During the process of any design or development project there is the initial information gathering stage. For most designers, it starts with a Design Brief. In this Design Brief, the question is almost always asked: “What is your budget?”
I’ve had multiple clients avoid this question by saying “we don’t know” or “we don’t know what to expect”. I’ve found, however, that most people do have a set amount in mind that they want to spend, they just don’t want to advertise this information for whatever reason.
In the experience that I’ve had, the estimate I’ve given for the projects have been far more than what the potential client has anticipated. They then turn elsewhere or drop the project completely without even discussing other options. Though the price of a design project is definitely an important factor, it should never be the deciding factor. The deciding factor should always be: what are you getting for your money? Are you getting a design that will increase your exposure and turnover by 200%, and business growth by 50%? Or are you just settling for the cheapest option because it is all that you can afford?
The Problem With Being Vague
The thing to bear in mind is that when a designer asks you what your budget is, it isn’t meant to be a trick question. We aren’t trying to get the most money out of you that we can, we’re trying to determine what all of our limitations are. If the project you describe in the rest of the Design Brief doesn’t fit into your budget, we will respond with other options of how you can be just as effective with a smaller scale project.
If your budget exceeds the amount it will take to complete the project (though it isn’t likely the case), we won’t just quote the project at that price just because you said we could. (And if someone does, don’t work with them. At all. Ever.) At the very most, we will give you an itemized estimate of your project and then some. If we have some ideas for things that might truly benefit your business, such as increasing your turnover by 500%, we will definitely suggest it because we want you to succeed. Your success is our success. If your project flops, then we have failed. But if we can help you to be the greatest that you possibly can be, then we will be closer to being the best we possibly can be.
Abundant Solutions
There are plenty of ways to decrease the amount you spend on a design project (see further reading for more details). One option is to complete a project in stages. If you need a website, start with a general information site first. This should have all the necessary information such as your location, information about your business, pricing, etc. If you need a store, or eCommerce site, this could be left for the next stage as it requires many man-hours to plan and create.
If you need a logo, branding, a website, and a marketing solution, each part can take place over a period of time left to your discretion. The obvious place to start is the logo, but the next most important element of those listed is a website. Unfortunately that can be the most costly of them all, depending on the extent of the marketing solution. But it will also be the one thing that makes your business boom like none of the other will.
Bottom Line
Let your budget be known. If you are working with a designer with any self-respect and dignity at all, it can only help you to tell them up-front what your expectations are. And if you aren’t working with a self-respecting designer, then you shouldn’t be working with them anyway.