Well, I have been designing for a while for my wife’s business and I have recently broken off to do my own thing (still doing hers). I am sure that this has been covered but I need to know, how long is too long to work on a site? I have three sites now that should have been finished a month ago but the clients are ALL dragging their feet in getting me information and decided if the final product is what they really want. I have informed all of them that they have crossed the normal website costs and I will now have to start charging them an hourly fee. More money yes, but I would really like to move on to other clients who are just about ready to start their sites. I do not want to juggle to much at once. How can I curve this and get them to finalize their decisions so I can move on but still maintain a good relationship?
I’d go ahead and start on new projects. When your present clients make up their minds and give you the info you need, then you’ll plan whatever activity is needed for their site, and do it when you have the time. They can’t expect you to do what they ask instantly, you’re not one of their employees, you have other clients as well.
You told them about the costs, you might tell them about this aspect as well. You can hardly stay without doing anything because you are waiting for a client’s input.
Hi Taz,
I definitely agree with guido :tup: - I’ve had a similar situation to yours which is finally coming to an end - received this project in January, should’ve only took a week to do it but like in your situation they were dragging their heals not to mention bringing in another person to the party and causing chaos for me - anyway, like i said this is nearing a close now but I bumped up the price too to cover my time on the project, but to be honest sometimes you just have to cut your losses, I’d move onto another project and just leave them to do what they want with their site, you’ve stated your pricing arrangement and if they’re happy with that, fantastic, get paid when its done…it seems they are working at a snails pace, you’d probably have another project finished by the time they made a decision on their next move and in the meantime handling another project at the same time wouldn’t be such a great feat…
Getting them to finalise their decisions - goodluck on that one, they don’t like to be rushed or told whats good or bad, if they are like the clients im dealing with at the moment, they’d find it offensive for me to even consider telling them to get a move on…my advice is to just ride it out and work on something else too - goodluck Taz…
I’d tell them straight out, either you like the site or you don’t. And move on with the next projects, sometimes you have to be very firm with people. Or you’ll be working on the site forever, that’s why I still haven’t gone into the website making game. People can never, never make up their minds.
thats easier said than done Ice… theres money involved and believe me I was saying that 2 days into the project, i knew what was ahead of me and becaues i put so much into that short space of time I knew i was in it for the long haul, but i do agree with cutting ur losses…but if uve put alot of time in and u know there will be a payment i’d stick it out…but of course work on something else too in the interim
This is one of the reason I enjoy undertaking several projects in unison, I don’t spend most of my time sitting around waiting for the client, it of course depends on your level of organisation and whether you can handle the workload but it’ll effectively boost your productivity, increase your collective earnings (less hours lost to waiting) and you’ll probably find yourself enjoying the job more (if you get fed up doing something you can jump to something else for a while) 
I guess if you make the project planner and goal you will no your limit
You cam start your new project while you are waiting for clients’ response,it can save your time,and save client’s money,because client doesn’t like to pay for the time your waiting for,I am doing some projects,even for one flash header,we have to wait 2 weeks for client’s response.waiting for long time means this project is not an urgent job too,so you can keep in mind this job and you can do it when you have time.