a client asked for this:

the client wrote: The full spec for the site is: Homepage - This would be a photoshop background with some text, a log in area, forgotten password link and subscription page link. Subscription page - This would be a terms and conditions section, once agreed to it will link to the subscription area where the usual information that is required by payment transaction companies. The First Name, Surname, Email and Password would be kept in our database aswell. This would need to be on an SSL. Member's only page - This is where the information will be kept that member's are paying to view. A photoshop background, some text and links will be here. Also space for some banner ads at the bottom of the page. The database will need to be MySQL and have a control panel for me to use. I'd need to be able to change the value for the amount to charge per subscription and send out bulk email to all members, like a weekly newsletter. New members will also get an email sent to them regarding their log in details.

he is an american, what shall i tell him for the price (without hosting, just the system), i don't know the price range in the states is..

thanks.

yes, you may be right... but it is not my client problem if i was good or not.

It will also depend on how much my client can pay? how BIG is he? I think we agreed that there is no problem in this since we talked in this issue before.

Now, how much willl you charge him michael?

n.b. it will take about 10 hours to finish the system and database for what he asked, design may take up to 3 days until we take his approval on it. don't ask me how much i take per hour, because the concept in Egypt differs, we are not charging per hour, but per project.

SSL - can be gotten for $70 to $900. I pay $70. Charge double or triple that depending on the environment. You may be able to charge less or more... fickle on that one... The host determines the environment...

Everything else sounds pretty standard. Charge a premium for the control panel. Add in a few toys and you're styling.

I think he's talking about a mysql admin panel. Useful for backups and stuff like that. I'd clarify the concept of being able to change the amount charged per subscription. Is it a universal change, or is he looking for categories of users?

I line in an area of the US where the cost of living is slightly higher than average. Typically charge $50-$100 US per hour. Subcontract all my graphics work to a very talented group who get $70/hour. I get $5 of that fee. they also charge for initial discussion. I give the first hour free.

I don't charge for learning time, but I've got some sophisticated stuff "in the can" that I can reuse rather rapidly. I charge more for that type of material although it can take much less time to implement than more trivial custom work.

Some clients have me on retainer to do a certain number of hours of updates per month/quarter. Charge a lower hourly rate to them as it's a steadier income.

For the site you spec'd out, I'd start at $1000 as an estimate. Number of pages, quality/complexity of graphics, and logic to handle multiple categories of users, and excessive user administration capabilities would increase the cost. The client needs to be aware of that up front. He also needs to know that changing his mind after work begins costs money, but I'm sure that holds true in Egypt as well.