A customer asked a web developer friend of mine how much it would cost to do a particular design project.
My friend gave him a proposal: R12,000
The customer responded: That’s seems really high.
My friend asked: What do you think is a reasonable price for this job?
The customer answered: R4,500 maximum
My friend responded: Ok, then I invite you to do it yourself.
The customer answered: I don’t know how to.
My friend responded: Alright, then how about for R5,000, I’ll teach you how to. So besides saving you R7,000, you’ll get to learn valuable skills that will benefit you in the future.
The customer answered: Sounds good! Let’s do it!
My friend responded: Great! To get started, you are going to need some tools. You will need a powerful computer capable of running advanced programs, high-speed internet, stock imagery licenses, yearly software and WordPress theme subscriptions, paid plugins, hosting, a domain, etc…
The customer answered: But I don’t have any of those and I can’t justify buying all of these for one job.
My friend responded: Ok. Well then for an additional R3000 I can let you use my software and computer for this project.
The customer answered: Okay. That’s fair.
My friend responded: Great! We will start the project on Monday.
The customer answered: I work Monday through to Friday. I’m only available on the weekends.
My friend responded: If you want to learn from me then you will need to work when I work. This project will take 5 days so you will need to take 5 days off work.
The customer answered: That means I’m going to have to sacrifice my pay for 5 days, or use my vacation time!
My friend responded: That’s true. Remember, when you do a job yourself you need to account for unproductive factors.
The customer answered: What do you mean by that?
My friend responded: Doing a job completely from start to finish includes time spent to plan the project, liaising with various web and graphic designers, travel time, fuel, set up time, design time, as well as stress and compatibility testing amongst other things. That’s all in addition to the actual project itself. And speaking of time, I need you to meet me at my offices at 7am.
The customer answered: At 7am?!! My work day doesn’t usually start until 8am!
My friend responded: Well then you’re in luck! My plan is to start on the website build by 8am. But to do so we have to start at 7am to plan everything out, and decide on how we’re going to bring the project to life.
The customer answered: You know, I’m realizing that a lot more goes in to a job than what a customer sees in the finished project. Your proposal of R12,000 is very reasonable. I would like you to handle the project.
CONCLUSION:
When you pay for a job, especially a custom job, (whether it’s a physical project or digital project) you pay not only for the material and the work to be completed. You also pay for:
✔️ Knowledge
✔️ Experience
✔️ Custom Skills
✔️ Tools
✔️ Time to plan
✔️ Time to prepare
✔️ Professionalism
✔️ Work Ethic
✔️ Excellence
✔️ Discipline
✔️ Commitment
✔️ Integrity
✔️ Taxes
✔️ Licenses
✔️ Sacrifices
✔️ Liabilities
✔️ Insurance
If you request a proposal for custom work to be done, please don’t disrespect a service provider by trying to get them to lower their prices.
If their proposal exceeds your budget, there’s nothing wrong with getting other proposals.
Just remember… you get what you pay for.
SERVICE PROVIDERS: Know your worth and be confident in it.
CONSUMERS: Recognise their worth and be respectful of it.
“If it takes me 30 minutes to do a job, its because its taken me 30 years to learn how to do it in 30 minutes. Pay me for the 30 years, not the 30 minutes.”
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