Website required

[PlanetEarth]

Two questions.
1. I am looking for a webdeveloper who is also an accountant. Does anyone know of one?
2. When asking a developer to do a website is it normal to put down deposits etc. What happens if the site at the end of the day is not what you wanted?

 

[ITsoldUK]

Two questions.
1. I am looking for a webdeveloper who is also an accountant. Does anyone know of one?
2. When asking a developer to do a website is it normal to put down deposits etc. What happens if the site at the end of the day is not what you wanted?

1. Why? Bit of a non goer if you ask me. IF I was a qualified accountant, I would not be designing sites, but I know a few designers who think they are comedians...

2. Yes but agree a scope before you start, make sure all parties understand what you are after then get an agreement signed

 

[ORDERED WEB]

Two questions.
1. I am looking for a webdeveloper who is also an accountant. Does anyone know of one?
2. When asking a developer to do a website is it normal to put down deposits etc. What happens if the site at the end of the day is not what you wanted?

why?

Yes?

Phased payments will solve this for you

 

[maxine]

Odd request but I assume you have good reasons for it

The only people I know of and can recommend are http://www.accountantwebsmiths.co.uk/ (I think the chap there may be an accountant but not sure and certainly they work with the accountancy sector a lot and have accountancy based content on a monthly rental basis)

Or possibly Bob Harper at Portfolio Marketing works a lot with accountants too.
http://www.portfoliomarketing.co.uk/

And yes pretty standard for some upfront and some on completion. Sometimes all up front

 

[PlanetEarth]

I don't really want to go into a great deal of detail, but the reason why I want an accountant to do this is because it is for a very specific purpose and I think an accountant would do it better.
I heard of someone a while ago but I cannot remember their name so was hoping someone could point me in the right direction.

 

[ORDERED WEB]

Accountants dont code, or really get websites (done a few sites for accountants)

Most decent web developers can code anything, and we have to understand hard concepts too. If you can explain it, it can be coded

 

[MikeJ]

There used to be a florists round the corner from me that also did dry cleaning.

While in California this year, I saw a restaurant that doubled as a yoga studio.

I really don't see why a web designing accountant should be so hard to find

 

[bdw]

I really don't see why a web designing accountant should be so hard to find

No?

Website design is very competitive nowadays. There are so many people doing it themselves or employing folk who are doing it "on the side" (and not paying tax)! It makes it very difficult to earn a decent living doing website design. Good accountants can command high fees. Good web designers find it harder to do so. I cannot think of any reason at all why a qualified accountant would moonlight on websites other than they are doing it as a hobby.

.

 

[PlanetEarth]

Many thanks for the replies. The webdesigners I saw were not really what I wanted, but thanks anyway.
Can anyone tell me what the usual payment structure is for a website?
I am surprised that developers want the money upfront. No other professional service does this.
Do the payments go into escrow? Because what happens if you do not like what you get or the developer goes bust?

 

[Faevilangel]

Many thanks for the replies. The webdesigners I saw were not really what I wanted, but thanks anyway.
Can anyone tell me what the usual payment structure is for a website?
I am surprised that developers want the money upfront. No other professional service does this.
Do the payments go into escrow? Because what happens if you do not like what you get or the developer goes bust?

Each developer will have a different pay schedule depending on size of project and their trust in you.

Almost, almost all web designers will ask for a deposit up front of upto 50% of the total cost. This proves you have the funds and the determination to go ahead with the project but also gives the designer a security incase you do decide not to proceed.

The deposit will normally be non-refundable as with any deposit (car etc) and covers for any time they designer would have spent on the site.

The rest of the payment would either paid in a lump sum on completion or paid on a set basis (monthly, on intervals in project etc). This then protects you incase the project isn't finished etc.

In regards to escrow, not many web designers will use escrow as you will then hold the cards in regard to them getting paid. If you don't tell the escrow company to release, they don't get paid.

If the web designer goes bust, or does a bunk, then you only have 2 real options, track them down and appeal to them to refund you some of the money or take them to court via a money claim.

Ultimately in the end it comes down to trust, if you can't trust them then don't work with them. Speak to the designer and try to build a rapport with them before commencing work, then go on your gut instinct to work with them or not.

There is risk to both parties when using a service.

 

[Cylon]

As mentioned a deposit is normal, web developers will then normally ask for payments in stages up to completion/going live, there maybe extra costs involved for additional extras that come up through the design phase but in general you should never have to pay the full amount in one go.

Also with any good web developer you will be given a URL to your website whilst it is being built and have regular contact with them for any changes you need to make along the way.

