Is this too much for web development costs?

[Arkitech]

First off here's the site that I want. Basically I want something very close to that design, so I emailed the developer and here's his quote. Personally I think its a bit high but then again I'm still pretty green about this kind of stuff.




Dynamic Content ? ColdFusion

News Database: $500
Reviews Database: $500
Online Store: $1000


Dynamic Content ? CGI

Online Forum: $250


Static Content ? HTML/DHTML/Java Scripting

Template Design: $400
Price per page: $50


Please be aware of additional costs such as hosting and security certificates, we can set this up for you if you wish.

 

[Rip the Jacker]

Do It Yourself.

That site doesn't look too sophisticated...

 

[acemcmac]

well, unless you're willing to learn it yourself.... they sortof have the monopoly on you.... coudln't hurt to shop around... right?

 

[ragazzo]

I don't know what's the going rates nowadays, but you should always shop around.

 

[Arkitech]

Originally posted by: acemcmac
well, unless you're willing to learn it yourself.... they sortof have the monopoly on you.... coudln't hurt to shop around... right?

yeah I'm fishing around for different quotes

 

[Arkitech]

Just thought of another question, does that site look professional? In the sense that it would attract potential customers

 

[notfred]

It doesn't look like there's much there. If you were hiring me to do the site, and there's not some big part of the site that I missed, I don't think I'd charge much more than $500 for the whole thing.

Of course, the quote you have includes prices for a news database, a reviews database, and an online store, none of which are on the site you linked to.

 

[ragazzo]

It's clean, but too much white space. That can also turn off customers.

 

[rh71]

those numbers are competitive for a web shop and it does look professional enough. Those are good rates for a CF developer... give or take a couple hundred.

However... don't forget that ColdFusion needs the server software which is pricey in itself... your hosting costs will not be cheap unless you use Readyhosting ($8.25/mo.)... I've shopped around and couldn't find anyone else reputable with CF hosting for less than $19/mo.

Since you aren't going to be maintaining the dynamic web code anyway, see if someone can do it in PHP for you instead of CF (which is a dying breed anyway). You will always have individuals and freelancers who can outbid a web shop because they simply don't have the same overhead... and freelancers always want more projects.

 

[Arkitech]

Originally posted by: ragazzo
It's clean, but too much white space. That can also turn off customers.

the colors I would change but I really like the overall design

 

[Turkish]

Originally posted by: ragazzo
It's clean, but too much white space. That can also turn off customers.

I use 1600x1200 and yes, at this resolution, there's a lot of white space but I dont think that's gonna be a problem at 800x600 or 1024x768, the two dominant resolutions.

 

[Arkitech]

Originally posted by: rh71
those numbers are competitive for a web shop and it does look professional enough.

However... don't forget that ColdFusion needs the server software which is pricey in itself... your hosting costs will not be cheap unless you use Readyhosting ($8.25/mo.)... I've shopped around and couldn't find anyone else reputable with CF hosting for less than $19/mo.

Since you aren't going to be maintaining the dynamic web code anyway, see if someone can do it in PHP for you instead of CF (which is a dying breed anyway).

I prefer php so that I can add any updates to the news and review sections myself. But 2800+ is fairly competitive huh? I'll probably get a few more quotes

 

[Kelemvor]

Friend of mine has her own design shop. Send her an email and she can get you a quote. Very reasonable from what I've heard...

http://www.secondplatform.com

 

[rh71]

Originally posted by: Arkitech

Originally posted by: rh71
those numbers are competitive for a web shop and it does look professional enough.

However... don't forget that ColdFusion needs the server software which is pricey in itself... your hosting costs will not be cheap unless you use Readyhosting ($8.25/mo.)... I've shopped around and couldn't find anyone else reputable with CF hosting for less than $19/mo.

Since you aren't going to be maintaining the dynamic web code anyway, see if someone can do it in PHP for you instead of CF (which is a dying breed anyway).

I prefer php so that I add any updates to the news and review sections myself. But 2800+ is fairly competitive huh? I'll probably get a few more quotes

sorry... I added... for CF developers... it is. PHP is an entirely new undertaking (everybody and their mom knows it).

 

[Arkitech]

Originally posted by: FrankyJunior
Friend of mine has her own design shop. Send her an email and she can get you a quote. Very reasonable from what I've heard...

http://www.secondplatform.com

Thanks, I sent her an email

 

[Injury]

DO NOT pay to have a forum designed. That can be done for free, easily.

 

[nakedfrog]

If it's all fresh code written specifically for your site, that seems about right. However, I have a feeling they'll be recycling some code, so it may be a bit high (particularly the online store).

 

[Arkitech]

Originally posted by: Injury
DO NOT pay to have a forum designed. That can be done for free, easily.

What about retrofitting the forum to resemble the rest of the site? In fact anyone know what type of forum is used for this site?

 

[DeviousTrap]

Originally posted by: Injury
DO NOT pay to have a forum designed. That can be done for free, easily.

Installing a forum is easy, but its not that easy to customize to match the site unless you are proficiant with php.

 

[jjones]

Originally posted by: rh71
those numbers are competitive for a web shop and it does look professional enough. Those are good rates for a CF developer... give or take a couple hundred.

However... don't forget that ColdFusion needs the server software which is pricey in itself... your hosting costs will not be cheap unless you use Readyhosting ($8.25/mo.)... I've shopped around and couldn't find anyone else reputable with CF hosting for less than $19/mo.

Since you aren't going to be maintaining the dynamic web code anyway, see if someone can do it in PHP for you instead of CF (which is a dying breed anyway). You will always have individuals and freelancers who can outbid a web shop because they simply don't have the same overhead... and freelancers always want more projects.

I agree. Find a freelancer. That's a bit of money and although it is not too pricey, it can still be done quite a bit cheaper by someone freelancing using PHP. I especially think the news and reviews database costs are a bit high, and the forums you can do yourself.

 

[jjones]

Originally posted by: DeviousTrap

Originally posted by: Injury
DO NOT pay to have a forum designed. That can be done for free, easily.

Installing a forum is easy, but its not that easy to customize to match the site unless you are proficiant with php.

That's true, but even so, you could hand off customization to a freelancer for much less than the quoted price when it's combined with the other work.

 

[Modeps]

I find it amusing that they're using Coldfusion for the "databases" but CGI for the forums...