There has never been a more convenient time to start a website than today. That’s because the cost and resources of building, maintaining, and hosting a site are widely and affordably available to anyone on the internet. So if you want someone to build a website for you, one of the first things that you should consider is the cost of hiring a web developer.
How much does it cost to hire someone to build a website? Hiring a website developer typically costs between $75 and $9,000 or more. The fee range is wide because web developers can be paid on an hourly rate or a flat rate, depending on their job experience. To illustrate, newbie web developers may only demand a $75 hourly fee or a $300 flat rate for creating your website. In comparison, experienced web developers and designers can charge as high as $300 per hour or $15,000 project fee.
All of this information may be a lot to take in for anyone who is still starting their blog sites or online stores. But don’t fret. In the rest of the article, we will offer a deep dive into everything you need to know before selecting a web developer who can help build your website.
What Do Web Developers Do?
Web developers create and write code for websites or web applications. They are responsible both for a site’s technical structure and visual design. Some organizations or freelance web developers may choose to focus on back-end or front-end web development aspects when building sites. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, a web developer’s estimated yearly median wage is $73,760.
That’s why when you pick a web developer, you must narrow down what specific type of web developer you need for your site.
How to Choose a Web Developer for Your Site
A major advantage of hiring a web developer is you get to free up the time and effort for website building and put this energy into something more productive (like choosing the best business domain name, creating content, or coming up with a marketing plan). But how do you choose a good web developer?
1. Set Your Business Goals and Objectives
An essential first step when choosing a website developer is knowing what your business goals and objectives are. When you are clear of what specific business direction you want, select a web developer who deeply understands this too.
2. Be Clear on What Kind of Website You Need
Next, determine what kind of website you want. Do you want a unique blog site design, an eCommerce store, a membership website, or a combination of all of them?
By being clear of the type of site you need to host the type content (articles, photos, videos, etc.) you intend to publish, you will know what specific past projects and relevant experiences to look for when perusing your prospects’ resumes.
3. Set a Budget
As a website owner, you most likely only have a predetermined amount to spend on web development. Just remember to set a budget according to the pay range we’ve mentioned earlier. Note that the cost of hiring a web developer will increase the more complicated, more work-intensive, and more value-rich the end-product will be.
Also, be prepared to exceed your budget if you want a quick turnaround time or if you know you are paying for topnotch work.
4. Determine Your Payment Method
After setting a budget, it’s time to decide on how you want your selected web developer. You may opt for a monthly fee, a flat rate, or an hourly rate. If you prefer a single payment method, let any prospect know this beforehand.
When you set a payment method first, you can easily narrow down the web developers who can work with you. Nevertheless, be prepared to switch to a different payment method if your preferred web developer is more comfortable with another payment scheme.
5. Evaluate the Prospects Holistically
Whether you get your web developer prospects through a newspaper job ad or by going to an online job marketplace like Fiverr or Upwork, take the time to review each prospect’s resume and portfolio.
Look for past projects that match or closely resemble the website you need. Review past client feedback or ask around for referrals from your network, if possible. The time you put into this step will pay off later on in the website development process.
What Is Better When Hiring Web Developers: Paying an Hourly Rate, a Flat Rate, or a Monthly Rate?
There is no one best payment approach to follow when hiring web developers. It all depends on your project and specific business needs. Listed below are different scenarios that would help you choose a specific payment method. Just remember, you can combine a payment scheme with another payment method as you wish.
Pay an Hourly Rate If:
- You want your website done within the hour you specify and pay only for the hour spent on it.
- You want a clear calculation of the amount you need to pay your web developer.
- You want to use a time tracker to track time spent working on your site.
- You want to monitor everything that your web developer is doing and provide feedback accordingly.
Pay a Flat Rate If:
- You and your developer are on the same page on what the result should be and how much value this gives you.
- You want to leave your web developer alone to do his/her job properly.
- You have worked with the web developer before and already have an idea of his/her work.
- You want to work with a web developer who has a simple and efficient rate scheme.
Pay a Monthly Rate If:
- You want to save money by spreading out your payments while making sure that someone monitors your website over some time.
- You want your web developer to be contractually available for support even after the website is built.
- You want your web developer to monitor or update your website regularly.
Where Do You Find a Website Developer?
Just like any other job, you can easily find website developers through newspaper job ads. But in the digital age, website developers are available through two main ways:
1. Through Online Job Marketplaces
Online job marketplaces are platforms where anyone who wants to hire talent can post job advertisements. Some platforms are free, while other platforms charge a small fee. Today, most freelancers and side hustlers look for jobs on sites like Upwork, Fiverr, Freelancer.com, Craigslist, Indeed, 99Designs, and many more.
If you want to hire a freelancer to build a personal or business website and pay a reasonable flat or hourly rate, these online marketplaces are the best sites to check.
2. Through Design Agencies
Another option when it comes to hiring a website developer is through a design agency. They tend to have a better reputation since they have a whole team and resources supporting them.
Choose this mode of finding a website developer if you want a dedicated group of people in charge of building your website. Web development agencies also often offer website builder packages that include web development, web design, and sometimes, content marketing services.
Yes, finding and hiring someone to create a website for you is that easy. Follow the steps and tips outlined above, and you will soon see our website online. And if you haven’t set up your domain yet, start by choosing a good domain name using our free online name generation tool.
Related Questions
What Is the Difference Between a Website Designer and Web Developer?
A website developer is someone who can write code, plan a site’s structure and layout, create content, and even monitor traffic to the site. A website development role encompasses multiple things.
On the other hand, a website designer focuses on one aspect of a web developer’s role. A web designer mainly plans and creates the visual structure or layout of a website. He or she focuses on user experience based on the site’s look and feel.
What Are the Different Types of Web Developers?
Web development jobs are categorized between these three types: Front-end developers, Back-end developers, and webmasters. Front-end web developers specialize in a website’s look and feel. They usually code in HTML, CSS, and Javascript.
Back-end web developers focus on a site’s structure and how other coders or webmasters can use the site. They write code in various computing languages like Javascript, C+, PHP, to name a few. Lastly, webmasters are responsible for running a website on a day-to-day basis. They are well-versed in updating the site, checking backlinks, and maintaining the community around the website.
Sources:
https://www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technology/web-developers.htm