Forums: Discussions for entrepreneurs and small business.

If you, as a budding startup, were looking at a web design company ... how far out would you hire this person?

(Am I even saying this right?)

For example, if you called a web dev firm and they said "we could start your project on April 2nd" and today is March 8th ... is that acceptable? What kind of delays are typical in the startup process when you are getting everything (your plans, materials, website, pitches, whatever) together? What kind of response is expected?

I found a doctor that was skilled in diagnosing a particularly annoying case of chronic fatigue. Scheduling an appointment, I was told I could get in to see her in 5 months.

I guess it`d depend on how critical is the Web site, what would be the consequences to me if it weren`t done by some time, and how valuable I perceive the design company to be.

The more interesting problem would be how I would have concluded that you`re the best and only designer I want to work with? Would that come from a mock-up of the site, done before the "serious" work and implementation would take place?

Off the top of my head, I`d think 3 months wouldn`t be that much time to wait for the first day of actual design to take place. In the interim, I know I`d have lots of stuff I`d have to get organized.

For example, the designer (you) could say that although you would start coding in 3 or 4 months, Step 1 would be to fill out a questionnaire something like that "web site plan" discussed on another thread. Step 2 would be to prepare an outline of the business needs. Step 3 would be to generate some amount of original content.

Those three steps alone would take time. Plus, they would be from me, to you, meaning they wouldn`t take much of your time. If you were to have a phone meeting lasting maybe half an hour, once a week, to let me know that I`m not dropping off the radar screen, I think it`d be pretty satisfactory.

Thanks Craig!

At first glance I think that the time frame given in your example is pretty reasonable. 

It says to me that the designers services are "in-demand" and that they aren`t sitting around. 

For me, just under 30 days isn`t bad at all, but it would depend on the customers priority for their website.

Than again, due to staff shortages here in Alberta, there is a waiting list for everything!! Maybe I`m just used to waiting.

Well Nikole - I wouldnt mind as I have so many other things that I am working on at the same time. The most important things to me are:

•  to find a capable website designer that is up to date with the latest trends  and has different price plans for different packages
  
• gives me information relating to the website (that I wouldnt even know to ask about) sometimes people only answer your questions and important information can be missed this way
  
• someone that is easy to work with
  
• honest
  
• fair price for both parties
• someone that I still locate later on if I have problems

Is this asking too much from a website designer?
 
I know that I put in more feedback than requested but I feel kind of wordy this morning   Hope it helps a bit.....

No, that`s not too much to ask at all.