What determines the cost of a web design?

The range of charges that you can expect to pay for a web design vary enormously, from a few hundred dollars to a million or more – but what exactly determines the differences in cost between websites? And does price really make a difference in terms of how effective a promotional exercise your website proves to be? There is a wide range of options available in terms of the choices you make in web design that can affect the cost you should expect to pay and many components influence the prices charged by independent web designers or design firms. In order for you to gather some kind of estimate, here are a few factors to consider when planning the budget for your web design:

1. Your Goals: One of the first and most important factors that will contribute to the cost of a web design is the goals you set out for the finished website. If you are planning features that require specific professional skills to produce, you can expect to pay a great deal more than if you are only seeking very basic online representation for your company. The kinds of applications and functionality you want to achieve on your website should be planned carefully and budgeted for accordingly. Adding games, video, animations, interactive elements, forms and additional plug ins to your web design could add serious time and dollars to your website production plan and should be added sparingly for those on a budget.
2. Choice of designer: The person you actually choose to design your website will also have a huge bearing on the cost of the production. For example, highly skilled freelancers will, in most cases, still cost you less than the services of an entire team that are provided by a website design firm. If you really want to save money, you could consider going offshore and employing the services of an overseas web design company that may work for as little as $15 to $30 an hour. Web design students may also offer competitive rates for basic website production, but their skills and resources are likely to be limited. Essentially, when it comes to choosing a designer, you'll get what you pay for. While students or freelancers may be cheaper, they are less experienced and not as available for ongoing support as a website design agency will be.
3. Type of website: A big factor in determining the overall cost of a website is whether you opt for a template web design or one that is fully customised. Many website templates are offered as free downloads online or are offered by low-cost design agencies. However, while templates may seem to be the best financial choice, they offer limited options for unique personalisation and tend to have a cheap, generic appearance. In contrast, customised web designs may cost a little more, but will offer you limitless design options for presenting your business in a striking and impressive way.