Most people, understandably, expect a website designer or website developer (WD) to tell them how much a website will cost and how soon the site will be finished. This article will briefly touch on some pointers on what to expect and not to expect from a potential WD. Also, I will explain the basic difference between a designer and a developer.

First, the designer is usually the person who makes your website pretty. The developer is usually the person who does all the behind the scene work to make your website function properly and assist you with other features you might require (e.g., provide site search for your visitors, build or integrate a shopping cart, add your site to a server, etc.) - at least this is the way it is supposed to work, but usually the designer and developer is the same person. This is especially true for people who have an at-home website business.

Now for an analogy of why you should NOT ask a WD to give you a quote "before" they have had the opportunity to assess your business needs. Scenario: you have an illness and you call the doctor and say, "I feel ill doc, how much will I have to pay for you to make me better?" Do you think you will hear the answer before he/she has examined you? Well, the reason the doctor can not give you a quote is because he/she has to exam you first, just like a WD has to assess your business needs before they can give you a quote. Websites and requirements are so different, it is impossible to just stick a price on them like retail stores stick tags on their products. You may want to run away when a developer hesitates to give you a fee because you think the fee will be too much for your budget. It would advantageous to take the time to chat with the WD so that he/she will know exactly what your project requires - the fee may not be as bad as you think.

I do want you to be aware of something though: Don't expect a good website design with 10 or more pages for less than $500 (more if it has a database connected to it). There is much more to designing and developing a website than you might realize until you get involved in having one built, even then you won't realize what is going on behind the scenes unless you are very familiar with programming, html, scripting, database design and development, etc.

Some WDs will give you something like a timeline so that the project can move along a little smoother, but sometimes this timeline has to be revised for many reasons. The timeline is always a good general way to gauge how long it may take to finish your website, but never expect your deadline to be written in stone.

You should expect to sign a contract too. This contract should include all bells, whistles, fees, and a mention of who owns what until when so that there won't be any surprises while building, testing, and implementing your website. A contract is always the safest way to enter into a business venture, especially with the purchase and development of a website.

I am hoping that once you have finished reading this article you will be a bit more aware of what you are asking a WD when you ask for fees and timeframes before an assessment has been made of your business requirements. It is always advantageous to you to communicate with your potential WD before you enter into a business venture with them.

Remember to sign a contract so that you will know what to expect from your WD. Take care and don't hesitate to contact me by visiting http://groups.yahoo.com/group/kisw/

About the author:

Regina Stevens is CEO of Keep It Simple Websites, an Internet Consulting, Website Design and Development Service http://keepitsimplewebsites.com). Questions regarding website design and development can be asked by visiting http://groups.yahoo.com/group/kisw/