Was My Pricing for This Website Too High?
A doctor from Germany recently reached out to me through a family member about developing a presentation website for his private clinic, but he had some specific requirements.
He didn’t want to use platforms like WordPress or Wix; instead, he requested the ability to customize nearly all aspects of his website content, including the layout. Additionally, the content needed to be available in three languages: English, German, and Romanian.
To meet his requirements, I used the following technologies:
- SvelteKit
- MariaDB + Prisma ORM
- JSON Web Tokens for admin dashboard authentication
- TailwindCSS for styling
Each page of the website is fully customizable through the admin dashboard. The doctor can edit or write the entire HTML/CSS for each section, create new sections, or delete existing ones. He can even add new pages via the dashboard and preview changes. However, the site lacks a visual editor, which would have been complex to implement.
Given some background, the doctor is comfortable working with HTML, so he doesn’t mind editing it manually instead of using a visual editor.
I charged €800 for the entire project, which seemed reasonable compared to market standards. However, he found the price excessive and expressed strong discontent. Am I misjudging the market, or is his reaction unusual?
2 responses to “Was My Website Pricing Excessive?”
When evaluating whether the amount you asked for in developing the website was reasonable, we need to consider several factors, including the scope of the project, the complexity of the requirements, the expertise and technologies involved, and market rates. Here’s a breakdown to help you assess the situation:
Project Scope and Requirements
Customizable Content: You were tasked with creating a website where every single page’s content and layout were editable via a custom dashboard. This requires a significant development effort compared to a standard static website or one built using WordPress/Wix templates.
Multi-language Support: Implementing a multilingual site (English, German, Romanian) adds complexity. You have to ensure proper language switching and content translation capabilities.
No CMS Platform: Building a custom solution from scratch without WordPress/Wix, which involves creating bespoke CMS-like functionalities (content editing, page creation, etc.).
Technological Complexity: The stack includes:
Custom Admin Dashboard: Developing a dashboard where the client can write HTML/CSS requires additional backend and frontend development work for a robust, error-free user experience.
Expertise and Time Involvement
Market Considerations
European Market Rates: Depending on the country and region, web development rates can drastically vary. However, in many parts of Europe, freelancers and agencies charge significantly more for custom web application development, often ranging from 50€ to 150€ per hour.
Complexity Adjustments: Given the complexity of the task, particularly with custom CMS functionality and multi-language support, 800€ appears to be on the lower end of the pricing spectrum for such services.
Final Assessment
Based on the scope and complexity of the project, asking for 800€ seems reasonable, maybe even modest. It underscores the value of the custom functionality you’re offering, which isn’t
It’s great to see the blend of technology and client needs in your project! It’s understandable that the doctor felt the price was high, especially if he isn’t aware of the time, effort, and expertise that go into a custom-built site like the one you’ve created. Pricing can be subjective and can vary greatly based on different factors, including the client’s perspective on worth.
One angle to consider is that clients often equate website costs with DIY platforms they might be familiar with, which may lead to their surprise upon receiving a quote for a more tailored solution. Another factor could be the expectations set during initial discussions—perhaps it would be beneficial to provide clients with a breakdown of your pricing structure, illustrating the effort and resources involved. This could help in framing the value they’re receiving and making them feel more comfortable with the investment.
Additionally, emphasizing the customization capabilities and multilingual support as significant advantages could help illustrate why the pricing reflects the quality and flexibility of the service offered.
Ultimately, this dialogue can serve as an opportunity to educate potential clients on the differences between various Website Development options, ensuring they understand not just what they are getting, but also the long-term benefits of investing in a custom solution like yours. Thank you for sharing your experience—it’s a valuable lesson for many of us in the industry!