[CityCM]

We have a client that has approached us to develop an online store for them. They want an exact copy (in terms of functionality) of http://www.workwearexpress.com. Each product has around 30 options (colours and sizes) then the ability to upload a logo and choose where the logo will be placed.

The client also wants us to input aroudn 2000 products, each with size and colour options.

As a rough ballpark figure, what would you charge?

[hodephdesign]

I think it depends on how long you think it will take you and how much experience you have with the necessary functions (database interaction etc). Also whether or not you're using off-the-shelf plug-ins or custom building everything.

We'd charge at least £1000-1500 for a site like this.

[Renaissance-Design]

£50,000.

F*** that, frankly. The client has two responsibilities: briefing you adequately and paying the bill. Don't let them duck out of their responsibility by saying "we want an exact copy of this site that we're familiar with but you're not".

The only way you can give an accurate quote is if they pull their weight and brief you properly. As it stands, you have better things to do with your time than go over an existing site you don't have admin access to with a fine tooth comb trying to write down every detail of implementation your client might or might not have noticed, then worry about which ones are important.

[nublue]

CityCM, on 07 February 2012 - 10:21 AM, said:

As a rough ballpark figure, what would you charge?

Difficult to say wiothout knowing the EXACT details. 2000 products may take a day to import if they already have it all in CSV with the correct information (images, categories, options etc..) or it may take weeks, if they need it all extracting from various locations.

I agree with previous posts, that for something like this you need a detailed brief. If the client can't supply that then maybe quote some intial consultancy to help them get to the stage where they are ready to commission a company to do this.

[Bomb]

nublue, on 07 February 2012 - 12:31 PM, said:

2000 products may take a day to import if they already have it all in CSV with the correct information (images, categories, options etc..) or it may take weeks, if they need it all extracting from various locations.

This is something you definitely need to consider when quoting.

[rallport]

2000 products!!

Do they have these in a digital format, what work will you need to complete in order to import them? Images, images format, image sizes, some platforms even require several different physical images per product. Categories, depending on your platform, how these are stored, vary a lot.

That could run into a fair bit of work alone.

As for clients saying I want a clone of site xxxxxxxx.com - they do this on purpose with a lot of thought. Gte them to send over specific pieces of functionality they want.

[MMMedia]

Some excellent questions above, scope the work out in full detail and get it agreed before starting work.

The biggest ball breaker here is the product upload, whichever software you use be it free or paid make sure you familiarise yourself with the product management process.

Make sure you get an agreement in the scope of work with the client that they provide all products details, with images in the appropriate format. This will save your days of pain!

We recently had a job where we had to 'make up' half the product data from Googling because the client simply didn't have the information, it took over a week in total and had the awkward position of trying to charge it retrospectively because we didn't make it absolutely 100% crystal clear from the offset - our fault because we're the experts.

For that website, the number of products and depending on the level of functionality we'd charge a ball park figure starting at £3,000 + product base.

Depending on the size of the client we typically incorporate the first 100 or so products in to the price and then charge per 100, 200, 500 block thereafter.