Clients, cms and billing ~

Hi

Bear with me ~

We’ve recently decided to revamp how we offer websites to clients.

I’m faced with this issue -

I can develop sites in a variety of different ways - using CMS, static HTML files, or a framework.

Let’s assume a client wants to be able to manage their own site. Sure - we would offer them a CMS. Currently we use FREE open source CMS for the majority of clients sites.

Now, how would you work this CMS in to the cost of the quote. Can you justifiably charge extra if a client wants a CMS, even if the CMS is free?

And lets say a client does not want to manage their own website - it falls entirely on myself or another staff member to manage the design and content, as well as any future updates. Fine.

If I chose to use Wordpress or any other CMS to make MY life easier developing the website, is it wrong to charge a client to use the CMS, even though it is already in place?

Especially with free OS ones.

We are in the process of developing our in-house CMS, which would eliminate this problem, but in the mean time we are faced with this issue.

How do you work using FREE CMS in to your own clients work?

Do you use a CMS regardless, and charge extra? Or do you develop in user-unfriendly framework if the client doesn’t want a CMS?

Do you just charge a fee, and if they decide later on they want the CMS, it’s in place for them?

Hopefully this is clear.

thanks

If someone spends 5 days fixing your car, but doesn’t need to spend any money on replacement parts, do you say—“well, the repairs were free, so I don’t owe you anything”? Of course not. With that logic, since HTML, CSS, JavaScript, PHP, Apache, Linus etc are free, we should never be charged for our work. Obviously you are charging for your time and expertise.

And beyond that, you are adding value to their business, and thus you deserve a good cut of the profits.

//youtu.be/HyTpzgAW5NA

If I chose to use Wordpress or any other CMS to make MY life easier developing the website, is it wrong to charge a client to use the CMS, even though it is already in place?

Charge for your time and for the value you are adding to their business.

Do you just charge a fee, and if they decide later on they want the CMS, it’s in place for them?

Personally, unless they want to pay for a CMS, they get a simple static site. Usually clients just need to be educated. It’s pretty easy to tell from the outset what their needs will be down the line, so you can just advise that they get a CMS if that’s what they will need down the line. If they are unreasonable about it, I just wish them well.