How to Hire a Website Developer: Part 5

Welcome to part five of our “How to Hire a Website Developer” series! In part four, we discussed the factors that impact your website developer’s timeline, which are very important to consider. Naturally, one of the most important aspects to be considered with your website development is the cost. In this post, we give you a general idea of what to expect for pricing, and what impacts the cost of a website.

What Dictates the Cost of a Website Developer?

It is easy to assume every website developer charges their clients around the same amount, as they are doing very similar tasks. However, each website developer has set their own rates depending on various factors. With your business, you will need to consider which factors are most important so you can stick with your budget. Here are a few factors that impact the costs of hiring a website developer.

Experience

Just like with most industries, more experienced website developers tend to charge more than less experienced developers. Experience usually comes with great advice, development skills, and great knowledge about website features and functionality. With that being said, developers with over five to ten years of experience tend to increase their rates because of how valuable they are. For businesses who have a lot of room in their budget to pay for their services, this is great. But, for businesses who do not have much wiggle room in their budget, this can be challenging. The best thing to do is to find an experienced developer who does not have costly services compared to their competitors. Do keep in mind that website developers who only have a handful of projects under their belt can still be very talented individuals. If you find a developer you like, do not let a lack of experience steer you away.

Location

The rate at which website developers charge can depend on where they live. For example, a website developer in New York City will likely charge more than a website developer in a small town. The fluctuation of rates happens because we all have to pay our bills, which can dictate how much developers need to charge. A developer in a large city will likely have a higher cost of living than a developer in a small city. And, as a result, will need to charge more to cover his or her living and business expenses. However, this should not be an excuse to charge a ridiculously high price to develop a simple website. Be sure the website developer you end up hiring offers fair rates, no matter what location they are in.

Website Type and Features

The website you are envisioning will greatly affect the cost of hiring a website developer. If you need a website with a large number of buttons, forms, images, special functionality, etc., your website developer will charge more. On the other hand, a simple website with a few webpages will be much less costly. The more requirements you have for your website, the more time it will take to develop. This is typically the largest factor when it comes to the cost of hiring a website developer.

How to Know the Cost of Hiring a Website Developer

With all the different factors that dictate the cost, hiring a website developer can be challenging. To help you with this process, here are a few ways you can be sure you stay within your budget.

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Know the Average Cost of Hiring a Website Developer

Before you ask for quotes from developers, you should know the average costs of developing a website. This will help you know what the realistic cost of hiring a website developer is. You don’t want to assume a developer is charging you way too much, or is suspiciously inexpensive. Some people say website development costs between $2,000 and $5,000. On the other hand, some say it can be $12,000 to $150,000. Clearly, there is a large variation in pricing. Try to gather information on the typical cost of the type of website you want, so you know what to expect.

Another way to calculate the average cost is to consider the average hourly rate of a website developer. Most developers charge around $75 per hour. The time needed to build the average website will range from 80-120 hours. 80 hours at the rate of $75 equals $6,000. 120 hours at the rate of $75 equals $9,000. If the developer can reduce the hours, because your website is not as complex as the average website, then the cost can certainly go down. If you need a website that’s more complex than the average site, then the cost will probably go up.

Too Good to Be True

Everyone likes to get a good deal. And there are certainly high-quality website developers who will charge less than average. But, be cautious of a developer who charges significantly less than average for a website. For example, if someone charges only $1,000 for a website that typically takes around 100 hours to complete, then they are only working for $10 per hour. Why would a skilled developer charge so much less than average? You may find an exception to this, but keep in mind the saying, “You get what you pay for.”

Ask for a Quote

When you come across a website developer you like, ask them for a quote. Describe everything you would like to see in your website and allow them to give you a quote, based on what you are requesting. If their quote is much higher than what you are expecting to spend, do not hesitate to get other quotes from other website developers. This is your website, and you should only spend what you are comfortable with.

Make Sure Their Pricing is Reasonable

The rate for website development varies greatly on the area they work in, the complicity of the website, and their experience. You will find many quality website developers who have very different rates. Hire a website developer who works with your budget and does not take you out of your comfort zone with spending. There are many options out there, so don’t feel pressured to spend more than you want with a specific developer. If you get a quote that sounds unreasonable, always get a second, third, or fourth quote, to know if it is unreasonable or not.

Thank you for reading this part of our website developer series! And please stay tuned for the next part of this series where we will discuss the communication skills of a website developer.