By 2021, you must have chewed on the fact that online presence is a gold mine for any business. Some of you might think that social media platforms have replaced the need for a conventional website, but this is simply not the case. Website development tremendously shares its part in the marketing strategy of any business.

Research by Blue Corona reveals that 48% of people consider a website’s design to be the number one factor in determining a business’s credibility. Well now, it looks like you are ready to opt for a freelance web developer, but you are facing a challenge to understand the pricing model of web developers. 

If so, then check out this guide to learn more about how freelance web developers set their rates and which option would best fit you.

Why a Freelance Web Developer?

This question might be tickling you so let’s look into this matter before we jump on to the pricing. Freelance web developers usually work from their homes which will help you reduce expenses associated with managing a full-time agency.

One of the benefits of hiring freelance web developers is that you can hire them whenever you need short-term engagements. If you need ongoing maintenance for your website, you can pay the retainer fees to the freelance web developer that would only be a fraction of what you would have to pay to an agency.

The cost of a freelance web designer depends on the proficiency of their skills. An expert designer with decades of experience will undoubtedly charge more than a recent graduate who is new to the industry.

With all tallies marked, a freelance web developer is still cheaper than an agency, even with the same expertise. You would just need to put in your time and effort with your developer, but you’ll definitely end up with something extraordinary.

The trend of freelancers is evident by Bloomberg’s study: Since March 2019, Google’s workforce comprises 54% freelancers and 46% permanent employees. 

Types of Payment Models

Freelance web developers usually work on two main types of payment models. Both of them are different from each other and hold their benefits and shortcomings. So, let’s start by digging deeper into each one of these. 

1. Project-Based Payment

According to 99designs, freelance web developers charge between $500 to over $5,000 for a website. On the other hand, Website Builder Expert states that the average cost of a basic website by a freelance web developer is $6,760. 

The flat rate or fixed price compensation is the method in which the rates of the freelance web developer are predetermined before the project, and the payment is released at the end of the project. 

This type of payment model goes well with small startup businesses where there are strict budget constraints because the other method is comparatively expensive. Also, the fixed price model does not always withstand the project reality.

Many times, the project seems easy at the start but turns out to be the most difficult one, yet you would have to pay the fixed amount to your freelance web developer. So, choosing a fixed-rate freelance web developer can be the best choice for you. 

Let’s look into the basic web design price list by Website Builder:

• Setup: $160

• Design and developing: $5,000

• Content production: $500

• Client training: $600

• Website maintenance: 500

• Sum: $6,760

Furthermore, the project-based rates of a freelance web developer mainly depend upon the complexity of the work and the developer’s skill level. The more pages and features required, the more the website will cost. 

In the case of rather similar pages, some web designers build templates that the client can fill out themselves. This method saves money. If a client wants an e-commerce site, for example, the web designer will create a template for the product pages that the client can fill in with their own content.

According to Website Builder Expert, websites that need regular revisions and upgrades will also cost more in maintenance after the first year. This cost may range anywhere from $500 to $1000 a year. 

2. Time-Based Payment

The most common form of time-based freelance developer rates is hourly rates. As per the last freelancer survey, the average freelancer rate in 2019 was $93.24/hour. While this rate may differ, this number can be used as a basis for your own calculations. 

According to CSS-Tricks, professional freelance web developers charge around $75 per hour but this figure may vary with the complexity and timeframe for a project. On the other hand, Website Builder Expert reports that it costs $30 to $80/hour to design a website and $100 to $180/hour for its development. 

As of January 29, 2021, Salary.com reports that the average hourly rate for a freelance web developer in the United States is $32, but the range usually swings between $28 and $35. The hourly rate is calculated by a variety of features, including qualifications, certifications, technical skills, and pertinent experience within the industry. 

However, time-based compensation requires a high budget because you would have to pay the amount according to the time consumed by your project. If your project timeframe doubles, the payment doubles too. 

Over to You

Since now you have a clear picture of the pricing models of the freelance web developers, you must brood over the factors and decide on which model would work best for you.

Web FX reports that 88% of online consumers are less likely to return to a site after a bad experience. To avoid this happening to you, hurry up and think about hiring a freelance web developer to take the technical hassle off your shoulders!