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[Alhara]

I got my first freelance gig for web design today. I have been hired to do a small website for a non-profit organization. I am still working out my pay with them, we are throwing some numbers back and forth. I am looking for some input from any of you that have done this kind of thing before.

Here's some things that might help decide:

-It's my first non-"Steve's homepage" website, and they know it.
-I pitched a damn good concept to them though, which they loved
-I am a student, 22, and they know it (I'm young and not a pro)
-It's a non-profit academic organization, a collection of professors
-Michigan, USA based
-will be an online home for 400-500 members in the midwest
-hope to implement forums

-looking for a flat rate to build it and launch it
-looking for a monthly "keeping it fresh" webmaster fee

Due to the nature of the group, there won't be much in the way of updates to the site, nothing like daily news or even weekly news. The monthly maintenince will be primarily keeping the member list and contact info up to date and monitoring the forums. The numbers thrown around so far seem to average at about $500 US to build it and launch it, and $30 a month to be the webmaster.

Tell me what you think, what you've seen, and what you suggest!

Also, the forum concept hinges on being able to get an affordable or cheap one. (nothing like these forums, something small without graphics capability, calendar, just ability to post and reply to less than 20 total threads. I would rather not have to code it myself, plus I would have no idea how to do so.) Any suggestions, links on this would be appreciated!

[Aristotle]

For the forums you should check out phpBB.

It is free and operates similarly to vBulletin's software. Also, it is easier to update versions, frankly.

http://www.phpbb.com

Oh. It is free.

Also, if you explained the concept and the pitch, that might help people understand how much work you set out for yourself.

[Alban]

Depending on how much is going in the website, that seems like a low figure. If it takes you 50 hours to do the website (and it will), you're only getting $10 an hour.

On the other hand, if it's important for building up a portfolio and getting references, then perhaps the price isn't really an issue.

I would definitely charge more than $30 a month for maintenance (hell, I would charge more than $30 an hour). One thing I have found is that everyone says, "Oh, it won't need much updating," and then it needs continuous updating.

By way of comparison, I (and other people I know) generally charge $2500 for a small website. That's figuring about 50 - 100 hours of work.

For maintenance, we generally charge a retainer - they pay you up front, and as they ask you to make changes, you keep track of the hours spent on it and subtract it from the retainer. Bill by the quarter-hour, and that includes phone consulting. They will be constantly calling you to help fix everything that goes wrong with their email, word processing, etc. I know that sounds cynical, but it always happens to me!

[Khirmint]

I use phpbb on a couple other sites, and definitely recommend it. Lacks a couple of features that this one has, but overall its almost as good. It also has a lot of modules/themes/etc for easy plugin, including a calendar module that I haven't tried out.

Make sure you give them a (or get) a reasonably detailed quote that explains everything that you're going to do. Don't give them wiggle room or they'll take it and run all over the place with it additions/changes etc.

When you get through major sections done, try and get them to sign off on it. And then keep those on file. If they totally change their mind at various points, this will help give you a leg to stand on for charging extra.

For monthly updates, make sure you put some sort of restrictions on it. X number of hours per month, or detail the tasks completely and don't be afraid to charge extra for the extra work.

You may notice that I'm putting a lot of emphasis on protecting yourself This comes from seeing what happens people don't. Often. If you're not careful or put yourself into a vulnerable position this job could become a LOT more work than its worth. Don't screw over your client and be willing to put in a little extra work/bend over. But don't bend over for them

Pricing is tough. In my area, what you quoted isn't unreasonable.. but no company can make money based off of business in this valley. Too many guys like you Take your nicely detailed quote, figure out how long you think it'll take.. double that and decide how much you're willing to work this job for. I charge far less than I should for independent contract work (programming mostly), but then I usually do it for friends or small time businesses with the understanding that I have other commitments and those come first.

My 2 cents

[Alhara]

Thanks for the input on pricing. I think I should reiterate, as Khirmint said, that this is kind of a "for friends/small buisnesses thing" which understands that I have a career and a Master's I'm working on that come first.

The company is a non-profit organization called the Michigan Association of Speech Communication. The online home will be 20-30 individual pages, most of them static and unchanging. There will be very little graphics, a couple of dhtml tricks, some inline frames and two animated gifs I've already put together will comprise the bells and whistles of the site, the rest is text, links and contact information. Each page will have a generic splash setup that I have already put together, in about 5 hours. I predict another 20 hours worth of work to get the thing made, and 10 hours to get it launched and debug any proglems I couldn't forsee before it went live. That's about 35 hours total, and being the under-funded (donation and membershp fee as only income) small organization they are, I couldn't really charge too much for my work.

I will take into consideration the monthly fee and charging more for that. I can't see that there is anything on the site that will need updating, one component of the deal is that no one will be an admin of the site (so no one has email they need tech help with, screwed up updating something and I have to fix it, yada yada) and the top brass of the organization are all professors who have a lot of duties that come before this particular loyalty. I really don't forsee much updating or work once the thing goes live, but I will think about charging more and feel them out for the monthly rate they are willing to pay. There is no way in hell I'll get $30 an hour, or even $20 an hour.

Thanks and keep the advice coming!

[Alhara]

OH!

And I am considering (after a lengthy search and comparison of offers) buying a domain name and getting hosting through godaddy.com . They have a nice medium range hosting program with good features. I'm shooting for the medium because it includes forum capability (Thanks Ari about the php one, I liked that too and if godaddy flops I'll downgrade and implement a php forum) But since this is MASC's dime, I figure going with godaddy and having their pre-made forums inserted would save me work and just cost MASC an extra few dollars a month.

Has anyone worked with godaddy before? From what I understand, Domain purchasing is all the same, aside from the price they all offer you the same product (legal reg of a domain name). Then getting it hosted is where you have to consider the plans. I like godaddy's 9.95 a month medium package. Is this high or low for the features? Remember, I don't need much disk space or download max (the small package would probably be enough, the medium allows breathing room) but I like the forum capability. It's also got a photo gallery capability which may come in handy. Plus, if purchased a year at a time (which is likely) it's 7.76 a month. (I think)

Check it out and let me kow what you think:

https://www.godaddy.com/gdshop/hosti...?se=%2B&ci=132