What Does It Cost?

The cost of web site work depends on a lot of factors. Since our sites are all custom, we can't give quotes until we talk about what you want your site to do, but we can make some generalizations. If it helps, it's hard to create a new web site for under $500 unless it's only a few pages, you are well prepared, and all of the content is extremely well prepared.

Ideally, we like to estimate the scope of projects, work up a list of expected tasks and services commensurate with the size of the project, and then present a bid based upon those specifications. It frees both of us from watching the clock, and lets us produce a better site. Usually this bid is for a fixed amount plus $45/hr for additional work requested.

• Sites under $500 can be thought of as electronic business cards or small brochures.
  
  Normally only a page or three, they can be created from your existing marketing materials - from your business card or your brochure. We'll use the same art your printer uses (either a file or a high-quality print which will produce a clean scan) for your logo and other artwork.
  
  For $500 or less, it is also possible to produce a very small e-commerce site selling one or two items for well prepared clients who do their own hosting administration
  
  
• Sites from $500 to $1,500 can be a range of types - small e-commerce sites or informational sites with several pages.
  
  A lot is possible at this level if you already have a high quality copy of your logo and have developed marketing materials.
  
  If you have a smallish existing web site which needs professionalizing or just plain updating with improved navigation, with only a few changes in content depending on the size of the site, often that can be achieved in this price range.
  
  If you have not developed marketing materials (or an existing web site), and your budget is under $1,000, we can help guide you through the process of defining your logo, color scheme, and promotional text in addition to site setup (name, hosting, administration), and create a smaller site.
  
  
• Sites which are between $1,000 - $4,000 are usually larger, or have more graphics, and/or more assistance is needed to prepare for site creation. Often logo work needs to be done. Usually also work on defining identity. Also more technical writing. It's not a case where you walk in and give us existing materials and ask us to create a plan for a site to target a particular market, and we say, ok - the logo is teal, red, & black, the text comes from the brochure and essays from the owner, and the audience is everyone with a web connection, so we'll create a site which matches.
  
  For around $2,000, we can redesign medium-small existing web sites, or we can completely guide a web-novice through the process of getting setup and on the web with a professional medium-small informational or e-commerce site. Many small businesses can achieve their goals for a web site for $2,000 or less.
  
  
• Above $4k, either sites are larger and/or involve a lot of special processing such as graphics, forms, and scripts, and/or we are more involved in developing the information which is to be used as the raw materials for creating your web site.

Minor site enhancements and maintenance are usually performed at the rate of $45/hr in quarter-hour increments, with a $20 minimum.

A web site is an investment in your business, and we take it as seriously as you do - perhaps even more so as most of the time people come to us without a clear idea of what they want. We take pride in helping with all levels of web site creation. We consider it an investment in you. As you prosper, so will we.

The cost of creating a site is based more on the content of the site than on the number of pages, although the size of a site is obviously a factor in the cost. Other factors are what is on the pages, such as the captions, descriptions, images and other media, and the number and variety of page layouts. It's possible to create a lot of pages which are similar in much less time than than a handful of pages which are completely different. Similarly, a set of pages based on a theme (so they share graphics and at least some layout) are quicker to create than an equal number of pages which look completely different with their own color schemes and layouts.

In addition to technical services, the cost also includes some graphics art work. Normally, even if you supply all the images, we need to do a little processing such as resizing them or converting the format. This doesn't take long unless there are a lot of images. Usually you want us to do more than just resizing though. Otherwise your site would be just some text on a solid colored background and that's usually not what you want. Whether you intend to or not, the visual component of a site also communicates with visitors - the message they receive is only based partly on your words and product photos. Sometimes it's possible to create a block design that your target market will find appealing but usually sites communicate best if the look and feel is crafted to reinforce the content.

The graphics arts work required is the simplest if you have a logo and public relations material in digital format, but don't worry if you don't. If you have letterhead, we can probably get a high quality copy of your logo from your printer; if not, we can scan it. If you need art, we can see if we can create something from your logo or photos, and/or have some clip art which can be modified and/or work with our associates, depending on your budget and preferences.

Much of the cost of creating a web site also depends on how much of the organization and management of the 'content', the stuff that goes on those pages, that we do. It depends on how much work you have already done which is usable. For example, if your site is a brochure-type site, it would take us a fraction of the time to just put it online than to design the brochure as well.

These guidelines are provided for the purpose of helping you make decisions, particularly if you are deciding on a budget; or you would really like to create your own site but you understand the value of professional standards and you don't have the expertise nor the time to acquire the expertise. The info on this site is not intended to answer all questions, but rather to serve as a starting point for conversation. If you have not already organized and laid out your site, it's usually not a good idea for you to do so completely on your own. We're happy to provide advice or work with you to do it for you.

Discounted rates are available for 501(c)3 organizations at our discretion.