 

[dazzletech]

I think the person who is web developer can not be accountant ( this is true at least in my case) both fields are entirely different. Though the web developer can refer you to his accountant.
The upfront this is the trend. The basic concept behind this is sometime it happens that the client don't have sufficient budget or get involved in some other thing and wants to postpone this website thing.....in that case the web developer will be in loss because he already have invested his time in making your site for which you are not ready (though you were ready sometime back )
I think that you are afraid about the quality of web developer.
Best practices ... 1st check his portfolio. 2nd try to make the project details crystal clear. And ask your web developer to ask you any doubt he has in the project. The problem comes when the client is saying something and the service provider is understanding something else....in that case the result will be surely affected...And last and most important point is check the progress of the project daily (it won't take too much time). Its very necessary. You must track the progress of the project. So in case the service provider is doing something wrong you can ask him to correct instantly. So there won't be much back and forth ...

 

[bdw]

I am surprised that developers want the money upfront. No other professional service does this.
Do the payments go into escrow? Because what happens if you do not like what you get or the developer goes bust?

Actually advance payments are quite common in contracting situations. As Tom Jones would say, it's not unusual.

We require a 50% advance and our standard terms clearly state that no further payment is requested until the website has been completed to the client's satisfaction. This gives our clients a degree of confidence in our ability to give them what they need. You should look for something similar from your designer.

.

 

[tradecarbon]

We require a 50% advance and our standard terms clearly state that no further payment is requested until the website has been completed to the client's satisfaction.

I work the same way when building websites for clients always have.

It can still be a problem though when the client has a fully working site and then suddenly disappears without paying the balance.

I have had to disable a few sites in my time.

I think the OP should find a firm that already builds websites for accountancy firms or get an accountant to advise the website builder of what is required.

 

[ORDERED WEB]

this is either a wind up or a total waste of time

If you cant afford the site, save up some more. A web dev is cheaper than an accountant

The skills needed to be a web dev are totally different to those to be an accountant. the hourly rates and salaries are different too

The skill of a web developer is to translate an idea into something that works on the web. Most web developers are by nature highly intelligent flexible minded people. this week I dealt with a fencing company on Monday, a accountant on Tuesday, and a art company and a electronics firm on weds, and today, and a scrap car buyer today.. point being - the nature of the business is irrelevant

As a customer, it is simply your job to tell me what it is you want your site to do. I cant think of an accounting function, that is beyond the grasp of any developer.

The question to the OP is.. have you a clue what you actually want? or do you need the accountant to ensure that what you are doing is calculated correctly. either way, the poor sod writing the code will have to condense whatever ramblings arrive at his/her doorstep into something factual in the code.

so

Define what you need
define the logical processes
go see a web dev

 

[Glowbridge]

Also with any good web developer you will be given a URL to your website whilst it is being built and have regular contact with them for any changes you need to make along the way.

That's a bit of a loaded comment. If I disagree with you I'm automatically not a 'good' web developer. I'm going to anyway.

Clients, by definition, are not well versed in the development process. They are also the lead cause of scope creep. Showing a client a site mid-build is inviting misunderstandings and demands for changes to things that weren't final anyway.

A scope, a wireframe and a mockup should all be signed off on before finger touches key. Alteration options should be built into the contract, subject to developer discretion and completed before site launch.

 

[shelleyleek]

I would think it rather unusual for someone to be an accountant and a web designer, as previously mentioned... what is the nature of your business?

Reviews on various web design companies are usually quite helpful, possibly refer to Google reviews.

Also, each web design company will be different in terms of payment, so check out terms and conditions thoroughly before hand.

 

[Blood Lust]

I would think it rather unusual for someone to be an accountant and a web designer, as previously mentioned... what is the nature of your business?

Reviews on various web design companies are usually quite helpful, possibly refer to Google reviews.

Also, each web design company will be different in terms of payment, so check out terms and conditions thoroughly before hand.

Is that to me?

To be a web designer doesnt require any programming knowledge if you have the correct software package. I have a drag and drop package. It has 1000s of professional artwork and videos, shopping cart, automated transactons to your account, you can upload your own stuff too.

A chimp could use it but I'm not telling what package it is.

 

[OldWelshGuy]

Is that to me?

To be a web designer doesnt require any programming knowledge if you have the correct software package. I have a drag and drop package. It has 1000s of professional artwork and videos, shopping cart, automated transactons to your account, you can upload your own stuff too.

A chimp could use it but I'm not telling what package it is.

How could it be to you? you have not posted in the thread so far,

oh and thanks for showing the community spirit by the second bit of bolding. If everyone took that attitude then no-one would get any help at all

 

[Blood Lust]

How could it be to you? you have not posted in the thread so far,

oh and thanks for showing the community spirit by the second bit of bolding. If everyone took that attitude then no-one would get any help at all

My previous posts have been removed for offering my services.

Thanks, everybody has to make a living.

