FAQs

How much does it cost to build a website?

The cost of building a website is dependent on a number of factors: urw big the site is going to be (i.e., how many pages), how much interactive content will be used (e-commerce shopping carts, forums, forms, user registration, etc.), how much work is needed to prepare content (text, graphics, and other material), and other cost factors.

All those cost factors mean a website can range from a few hundred dollars to thousands of dollars—but however big or small your web project is, your budget will go farther with Digital Sky. We will be happy to prepare a free estimate for you. Settling for anything less usually means compromising on the quality of work and the effectiveness of the site.

Remember that when you ask a web designer “How much does it cost to build a website?”, it’s just like asking a builder “How much does it cost to build a house?” There is no clearcut answer to that question as it’s all going to depend on what you want, how the website needs to function, and so much more. As a guideline however, smaller sites with just a few simple pages start at $1,000. Typical small business sites run in the $2,000–$3,000 range. Smaller e-commerce websites start at $4,000, while larger e-commerce sites go up from there. Click here to obtain a free quote!

Will you build my website for free in exchange for a share of the profits?

Sorry, but no. While we are committed to helping your business succeed, we are not willing to gamble our time or income on it.

How long does it take to build a site?

As you might imagine, the answer varies a great deal. It depends on the scope of the project. Two of the biggest factors are how much content there is and how much of it is ready to use. The number of pages, navigational complexity, and interactive content are other big factors.

A simple informational site of half a dozen pages or so might only take a week or two to design and build. A large commerce site with dozens of pages, a lot of content work, and various interactive elements can take several months. For any size of site, if much of the content needs to be written and designed, the site will cost more and take longer. The best way to get a feel for how long your site will take is contact us for a free quote.

If you build a website for my business, what is included in the price?

Again, there is no simple answer to this question, as it depends on what you need and what you are able to budget. However, regardless of cost, all of our websites include standards compliant code that validates according to W3C specs. We always make sure to use the latest software and plugins for any site we build, as well. What that means is we won’t use any code or scripting on your site that is outdated and erroneous, nor will we use any code that is no longer supported or updated.

Will you perform work on existing sites?

Yes! In fact, over 50% of our business comes from clients who need their existing websites updated or changed. Web designers are often difficult to reach or slow to get work done. Sometimes they just disappear altogether. If this has been your experience, you’ll love working with Digital Sky! We love this business, and we’re in it for the long haul. Even if you have something as simple as changing some text or replacing a few images, we are happy to help!

Do you do SEO (Search Engine Optimization)?

We no longer do search engine optimization (SEO). SEO is a time consuming and cumbersome project. It takes time away from our primary focus, which is building good, high quality websites.

Can you create social networking pages (e.g., Facebook, Google+, Twitter) for my site?

Absolutely! We encourage this practice for any and all websites we build, as it can help your search engine rankings (see SEO above). It’s something we have done for numerous clients past and present.

Can we meet in person to discuss my project?

Of course! This is what we refer to as a “consultation” meeting, and we charge a fee of $100 per hour for our time. If you decide to go forward with your project, the consultation fee will be deducted from the total estimated cost of your project. We can meet at any time, including on weekends.

Do you require a deposit to build a website?

For new clients (meaning we haven’t done business with you before) we require half of the cost of the website upfront in order to get started on the project. For clients we work with on a regular basis, we bill net 30 days.

What methods of payment do you accept?

We accept Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express, Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Litecoin (as well as any major cryptocurrency that can be bought or traded on Coinbase). We also accept payment by cash, check, or electronic transfer.

Do you offer webmaster and site maintenance services?

We sure do! As a matter of fact, most of our clients use us for webmaster and routine maintenance services. Any business with a serious online presence knows that ongoing maintenance is essential to keeping its site looking sharp and functioning smoothly.

Whether or not you use Digital Sky for creating a new website, we are happy to help you with site maintenance. We can provide our services on an hourly basis or quote a monthly retainer based on what is needed to ensure that your site is functioning correctly, optimized for search engines, and up to date with current software and code.

Do you offer website hosting?

Yes! We partner with Liquid Web to offer top notch web hosting with the best customer service in the business. Liquid Web provides web hosting that is infinitely scalable, and priced reasonably. For more information please checkout the Hosting section of our site.

Are you able to do print work?

Absolutely! With over three decades of high end print experience, Digital Sky can help with everything from business cards and letterhead to sales literature and print ads. Coordinating your marketing efforts across online, print, and other media has been shown to multiply the effectiveness of each. Learn more on our Services page.

I don’t have a logo for my business, how much does logo design cost?

Like most things in life, when it comes to logo design, you get what you pay for. Good logo design requires an understanding of your business and your market. It reflects the image you want to project, creating that all important “first impression.” Getting a logo right can be a time consuming process that involves both the designer and client, often requiring a few or several back-and-forth steps. Large companies spend thousands or even hundreds of thousands of dollars on developing a new logo. More typically, though, Digital Sky clients can expect to spend at least $1,000 to $2,000 on a new logo. Learn more on our services page

What is your hourly rate?

We bid complete projects rather than an hourly rate. However, for smaller or ongoing tasks such as routine updates, site maintenance, and search engine optimization, we bill $70 an hour.

We realize that to some individuals this may seem like a steep price. If you are looking to have work done at a cheaper cost we suggest you try the services section on Craigslist, where you will find dozens of “web designers” who will do work for pennies on the dollar. Just remember, you get what you pay for!

Will you come to my location?

We are willing to travel if need be, however we charge travel time at our standard rate of $100 per hour. This is negotiable depending on the circumstances. If the travel requires airfare and lodging and related expenses, they are charged back to the client.

Do you offer instruction or teaching services?

We do indeed offer teaching services. We can come to you, or you can come to us. Our standard rate of $100 per hour applies.

Why would a client leave Digital Sky?

That’s what we would like to know! Seriously though, some clients’ needs change over time. In the case of past Digital Sky clients, it’s often because their business has grown to the point where they need (and can afford) a large agency that can better handle a larger volume of work. Sometimes they want to hire in-house staff. Other times the client hires a new manager that wants to work with a specific web designer they’ve used in the past. Whatever the reason that a client moves on, it isn’t because they’re unhappy with us. In fact, many of our past clients continue to refer new business to us!

Do you have experience with WordPress? How about Joomla or Drupal?

At Digital Sky Design we live and breathe all things WordPress! In fact, we consider WordPress to be a powerful online tool and highly recommend to all of our clients—both new and existing—that they take advantage of all WordPress has to offer. As for Joomla and Drupal, we encourage our clients to make the switch to WordPress. Once you do, you’ll be glad you did!