unless you provide hosting yourself) maintenance, well are they going to update their site via some sort of content management system? or are you going to update it for them, if so you need to charge an hourly fee as of when they require the site to be updated etc. For seo iam not sure what your knowledge is on seo and whether youve serviced a client before..