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Employ A Web Designer Or A Web Design Company

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Flatmate

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May 9, 2007
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I am just about putting the finishing touches to my whole business plan and now need to put it in to action, i have one initial discision to make, do i employ a fulltime web designer or get a web design company to design my site

My website is going to be abit like Right Move.com in a way

so when designing the site , it will need a membership system, payment system, picture upload, great site etc

I'm hoping for a successfull start with a lot of hard work and hours put in

If anyone could give me some advice on whats best with creating this kind of site which avenue is best to take

if there was going to be alot of tweaking and changing i thought it might just be better biting the bullet and hiring a web designer as a member of staff

What would also be helpful would be a gestimate quote of what a website of this size would realisticly cost if a web company designed it

And i suppose if i employed a member of staff that would cost around £25k a year?

Thanks for any comment

This would really help me out
 
Employing someone has the issues of holiday pay, sick pay, cover for when they're off, pensions legislation, and the oh so very important not to underestimate costs of keeping paperwork, contracts terms etc all up to day. Plus you'll need a good employment contract as you don't want them leaving after 6 months and setting them up in competition.

And then, what if they can't do the job.

It is probable that in a year or so you'll be developing the site in ways that now you don't anticipate, if you have someone that's only good at php or .net, then you'll be contracting out the otherself, or restricting your websites development to what you developer can handle.

If you don't get on with an agency, you terminate the contract and find someone else. Prob initially more expensive, but long term.......maybe a different kettle of fish.
 
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bargaingaz said:
do i employ a fulltime web designer or get a web design company to design my site... My website is going to be abit like Right Move.com in a way
Click to expand...
RightMove is an extremely complex site, to re-create something similar you will need far more than just web design skills, a more comprehensive list of technical skills would include:

database design and development skills
web server-side software design and development skills
web browser-side software design and development skills
graphic design skills
web design skills
ecommerce integration skills
external site integration skills
SEO skills
etc

A person or a company with just web design skills would only be able to create a static visual mockup of the site at most, which would merely be the tip of the iceberg, not a fully working complex dynamic database driven final system. So whoever you get in, check you have all skill areas and all areas of experience covered.
 
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Gaz - We are just putting the finishing touches to a system aimed at property management companies. It allows for easy adding/ updating of properties and is totally unique in it's approach.
PM me for more details.
 
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If your site is anything more than just static pages that do nothing then you'll need more than a web designer. A modern site is more computer programme than magazine so you'll need someone build that for you. There are out-of-the-box solutions and they'll get you up and running but in my experience they never do everything you want and, at best, you'll have a site that's the same as all the other people using that system. When it comes to client focused IT such as a website it's probably better to aim to be ahead of the field rather than hope to be level with it. I think you'll be surprised at just how much more out-of-the-box solutions cost than their out of the box price and also what you can get these days by getting someone to build a site for you, especially now Ruby on Rails has hit these shores.
 
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The developer would certainly need to beable to build in PHP or .net

I'd be more than happy to let you have a chat with one of our programmers for some free advice without any expectation to use us for anything.

PM me if you like.
 
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I would suggest that whoever builds the site should make it as self managing as possible, with only major changes requiring the skills of a web developer.

Sites should be pretty much self sufficient nowadays.
If you have to pay someone to make minor changes then the site has not been developed in the correct manner
 
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I am pondering the same thing... I am in the same stage of my plan.
I think the easiest thing for you is to have someone design and maintain the website because you will be to busy to deal with technical problems once the business is in full swing.
 
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Thanks for all your advise

So do you think it would be more worthwhile me using a web company with multi skills rather than employing one web designer

if anyone has an idea on how much something like this would cost this would be much appreciated

Any other advise would be great and any features or software i might need

Thanks again
 
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webpagemaintenance.com they have everything ready for you plus you will find rates under their services tab
 
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The problem is that it can be hard to get impartial advice. Web development is very balkanized, there are quite a few technologies available and everyone that's invested time in learning one particular technology or other is convinced theirs is best.

It also depends on the nature of our business. If your selling something to consumers then you can buy 'out-of-the-box' e-commerce solutions or have one built from scratch. In my opinion the bespoke route is better. Bespoke e-commerce solutions generally aren't as expensive as you'd imagine (especially when they're built using Ruby on Rails) and you get something that's professionaly designed, tailored for your business that will add value and grow with your business. Out of the box may seem cheap but I believe you'll get a lowest common denominator solution that may not do everything you need and building it yourself can become a long and painful tooth-pulling exercise that you're never happy with. If your business starts to grow then an out-of-the-box solution may quickly start to hold it back.

If you're providing a service then a Content Management System such as Drupal will do. These are free and easy to set-up but again, unless you're an expert on design and content writing, building the site yourself may take up a lot of time and not get the kind of results that will attract custom.

The problem of having a website for an SME is a bit chicken-or-egg. On the one hand, it is good to have your site built by people who understand the web and can get you what you want quickly but on the other, it's good to be involved with the website because ultimately it will be your business. We're planning on running workshops to help people build their own sites but under professional guidance but it's early stages yet.

