Start With the Scope
Open with a short paragraph in the client's words: what they asked for and what they'll have at the end. Then list the deliverables. A clear scope is what lets you price the job and, later, recognize a change when one comes in.
Break the Price Into Line Items
One line per phase or deliverable, each with hours and a rate or a fixed fee. Clients trust a price they can see the parts of, and it gives them room to trim a line instead of walking away.
| Item | Hours | Rate | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Discovery and site map | 6 | $95.00 | $570.00 |
| Design: home and four inner pages | 24 | $95.00 | $2,280.00 |
| Build and launch | 30 | $95.00 | $2,850.00 |
| Hosting setup | Fixed | $150.00 | |
| Total | $5,850.00 |
Write Down Your Assumptions
List what the price assumes and what it leaves out, so nobody has to guess:
- The client supplies the copy and photos by a set date.
- Two rounds of revisions on each design.
- Extra work is billed at $95 per hour, with a written estimate first.
Fixed Price or a Range
If you know the work well, give one price. If parts are uncertain, give a range (“$5,200 to $6,400”) and say what moves it, or price the uncertain part as hourly with a cap. Hourly vs. Fixed Price covers how to choose.
Deposit, Expiry and Next Step
- A deposit before work starts, often 25% to 50%. See Retainers and Deposits.
- A valid-until date, usually 14 to 30 days, so an old price can't be accepted months later.
- Payment terms for the invoices that follow.
- One clear way to accept: a button, a signature line or a reply.
When the Work Runs Over
Track your hours against the estimate as you go. When a request falls outside the scope, say so in writing before you do it, with the extra hours or a price. A short change estimate the client approves keeps the final invoice free of surprises.