What is the average cost in having a website made?

Question

No one likes to answer this, I know because it varies.

I had a website made from a so called computer engineer...who didn't really seem to know what he was doing. He spent months, literally, studying, at my cost at my computer as how to do it. I have a few slide shows in the site with mpg background music...which I have to figure out how to install. He used the NetObjects fusion 8. I mean really....should this have cost me $6,203,00.

I know I know, I should have asked first....but never in my wildest dreams did I think it would cost this much. I don't think he had any idea front up what he would charge, since he had no idea how many hours he'll be investing.

I appreciate any input. Mabe it's a realistic price, and I'm behind the moon.

Thanks

Answer 1

Yes!  I believe that to be a reasonable price.  Most people expect to pay anywhere from $5,000 to $20,000 depending on the intricacies and connectivity involved.  For an ELABORATE website you'll need a professional.  I have a friend who does it on the side as a hobby and would be happy to put you in touch with him but I'm sure he will charge you less than that last gentleman.

I use Microsoft Office Front Page 2003.  It's a tad old but it's VERY easy to use and I have had good results with it.  I use it for my business and all of my incoming orders are brought in through it.  I put a button on the front page that people can click to bring up an order form.  They fill out the form and Fax it to me.  I then email them a PayPal bill and they pay for their order in advance through PayPal.  Very neat and orderly and everyone seems to be happy with it, except for the few who are not familiar with PayPal and have been burnt in the past by using their credit cards on the internet.  For those we accept checks in the mail, although postal security is not what it used to be so we recommend against the use of the mails.

Front Page 2003 is a bit more secure that the original Front Page and I have had no problems.  You can easily import pictures and I have not yet addressed ALL the functions available within the program.  My pages are basic and designed to download quickly and easily.  I have all of our Terms & Conditions, pictures of our products along with prices, and I included some Google offers thru their affiliate program as well as those from Ian.com and a few others.

You can check it out at desertpostman.com .  We manufacture and install real estate sign posts in the desert near Palm Springs.  It's not as fancy as some of the large corporations but it downloads faster and easier than AT&T's website and it does the job.  

You can register your website thru GoDaddy.com and they charge under $10 for that .. a really great price.  They will also host your site for as low as $3.99 per month.

You can get Front Page 2003 from STaples for about $140 if it is still available but try to get one of the Staples discount cards, coupons, or emails that will knock off about $20 - 25.  Sign up for their email service and you'll get monthly discounts and an introductory discount as well.

If you have any other questions feel free to email me and I'll do the best I can to assist.  I'll also give you the email address of the guy who used to help me with my websites and may be able to build one for you for $1,000 or less.  He can add boxes where you can be interactive with your future customers.  

:-)

Peace ...

Answer 2

Having any website custom coded is going to cost money it would have been smarter to do some research into other ways to setup a website

I think that is a crazy price for a personal website if it was commercial with security and such I would understand  

I just looked at the program he used I would go back and ask for some money back you got ripped off

Answer 3

$6200.00 is a fair price for a completely customized solution...but without knowing your website it's hard to say whether you were taken advantage of.  

Paying by the hour is not the best way to go however.  Your best bet was to get 1 number and everything detailed in writing before cutting a check and starting the project.

Try contacting Slick and Bubba's (www.slickandbubbas.com) to find out more.

Answer 4

first of all, the figure is not clear to me, it 6203 or 620300. secondly none of the engineers can figure out the cost until u tell the content, programming included or in one u can say whats the website all abt. so u first tell the content or whtever u can say the description and then cantact anyone here. anyone can then tell in seconds.

Answer 5

Web site design can easily run into the thousands of dollars, depending on the functionality requirements of the site, the skill of the designer, etc.

A $6,500 site is not at all unreasonable. What is unreasonable is the surprise you received when you received your invoice.

You wouldn't hire a contractor to start building you a house and then submit his invoice at the end of the job. By the same token, you shouldn't hire a web designer the same way.

In the future, you will be better off discussing your project with a designer and then have them provide a list of deliverables with an estimate for how much it will cost you.

Then, you will be able to know:

1. Exactly what you will receive when the project is done

2. A list of "approval" or "check-in dates" to gauge progress

Then, based upon his estimate, you may want to revise your list of requirements so that the final projects comes in within a budget you can afford. For example, it may be that the cost to provide music on your site put it over the top. In which case, there may have been other options for you. Again, a good designer will provide you with a list of options.

Building a web site is a lot like getting into a taxi cab to go to the airport. No one wants to catch a ride unless they have some idea how far away the airport is or how much it will cost them when they get there.

If you allowed your designer to basically "keep the meter running" throughout the design process, the fault was partially yours.

Better luck in the future.

Answer 6

Every web designer is going to have his own price.  I made my own www.insuritnow.com with Yahoo (really inexpensive $13/mth) but I have web design skills and didn't require any web design help.  Now when it comes to my website being heavily exposed, I will have to pay for the exposure.  Right now its up but its in neutral because I haven't PAID to get it advertised.  That's basically the name of the game.