Navigating the Website Development Journey: A Personal Dilemma
When faced with the opportunity to build a website with a budget of $10,000, many questions arise. Recently, I found myself in such a situation, and it led to a significant decision-making process. Here’s an overview of my experience and the insights I gained along the way.
I have a solid budget of $10,000 that I’m willing to invest in launching a website over the next five months. A close friend of mine, a software engineer charging $120 per hour, has recommended an acquaintance in Romania who is known for providing quality web development services through a platform like UpWork. This connection could potentially save me money while ensuring that my project gets off the ground.
However, the local landscape presents a different set of options. Agencies within my state are known to charge between $5,000 and $10,000 for their services. While my friend’s suggestion favors a cost-effective approach, I can’t help but feel that partnering with a reputable local agency might yield a superior final product. In my mind, the benefit of working with a local team is twofold: they have more at stake in maintaining a good reputation and will likely be more accessible for troubleshooting as issues arise.
The primary feature I envision for this website is a chatbot designed to streamline communication with customers. This chatbot will engage users through a limited script, allowing them to input specific requests related to home repairs—such as “water heater” or “toilet.” The goal is to facilitate a seamless user experience, enabling customers to address their needs and complete transactions within a short timeframe, ideally around 15 minutes. I prefer to utilize a straightforward chatbot without the complexities and costs associated with a large language model.
Though I have access to an additional $60,000, and my wife is generally supportive of my entrepreneurial pursuits, I want to approach this initiative judiciously. The insights from the community have prompted me to explore options like Squarespace, Zapier, and ChatGPT, tapping into my basic knowledge of Python to create a functional product. I also plan to engage with the designer in Romania to evaluate their portfolio and project cost further.
Professionally, my background is in banking and finance, which positions me well to secure funding when needed. If I perform well over the coming months, I could potentially earn bonuses that would contribute significantly to my venture. My commitment is to reinvest every dollar back into the business for at least two years
