Every web project differs, some are built to strict deadlines whilst others progress naturally
Hopefully this should give you an idea of what to expect.
1. Estimating and Quoting
As you would expect, we will always provide an estimate of costs and should you decide to go ahead we NEVER bill more than the estimate or quote without seeking your approval beforehand. There is nothing worse than getting a bill for twice what you were expecting!
Why would the final bill be more than the estimate? As a job progresses, you may ask for new features within the web site. Where possible, if they make little or no difference we do not charge any extra. Occasionally though the request may involve more work, in which case we will explain this fully and seek your approval before commencing.
That way, your bill should never be a nasty shock!
2. Work Commences 1-4 weeks
Once you give the go-ahead we request a 25% deposit, work commences as soon as possible but of course this is dictated by the current workload. We aim to commence work within 1-4 weeks of order, however we will give a more accurate estimate at the time.
3. Design Approval 1-4 weeks
The first stage (for most projects) is carried out in Photo shop and involves the creation of a range of design drafts for your comment. These drafts are based on your brief, logo and brand and are developed with your input until you approve a final design for build. In reality the timescale for this can vary wildly depending on the time taken to gather opinion and respond to drafts, however 1-4 weeks is a realistic guideline.
4. Site Build 4-6 weeks
Once the design is approved we request a 25% continuation fee and work commences on the site build (typically in xhtml/css). In real terms this means we write the code which displays your approved design as a real, clickable web site with pages and navigation.
5. Adding Content 1-2 weeks
Content (words and pictures) is supplied by you, the client. We have worked on sites where the client has taken up to a year to supply all content however if you have it ready we can add it in within 1-2 weeks, often much less.
If you need help with writing content, we have copy writers to help you make the very best impression on your visitors.
6. Approval and Launch 1-2 weeks
So you have a design, structure and content . . . Sounds a lot like a web site right? At this point it is wise to allow a period for testing the site using trusted colleagues etc. in order to highlight any design issues, inaccuracies in the content and so on.
Once your site is approved and delivered, we request the final 50% balance. In this way not only do you retain a security but also spread the cost of your site.
*Note:
Occasionally we vary the above timescales/payment stages by mutual agreement prior to commencement.
