What to charge for website using ASP.Net/C# & Dev X

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Freakboy

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Hey guys,

I'm trying to get into ASP.NET/C# programming again and one of my friends asked me to redesign their website for them. The website would have 13 pages and get all the "text info" for the pages from a database. They want the website to use Masterpages and Dev X, not that I know atm what Dev X is :D They will provide all the logos and info, I just need to redesign and update the website.

Any idea what I could charge? They are adamant that I get paid even thou I told them I want to do this just for the experience. I really don’t have a lot of experience in the last 5 years for ASP.NET, so can’t charge “normal” developer’s rates. I don’t want to quote to high, but also don’t want to price myself to low. They want a quote from me by Monday evening the latest, so any help would be appreciated.
 
I've been playing with ASP.net myself for a while now and as a word of warning I wouldn't recommend trying to learn it when you have deadlines or customers on your back. I like the .net framework but I swear at times it feels like it was written by a bunch of sociopaths.

A masterpage + database driven backend kind of feels like a basic CMS to me so it might be worth just giving them a full featured one that's pre-written. You can learn the basics of deploying and working with .net apps that way I guess and move on to the designing from there. You also don't have to deal with the 10 000 minor programming things that seem to cause .net to crash out on IIS (unless that's just cos the IIS servers at my univ are run by.... N/C).

In terms of .net based CMSs, I would look at Sitefinity (prop software, kinda expensive but if the customer wants to pay it's cool. Also uses Masterpages for page templates) and MojoPortal (open source software, nice interface and features but I am not smart enough to design templates for it yet - crazy CSS stuff there).

I couldn't advise on cost though, I can never figure that part out.
 
How long is it going to take you multiplied by how much you want to charge per time unit = your quote :)
 
Thanks for the help guys :p

I have another permanent programming job, this is just to get my skills back up. I would be doing this over weekends, and they are fine with it. Actually they suggested it. Was looking for an eyeball price for development currently in the market (and then ask less than that), but this thread looks like is going to downhill :)
And yes, DevX is devexpress.com
 
Freakboy said:
Thanks for the help guys :p

I have another permanent programming job, this is just to get my skills back up. I would be doing this over weekends, and they are fine with it. Actually they suggested it. Was looking for an eyeball price for development currently in the market (and then ask less than that), but this thread looks like is going to downhill :)
And yes, DevX is devexpress.com
Click to expand...

Quoting is probably the most difficult part of building a site imo. No suggestions from me here, except for.... start with a range (between x and y), and work from there to gauge their response. I know dev companies that charge R400 per hour, and I also know dev companies that charge R150 an hour. If ur looking to learn some... and it's a friend, perhaps don't go too high.

BIG NB: Be weary of building for a friend... they often don't get around to paying, and it's difficult to say no to changes (of which there are often lots). You probably have it all covered, but... that's just my heads up.
 
shogun said:
BIG NB: Be weary of building for a friend... they often don't get around to paying, and it's difficult to say no to changes (of which there are often lots). You probably have it all covered, but... that's just my heads up.
Click to expand...

Vouch :p
 
havoc said:
Why bother with ASP and .NET .... It's crap!
Click to expand...

I'll agree with this :) I'm busy doing .NET development now. I think I might still prefer Java 6 + EJB3 + JSF2, maybe even using Struts instead of JSF2 after realizing how ASP.NET MVC2 is so much better to ASP.NET WebForms in terms of simplicity and testability. One thing .NET seems to miss that is in Java is the idea of an Application Server. Time will tell if AppFabric fills this need.
 
Time is worth a lot, but if I can get a new job why not :D

I should probably have said that my friend works for a software developer house too. I’m developing in IBM Universe at the moment, but getting bored of it. This website is a way to impress the bosses and get my foot into the door.

But anyhow, they accepted my quote and I’m starting on the site this weekend, after our morning trip to Rage.
 
I wouldn't recommend trying to learn it when you have deadlines or customers on your back.
Click to expand...

Aye. I've tried to do just that with a freelance site but am going to have to throw it up in a PHP CMS so that it gets done. Deadlines + learning new language = trouble.
 
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