How much should I charge for freelance web design
I just started doing freelance web design on the side. I built a website for a friend's bakery and he offered to pay me $200. I spent about 20 hours on it. That's $10/hour which feels insane. But I don't want to overcharge and scare people away. What should I charge?
1 Answer(s)
$10/hour is a joke and you're right to feel weird about it. Here's how to price yourself going forward.
For a basic 5-page business website, charge $1,500-$3,000. That's the market rate for someone with even a little experience. If you're using templates (which is fine for starting out), charge $800-$1,500. If you're coding from scratch, charge $3,000-$5,000+.
Your friend paid $200 because he's your friend. That's fine for your first project as a favor, but never do it again. The problem with undercharging isn't just the money — it's that cheap clients are always the most demanding. They'll ask for 47 revisions and act like $200 bought them your soul.
Here's my advice: create 3 packages. Basic ($1,000), Standard ($2,000), Premium ($3,500). Most people pick the middle one. Always get 50% upfront. And never negotiate against yourself — when they push back, hold firm.
Also, stop charging by the hour. Value-based pricing (charging by the value to the client) always wins. A $2,000 website that helps the client make $10,000 is a bargain for them and fair pay for you.