[emmelai]

Ok- so I guess this is my inaugural post. I've always just read the board and not posted. I'm about 1 year out of school and been doing freelance work for about 2.

Anyways...to the question, I have a client that wants for me to customize a flash website they found on one of those hokey web template sites. They are certain they want to do this- has anyone else ever been in this situation? How are you supposed to charge for this sort-of-thing, on a per page basis?

Any thoughts or suggestions are gladly welcomed.

Thanks!

[RaelRode]

Well you should always charge per hour. But in this case personally I would tell them that the best option is for me to make them one from scratch. if they still want the flash one edited I'd tell them where to shove it.

[steveb]

Charge per hour, and demand they provide you with completely finalised, grammar- and spelling-checked copy and decent photos, otherwise you'll be fekking around with the site a year from now and no payment.

[John Good]

looks like the cheapo client...
you'll have to make a rough estimate of how much time you will spend on modifying the template. Submit the total amount, before doing anything.

[RaelRode]

Originally Posted by John Good

looks like the cheapo client...
you'll have to make a rough estimate of how much time you will spend on modifying the template. Submit the total amount, before doing anything.

Client knows nothing, this could possibly take longer to do than form scratch. mean reading through code etc to see what it all does properly and getting to changing it etc.

[emmelai]

Thanks for the thoughts...

Actually, the more I think about it, the more I realize this could be a complete nightmare...not to mention that the designs they chose are horrid and completely inappropriate for the business they have going.

I feel like I'm at a point in my fledgling freelance career where I can't turn away business since I just want to get my name out there (not that I would want to readily admit I used a template involuntarily either). Ugh.

Please tell me there are normal clients out there somewhere....

[RaelRode]

There are normal clients out there somewhere.

[emmelai]

Originally Posted by RaelRode

There are normal clients out there somewhere.

That was reassuring, thanks!

[Herr Kurm]

I know how you are feeling, one of my clients (actually his coder) wanted me to fit my design it no the template. It took a lot of swearing and name-calling but eventually i gut my design unharmed to the final page.

[BenSky]

if i were you i'd make sure you get some money up front if you end up dealing with this client because as said earlier he sounds like a bit of a cheapo mess around.. beware.

[Devastated]

Aye allways recommended so you don't get stung... at least half if not all money up front!

[emmelai]

I ended up submitting a proposal with an hourly rate and a minimum amount of hours. They went for it, so I will be getting a deposit just is case they jump ship. Hopefully things will go without bumps (probably not)...

[vdesigns]

Congratulations!

www.vraxs.com

[Aen]

I'd fire the client.