How many of us have heard this line from a client? Likely every other client if not every client start off their conversation this way

First thing I have to say to every client who wants work done and has no or very little scope to work with is to understand you get what you pay for. This does not mean we need to turn away clients, it means we need to work with them to fit their budget accordingly. NO ONE should compromise our skills and expertise to fit a non existent budget.

We as a company have actually moved away from doing ‘websites’ because of the poor perception of it. Many clients see a website as something easy to create, easy to launch and they can get a template on godaddy.com so why should they pay us much? When I get questions like this asked of me either from clients or people in business seminars through Canadian/Manitoba Business Services Center this is what I generally ask and advise:

1. What you spend on your website you should assume is the same value you will make from it. Put $500 in expect to make $500 from it.
2. Even though I am fully capable of designing and developing my own website I don’t. First I need to separate myself from my personal development and look towards professionals I trust to communicate my brand and business for me.  I HAVE to concentrate and work on the business of my companies and likely that is something every business owner needs to do instead of develop their own website. Otherwise you may never launch that website or bring in the sales that business needs.
3. Are you using your website as a sales tool? If you don’t invest anything into the website, how can it be used as a tool?
4. Templates like from godaddy.com etc are NOT the worst thing to start off with. If you as a company want to get online and can handle this kind of set up to start off your online branding go for it. It actually helps detail to a vendor, like me, what you have already and what you need to do. It also helps detail the business, which in many cases is lacking in detail.
5. You can always upgrade, or add to an existing site so you don’t have to build EVERYTHING right now. Let the business grow and the details fall into place.

As for a set budget or hourly rate we as vendors have the right to charge whatever we please. We will add any overhead costs of the office, resources, other business, difficulty, hours in development and who the client is to every hourly or project cost. We can always add or remove time and costs to make sure we get that sale. What we should never do is sell ourselves short. I see this all the time, and people make excuses. ‘It’s a small business’, or ‘I really need the project’ or ‘I know the client, this is a favor’ and on and on. Thing is regardless if it is a friend or a new business relationship, if you charge peanuts for the first business you better believe they are selling it to others and back to you the same way and they will expect it. That client will not ever want to pay more so in the end your ‘favor’ can get you stuck.

As professionals we know what we are worth and we should never compromise to any client or business adventure. A client wants quality, and I the business want opportunity. Both come with costs.  It is about meeting at that level where you are both comfortable. Technologies have allowed us to incorporate items like CMS for FREE, but we still need to charge for that set up. Knowledge is not free baby!

Bottom line, we are all in the business of making money and being successful. We will tend to give deals or to things for less then we want or even free to get ahead. Just don’t make it a habit or you will find yourself at that same place on the ladder for a while instead of climbing higher. Say no, or refer business to others who can take on something you don’t really have time for. Time is money, even if you say no to hang out with your friends or family that is quality time and you deserve it!