We develop websites, rapid apps group along with a branding company Scamper. We focus on business & technology need and let Scamper handle the identity & other visual elements as we find that separation of aesthetic and business needs works best for clients. You'd be very welcome to contact us about your plans. We're always happy to help people, even if it doesn't lead directly to business for us.

I'd also urge you to look around, the more opinions you get, the greater chance you'll get what you want. Bear in mind that if you have ambition for your business, the web is likely to play a substantial role in that so you should be comfortable with whoever builds your site as it's likely your relationship with them will be ongoing as you expand.

Best of luck.
 
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You can even bet online for companies, be careful, but you could save a good amount of money.

This a very popular services:

  1. Getacoder.com
  2. Getafreelancer.com
Again be careful how you select your provider but you can find very good people in there.
 
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bargaingaz said:
My website is going to be abit like Right Move.com in a way
Click to expand...
bargaingaz said:
if anyone has an idea on how much something like this would cost this would be much appreciated
Click to expand...
How much do you think rightmove paid for their website? I don't know whether they did it in-house or got an external solution provider to create it (EDIT: just found out it is was an external company), but considering its complexity and the fact that rightmove spent an initial million on prime-time, celebrity endorsed (Ian Wright) TV advertising, and magazine advertising too, I would take an educated guess that they used a team of experienced developers and that initial development costs ran into 5 or 6 figures back in 2000-2002, moving up to 7 figures now (to include the work they've added over the years to get it into its current state).
 
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Hello!

My personal opinion is to hire a web design agency, because you could have problems with hiring someone who can do all that you want by them selves. In the future you might want to expand the site or develop it in some way and if the person you hired is not able to do this it will become and awaked situation. You also have to weigh up the cost's of hiring someone, paying for holidays and sickness, what happens to your site if they are off sick for 3months!

By using a web agency you will benefit in having a team of industry trained people working on your site that will be able to maintain and develop as you need to. This will be a lot cheaper than hiring a member of staff to do it. You might be able to get funding, so you would get up to 50% of the cost back!

a bit about us...

Be it professional web design, e-commerce systems, content management systems or flash animations FlexyWeb will showcase your business in the best possible light.

“logic will get you from A to B. imagination will take you everywhere” We’ve made new media our business. Creative thinking grounded by experience of knowing what works best means the web solution we deliver suits you, not us!

One thing we all agree on is that you don’t settle for second best. Flexyweb takes your business as seriously as its own. We take your ideas and add a few of our own to deliver a site you will be delighted with.

We are passionate about design but that’s not the only thing we are good at. Our team is made up of different skills and expertise with the business knowledge and experience that will set your website apart from your competitors.

Size doesn’t matter. We’ve worked with companies of all shapes and sizes. So whether your marketing mix is complex or simple we will tailor our capabilities to your needs. Fuss free.

From concept through to completion we are with you every step of the way. But is doesn’t end there we like to think that when you ask us for help we become a virtual and integral part of your company for many years to come.
 
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As has already been said, the complexity of RightMove is massive and I very much doubt that you will want to be aiming at that level from the outset.

Developing a complex site requires a wide range of skills and even if you are looking at half the complexity of Right Move you are not looking at hiring a single person but a range of specialists.

It does instinctively feel that you are really looking at using externals to develop the initial site and make any significant alterations though you may be able to reduce costs by having a designer/ developer in house to make minor tweaks around the edges/ create advertisment banners etc.
 
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Hi

I could thouroughly recommend Digital Paint in Northampton. They have supplied me with two sites already and i have recommnded them to several business associates who have gone on to use them very successfully.

Contact Wayde on 0845 1200 278 and mention Russ at TOPS. He will give you an honest appraisal of your idea.

www digitalpaint.co.uk

Good luck

Russ
 
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awebapart.com said:
How much do you think rightmove paid for their website?
Click to expand...

And how much do you think they spend on advertising? How are you going to compete against a business that spends $1 million on just one advert? What is your USP? Have you written a detailed specification and some proper market research to determine if your site offers something different that people would be willing to use?

You're specification aside you quite obviously need a custom built, scaleable solution. You could go with either a web design company, agency or even a freelance designer.

If you're talking of budgets, its impossible to say without having a strict specification... you could be talking £5k-£10k or you could be talking £50k-£100k, i suppose it depends on your budget and how much you want to spend.
 
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Hi all, if anyone here needs impartial advice on this topic, please get in touch.

I don't receive commission from web developers and help you understand what you need before you invest your hard earned money.

I've not been a consultant for long, however, so far I have saved my clients time and money - and helped them balance what they need and what they want.

If you would like a referral, please let me know.

Bargaingaz and Paraskevi, please get in touch and we'll see what I can do for you. I give UKBiz members a preferred rate.

Darren
 
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Hi Gaz

I am an owner of an online business and so have a more impartial view of things..

