Project Big Fish is a creative agency.

This a question we are asked on a regular basis and of course a tough one to answer. It depends on what you want that web site to do, how it will be used and many more factors. There is also the capitalistic nature of what our competition is charging, how much money makes the project worth our time and how much we want to be a part of that project.

With that said, when writing a proposal the budget is often the hardest part because there simply is no industry standard. Don't get me wrong, I am the last guy you will hear advocating for industry regulation... but this kills me! We know what we are worth, and we know what it costs us to do business. However, often when we send a bid out, its like putting a blind fold on and playing a game of darts...you can do it but there is no way to determine the outcome.

Sure we are experts in our field and have a solid idea of what any project should cost, just like we would know generally where the dartboard was if blind folded. However, the outcome is almost always unpredictable. We have probably been told as many times that our pricing is outrageously expensive as we have been told that we were dramatically cheaper than our competition. Just today I was told my bid was about 7% what a competitor proposed on a relatively simple project. Assuming I win this, I am confident I can make money on this gig. On the flip side, I currently have another bid out, where the profit margin will be much slimmer because of the complexity of the project, and I am almost certain it will be rejected due to the price being too high. Clearly we are hitting the mark enough to run a successful business, and I believe our clients feel their getting their moneys worth.

However, to be asked how dare I charge so much one day and to be told by someone else that my pricing is to low to take seriously can drive a guy crazy - especially when the product and dollars are the same. Would it be too much for people to let us know their budget is and see what we can do for that amount?! Granted, that would take the game out of it.