Quote to build website - don't know if it's reasonable

peanutpie05

I was hoping someone on here might be able to help me ... I'm a bit out of my depth.

I am launching a new business and it will be 100% internet based. I have looked into getting a professional website design and marketing company to build my site for me. I know everything I need to know about my business .. but I'm lost when it comes to technical stuff.

This company are going to build a comprehensive site with all the whistles and bells in place should we want to use them. The proposal I have been given includes full customisation of a template including: account / stock control & alerts / order tracking / built in report generating engine / submission to all major search engines & lots lots more (too much to write here)

I am being quoted £2250.00 plus vat for the site itself and a further £50 per month for hosting (website database & multiple emails).

I'd love to get someone to view the proposal but I don't know anyone that would have a clue about this.

Would be very grateful of any opinions. Please feel free to ask questions too:o

Yours - completely lost

BeerBelly

£50 a month for hosting and mail seems very expensive - does that include maintenance?

You can get a domain name and reasonable hosting for as little as 25 quid a year!!

Have you got a preview or screen dump of the webpage? What volumes of data would you be using?

peanutpie05

BeerBelly wrote: »

£50 a month for hosting and mail seems very expensive - does that include maintenance?

You can get a domain name and reasonable hosting for as little as 25 quid a year!!

Have you got a preview or screen dump of the webpage? What volumes of data would you be using?

Thanks so much for your reply ... I'm gald you said that about the hosting ... I thought it was very steep too (I was thinking it would be nearer £100 per year).

I've given the designer pages showing my hopes for the design/layout of the site - but he wont start actually designing it until we have another meeting to discuss specific design requirements .. basicall the look and feel of the pages.

I forgot to mention - the quote includes everything we need to self manage the site on a web based system (change content / add and remove pages).

Volumes of data ... :eek: I'm sorry - I don't really know what you mean:o

seaweasel

Quote seems fine but it basically depends on what you can afford and what value you put on the work. I get the impression that your site has a CMS so you can update it yourself, since there's a stock control system etc then I'd expect this is this case. Hosting does seem very expensive though. How much bandwidth do you expect to be using?

peanutpie05

seaweasel wrote: »

Quote seems fine but it basically depends on what you can afford and what value you put on the work. I get the impression that your site has a CMS so you can update it yourself, since there's a stock control system etc then I'd expect this is this case. Hosting does seem very expensive though. How much bandwidth do you expect to be using?

Hi there, thanks for your reply & question.

Bandwidth .. eek ... stuck again (I'll look on the proposal). Doesn't say

It does say the hosting is optional though ... maybe I should look elsewhere.

Can anyone recommend a good quality and reliable hosting company?

seaweasel

Shop around for some quotes, I'd recommend http://www.penguin-uk.com though. Remember if you need more bandwidth or disk space then you'll be able to get more fairly easily.

Check what technology your site is going to built on too, it will probably be either PHP or ASP. PHP will be fine for pretty much any hosting company, if it's ASP then you'll need hosting on a Microsoft server.

BeerBelly

FastHosts have always been good support and very competitive prices.

I also use GeekHosting which gives you a great array of tools on the admin console - loads of plug ins and goodies as well.

I would prob stick with FastHosts.

Ask if the cost you have been quoted includes purchasing the domain name and setting up hosting because you can do this very easily and cheaply yourself! Get a full breakdown infact so you can see where they are bumping up the price.

i.e they may be adding on more money for purchasing domain name when it is very cheap and easy to do.

Have a look on ukreg.com for names (mine cost 2.95 per year for .co.uk!!)

Also there are alot of online services based in the states and India where you get a designated designer and x amount of hours for a fraction of the price! All depends on Time, money and how confortable you are with some bits.

Good luck on your journey

peanutpie05

Thanks beerbelly and seaweasel ... you've been really helpful:)

I can answer some of the questions this time :j ... the site will be built on PHP and MySQL.

Also - I have already purchase my domains (thanks to some helpful MSE'rs over the weekend). I went with 123-reg ... all seems okay.

I'll look into the hosting companies you both mentioned ... thanks for that.

PP05

dps_2

peanutpie05 wrote: »

I am launching a new business and it will be 100% internet based. I have looked into getting a professional website design and marketing company to build my site for me. I know everything I need to know about my business .. but I'm lost when it comes to technical stuff.

account / stock control & alerts / order tracking / built in report generating engine / submission to all major search engines & lots lots more (too much to write here)

all i will say is this, find out how much bandwidth you may require once you know this you can buy your own hosting package and domain name, if your selling goods online you may want to give http://www.oscommerce.com/ a try for online catalogue stuff, well just have a look at the site.

so i would cut the cost by having the site designed by a pro then ask them to insert oscommerce but you get to have access to oscommerce for tweaking or catalog work also dont forget to make sure you also get smtp as their isnt much worse than sending and email from a private address thats meant to be for work, also any graphics can be borrowed off the net but get site owners permission if its a personal design, anyway best of luck with the site and business