My view is to always use a web agency, doesnt have to be a big expensive one. Whoever they are, they will naturally have more combined experience than a freelance web designer..

Dont forget you dont just need a website designed, you need it built, you need a database, a management application, possible payment handling, domain(s), server maintainence (even if shared), and thats before you even start thinking about marketing the site ie SEO etc etc.

If you are serious about your business, recognise the skills you have and those that you dont. If you try to design a site yourself it will show, if you employ someone who can only do one bit, it could end up costing you more in the long run..

But as someone has already said, they should be able to design it so that you can do the updating etc.

I would also refer you back to another previous poster, you are about to enter one of the most competitive and difficult markets.. I believe that a key skill of an business person is to understand the market and understand its challenges..and if necessary recognise that its too big a challenge for a small business.. I believe your market is one of those, but of course, I wish you luck.

Cheers
 
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If you are interested in outsourcing this project at a reasonable cost please get in touch. We have a large team with lots of different skills which it sounds like you need. I think you'll be surprised at the low cost involved in comparison with employing someone and you will have access to a team with a multitude of skills.

Google 247 Top Seller and drop us an email or give us a call on 020 7016 7774
 
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I would say it depends, most web agencies are geared to corporations.

I initially worked in one just to get a load of Blue Chips on the resume, and it varies, there were some people I didn't want anywhere near my projects, and others who were very good. The inhouse top end did tend to outperform the contractors, but at the bottom the contractors were better. And the best there was a contractor at one point.

So, it is a mix, I would say if you are serious you need at least a designer and a developer. Some developers will design, but it is rare to get great design from a developer.

One book to read though is the Mythical Man Month, small elite teams will always out perform large teams, and one really good guy can easily out perform a large team, the problem is communication it goes up exponentially with larger teams. And there is also the problem of the convoy going at the speed of the slowest boat.

It does tend to be cheaper to work with a smaller outfit, less overheads and less just 'bums on seats' that need to be paid. But, if you want to be pampered and have your expectations managed, and be able to talk to someone whenever you like, then an agency is it. If you do go the agency route get as close to the developer as you can, and they may jump ship or help out later that's the way of it.
---

Edit - hold on someone is thread necrormancing :)
 
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I would have opted for a web agency as they will have people with different skill sets which are required for a project
 
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My small company is able to offer a whole gamut of services that a larger agency would, but as we keep our overheads low (less bums on seats and no fancy offices) we can offer really good value for money. As mentioned in previous posts, in a larger agency you can have some really skilled people and some not so skilled - but they all have to be paid for at the end of the day!

Something else to consider is the personal touch. Dealing with a large agency might end up with you feeling like just another client, but a small agency (like mine (of course!)) will give you a much more personal touch - and doesn't just work 9-5. We tend to go 'above and beyond' on most projects simply because we want to do a good job and keep our clients happy - because generally that means the client will keep coming back and will also tell their friends how good we are! :)
 
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bargaingaz said:
I am just about putting the finishing touches to my whole business plan and now need to put it in to action, i have one initial discision to make, do i employ a fulltime web designer or get a web design company to design my site

And i suppose if i employed a member of staff that would cost around £25k a year?
Click to expand...

Hi, well done on getting your business this far! I would agree with most of the others, emplying someone in-house is very risky. You dont know what you will get, and anybody worth their salt will want more than 25k or a career path which you cannot offer.

You are best going with a small design agency with which you can trust and create an ongoing relationship. If the code is well written and you spend enough on ensuring that you dont go for the cheapest quote then you can be sure that it woudl be easy to move agencies if you wish.

You will have to checo your contracts to ensure that you own the code. You woudl have to consider how the site is update, ideally you woudl have an admin area where you could control users and data etc. Even if you personally were not going to use the admin section it will keep future cost down and make the site more appealling if you wanted to sell.

I am surprised a little that you say that you are nearly completed your business plan but have not yet foudn out the cost?

To get final costs you would need to write down all the functionality that you would need. If a client came to us with this type of plan then we then chareg a days work to re-write the plan and a formal specification. We highlight in the doc all the functaionlity (and costs) that are core, and those that are nice to haves. You then get a full breakdown of the lot. You can then choose the bits you want or take the full specification to another team. Either way the specification is the most important document and nobody can quote until they have seen it. Some conpanies might offer teh spec for free, but they are likely to charge more because they give away days of work for free !
 
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I think it's better to have a web developer. Beacuse website is so important nowadays. If you have a web developer, then there will be no problem with your website. Free of Headaches.

Mac
 
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Macaodha2009 said:
I think it's better to have a web developer. Beacuse website is so important nowadays. If you have a web developer, then there will be no problem with your website. Free of Headaches.

Mac
Click to expand...

As long as your web developer has perfect and comprehensive knowledge of all web related stuff, SEO & design, past present and future.

There will always be headaches because there is continual change. If you take on a developer it is up to you to ensure that they have the training/support/ability to stay up to date and incorporate all those changes and future discussion.
 
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