“Yes but, how much will it cost?”
Though working to improve designs and websites can be exciting, most of us would admit that dealing with budgets, proposals, and invoices is not very fun.
In fact, a recent experience responding to a client RFP reinforced just how tricky it can be. Essentially, we had two internal teams that could complete complex work for a client. We wanted to give each team a fair shot — but they had materially different approaches to the proposal/RFP process.
It always comes down to, “What’s better for the client?” I believe if we think in terms of what will serve client needs best, then we are better positioned to deliver higher quality work.
Setting a realistic budget from the start will help your project run more smoothly.
We’re a tight-knit team based in Brooklyn. Spark Creative doesn’t have the kind of overhead larger agencies might. That’s enabled us to work with a wide range of clients and budgets. Where there’s bandwidth in the schedule, there’s a way. We’ll happily help find an arrangement that works for almost anyone.
“Setting a realistic budget starts with having an idea of what you want the site to do, so let’s start there.” —Forbes
Generally, we’ll begin estimating with a day-rate for higher-level technical services like development and design. Strategy, research, copywriting, and production may run at a lower rate. Based on the kinds of deliverables you need, we can provide a project estimate with options that cover everything, so there are no budget surprises.
Lately, both clients and our team have found a lot to like about light quarterly arrangements that can be renewed as needed. We act as a supplemental part of your in-house team that focuses on stated deliverables in the proposal, but also stands ready to react to new initiatives that get dropped on you unexpectedly. (Yes, we know how meetings are in the corporate world!)
It frees us all up from meticulously counting hours or scoping smaller items. We’re basically an extended part of your team, on a mission. And because we typically don’t get bogged down in meetings, we can turn things around quite quickly.
All that said, both teams usually require a proposal that includes scope of work, list of deliverables, approach, production schedule and budget numbers. We understand that first draft can be revised upon review, but we’ve become quite good providing structure and language that will ease your approvals process.
“By using initial proposals to set a budget for your site project, you prevent unpleasant surprises down the line.” —Forbes
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Sources may include:
How To Set A Budget For Your New Website, Brad Shorr, Forbes