Starting new side business of web design

First off, are you signing a contract with them? If so, just include as a part of the contract the specific number of revisions you will make to the site. That way, they have to send their revisions for all the pages at once, and they can only do it a few times. When they only have one revision left that they can send, email them and tell them so. That way, they won't be caught by surprise (which can happen, even though it was in the contract), and you'll be done with revisions.

Five is a good number on small brochure sites. But you can make that call on your own.

Oh, and welcome aboard, projectpete!

thanks for the reply, i just get them to sign the quote. Five revisions sounds fair, I will include that on the quote document

great site, wish i found it earlier

We did this for our Webtacular business aimed at smaller companies. To make it viable for us we had to make everything crystal clear because understandbly sole traders and small businesses want maximum VFM!

So, for Webtacular, every single service is broken down and given it's own cost. We produced a simple Wish List where people can tick what they want and then find the collective amount. For our website design service we say we'll do three designs and you pick one. If you want to start putting a load of input in you have to pay for a 'Custom Design Consultation.'

This is the page i'm talking about:

http://www.webtacular.co.uk/web-design/webtacular-services.htm

-Rob

I also have the prices clearly on my site as well. what it costs per page and how much maintenance and updates are.

but once you design a page to the customer specifications and the see it, they always come back with... "oh maybe this will look better if you move it here", or "change this colour .." etc.

what i am asking is when do you say to the customer, if you request any more changes it will have to fall under the maintenance/update fee and is not included in the per page fee any longer?

Well Pete your problem seems to be dealing with the people, you could have a strict contract but if they STILL ask you the same thing, what are you going to do?

You will need to think about how you can say no to people whilst still making them feel valued. I'ts a tricky one, and i can't think of an answer right now!

-Rob

1. design a template structure and ask for approval, put on writing, sign it.
2. starting design , if the website is big, (more than 5 pages), 1-2 progress review with the client is necessary.
3. any changes during progress review is only limited to wording, color, pictures, BUT not the structure, looks and feel of the design. if they want change these, charge them

__________________
James Tan
eco-friendly product and erosion control mat
super premium dog food and pet food supplier

It can be frustrating to have a client keep requesting changes after a web site is done. That is why I allow the client to review the initial design before I put up the entire site. I also give them a week or more to review because they always think of new changes they want after a few days. I develop the basic template and once they have approved that I finish site.

Dustin Cannon
Web Content, Blog Design & Keyword Articles
http://www.justarticles.com