Should you disclose your web design budget?

The web design budget is of great interest to both parties involved. The client wants to know how much it will cost his or her business and the web designer wants to know whether it’s viable to take the job on.

This can result in a catch-22 situation: the client doesn’t want the web designer ‘stealing’ money from them unnecessarily and the web designer doesn’t want to spend ages writing up a quote for a client only to find out the budget was never going to be sufficient for the project.

So, should you disclose your web design budget?

Let’s say you have a budget in mind. The worry is that if your budget is significantly higher than what the web designer would charge. So, you disclose your budget and the web designer increases his price to match your budget, making him or her extra money and wasting some of yours.

I’m not saying this doesn’t happen but when a reputable web designer asks for a budget what they’re really asking is, is it worth me even considering taking on this project? Usually to win a new web project a web designer must spend considerable time asking the client questions and then writing up a proposal. I always ask for a ballpark price—or range. It’s just to get an idea; it’s not a way to rip you off.

What if you have no budget to disclose? Ask yourself, what is this web project worth to my business? At least get an approximate figure in your mind as a starting point. Unless you’ve got to the stage of signing a contract no one can hold you to it. If you have little or no budget, wait until a time when you do. Trying to get a cheap website built will only cost you more money in the future—and will antagonise any decent web designer.

If the client is honest and the web designer is reputable both parties will benefit from the site if a ballpark price is determined early on.

To get a website call me on 07843 483 078 or get a free quote online.