 

[OldWelshGuy]

My previous posts have been removed for offering my services.

Thanks, everybody has to make a living.

Indeed, which is why I asked how he could possibly be replying to you

 

[shelleyleek]

How could it be to you? you have not posted in the thread so far,

lol, Thanks! I was rather confused there for a second!

 

[guthrg007]

Hi

Jumping in a bit late here but we used a company who offer websites on a rental basis. They were recommended to me by a local office supply warehouse who had used their design service previously. They offer two types of webdesign package and seem to have worked with most sectors including lawyers and solicitors. We opted for their rental package but my friend at the office company opted for a website in a box product which I believe included extras such as business phone numbers and some other bits and bobs I didnt really need. The company are called RentAWebsite.Biz and can be found by googling 65p websites. Anyway you can see our own site on google searching RBM roofing. We pay less than £15 a month for this basic site but it does what we need it to and I think they offer different levels of design.

Good luck anyway!

 

[bdw]

We pay less than £15 a month for this basic site but it does what we need it to

You do know that your site is not working properly in don't you? If that is what you want it to do then fair enough but I would not be promoting as a good example of a business website. We could have built a decent site for you that would have been found in the search engines and you would have had a full return on your
investment in a few months with no recurring costs.

But you should have a good look at your website and ask yourself (honestly) if it promotes you as a professional business.

.

 

[guthrg007]

Hi BDW,

I think you must be looking at the wrong site....just spoke to one of the guys at Rentawebsite and they have assured me it has been correctly indexed and is returning google results. They sent me an export from analytics just to put my mind at ease.

I must say, it seems you have tried to put down another companys work to promote your own! Either that or you have looked at the wrong website....

In comparison to other local tradesmen websites, it is far better in my opinion...

 

[Faevilangel]

Hi BDW,

I think you must be looking at the wrong site....just spoke to one of the guys at Rentawebsite and they have assured me it has been correctly indexed and is returning google results. They sent me an export from analytics just to put my mind at ease.

I must say, it seems you have tried to put down another companys work to promote your own! Either that or you have looked at the wrong website....

In comparison to other local tradesmen websites, it is far better in my opinion...

Your website is pants, I have the right site rbm-roofing.com ... and my reasons for this opinion are:

1) It's flash based - Try viewing your website on a mobile device, especially an Apple product
2) SEO - It's going to be poor as flash isn't a website developing platform, and is really really bad at being one. I just checked 2 of your keywords and you're not on page 1 for either.
3) You have been sold a dud, your website is being built by a free website builder called moonfruit.

Basically, you're being ripped off as you are paying someone who has used a free website builder (and a bad one) to build you a website that doesn't work in some of the most popular devices and is not appearing for your keywords (which would be easy to be #1 with a decent site).

 

[K9-Steve]

Two questions.
1. I am looking for a webdeveloper who is also an accountant. Does anyone know of one?
2. When asking a developer to do a website is it normal to put down deposits etc. What happens if the site at the end of the day is not what you wanted?

As already mentioned, always get a project scope to ensure you receiving what you expected for the price you are willing to pay.

 

[bdw]

Hi BDW,

I think you must be looking at the wrong site....just spoke to one of the guys at Rentawebsite and they have assured me it has been correctly indexed and is returning google results. They sent me an export from analytics just to put my mind at ease.
I must say, it seems you have tried to put down another companys work to promote your own! Either that or you have looked at the wrong website....
In comparison to other local tradesmen websites, it is far better in my opinion...

I was looking at the wrong site and you are right, this one looks a little better but the people who put it together either have a lot to learn about SEO or they just don't care. My money is on the former.

Ask them why they are using keyword loading and hidden text on the page. I mean, do they honestly think that they are going to get away with this for much longer?
"Roof Repairs | Roofing Repairs | Glasgow Roofing | Airdrie Roofing | Coatbridge Roofing | Motherwell Roofing | Hamilton Roofing | Roof repairs Airdrie | Roof Repairs Motherwell | Roof Repairs Hamilton | Roof Repairs Glasgow | Roof Repairs Coatbridge | Roofing Glasgow | Roofing Lanarkshire | Slate roof repairs | Slate roof repairs Glasgow | Slate roof repairs Hamilton | Slate roof repairs Motherwell | Slate roofing | Slate roof | Roofing Contractors | Roofing Contractors Glasgow"

Ask them why they are loading the meta description with keywords instead of putting a Google friendly description in there?
Ask them why they put together a massive list of keywords in the keywords meta when this has not been recognised by Google for several years?
Ask them why the menu links in your page footer do not work?

I could go on but I won't, other than to say that if you offer people bad advice in here some of us have to correct this if we feel it is necessary. With regard to putting down another company's work, it is not about that. It is about advising people on what is best for them as we see it.

.