It is a commonly held belief that first impressions are made within the first few seconds of an encounter and it is no different when it comes to web pages. With most Americans being on the internet, well crafted website design is critical to success of any business.

Do you have a small budget but big web design dreams? Don’t fret! This guide will highlight what is negotiable and what is non-negotiable with your web designer. Walking into the negotiation with a plan of what are feasible points of compromise will lead to a better rate of negotiation success in the long run.
First things first, what part of the “web design” process are you in? Typically, the process involves the consultation “creative” phase, design phase, and then maintenance for the finished product. Each phase must be treated as a separate entity and allows for different points of negotiation. Where you are in the process will affect how much leverage you have.

1. Just Starting: What to Talk About. If you are just starting out and have yet to meet with your web designer, you have the most wiggle room for negotiations. During your first meeting with your web designer (which may require a consultation fee), you will talk about the goal of your site and the general mood you want to convey. This is a critical part of the meeting, come prepared with ideas of what you want to accomplish and what you definitely what to include. The rest of the meeting will cover the specifics of the project such as a project timeline, price points and logistical issues. These last three talking points may not seem as significant as the site’s appearance but will greatly influence your relationship with your web designer. Make sure you are both in agreement.

2. Negotiation Time. Splitting the contract into phases gives you the best deal as well as flexibility if you decide to switch to a different designer. By splitting the contract into the different phases, you pay a contract price rather than an hourly rate. The preliminary contract could be just the basics such as a blueprint for the page and the design of the homepage only. The reason this is significant is that you can now switch to another company or renegotiate the initial terms now that you have idea of how the graphic designer works.

Paying hourly generally becomes expensive, if you can, try to have the whole project as a contract rate. If you pay for the entire project as a contract rate, you may need to pay some upfront costs for the designer to starts and will probably be required to pay in installments.

3. Contract: The contract does not need to include the very specifics of what the website’s appearance but should detail what is expected of each party. For example, the text color is not something that needs to be delineated in the contract. Things such as payment periods, timing, ownership rights and a breach of contract agreement need to be discussed in your contract. Ownership rights are important! Make sure you purchase the rights to your logo and anything else that is clearly identifiable as belonging to your company.

4. Contract is Signed, Design Work Complete: Negotiation Still Possible. Although it may feel like you have no room for negotiation because the project is “done”, you still have space for negotiations. This is particularly true if you are working with a smaller or free lance web designer. Places for negotiating include extending your contract (for a discount) or hiring your designer to do the web hosting or maintenance for your site (granted, this is only an option if you did not agree to this in your initial contract). Ask if you can pay a lower installment or if you can earn discounts if you refer clients or trade services.