views:

351

answers:

6

I've never bid on any freelance jobs on GetACoder, eLance, oDesk etc. I've only done sites for friends and family so I've setup the hosting and have performed any updates that we needed after the initial design myself.

I know it probably varies from job-to-job, but what is the typical arrangement for hosting and subsequent maintenance for a web design gig?

I'm talking about the jobs I see posted that read like this: "I need 5 page website for my band, must have contact form."

Does the buyer usually setup hosting? Does the bidder take care of it and build it into the fee?

Thanks!

A: 

The contractor usually provides the hosting account.

Alix Axel
Define "usually". All but one of my clients already had their own host.
bdl
"Usually" means, well, usually?
matt b
It depends on what the meaning of the word 'is' is. If the--if he--if 'is' means is and never has been, that is not--that is one thing.
JasonS
I was going to comment humorously on Matt's comment but reading Jason's has given me a splitting headache. I'll be back in a minute, I'm just off to the medicine cabinet for a paracetamol.
paxdiablo
oh my stack....
Alix Axel
+6  A: 

This should be clarified in the bid. However, since in this case the buyer is asking for a website, they probably want the whole thing set up, including hosting. It's one of those "we want something, we have no idea how to do it, take care of everything for us" job requests.

In all the RAC work I did (before I discovered it was a slave labor market for buyers who knew squat and wanted fully functional eBay clones for $15), I always specified the deliverables in the bid request, and provided options in case I'd misunderstood the bid.

As with all market places, it's sometimes advantageous to put in a lower bid with limited functionality and make it clear variations will be extra cost - this is true whether you're a RAC coder or a multi-national bidding for a huge government contract.

I'd state that I could put together the website on my own provider for $X and band would be responsible for finding provider with same facilities, or for $X+Y, I'd do the lot (making sure they're clear that ongoing costs are their responsibility).

Aside: I made a little bit of money doing homework assignments for kiddies who will now never be a threat to my employment prospects but it wasn't worth it in the end. It's much the same as with the nags - you can make money at the track betting on them but only if you invest many hours studying the form. I'd much rather spend that time with the family (well, shared between the family and SO :-).

paxdiablo
A: 

I normally keep the hosting cost separate in the invoice and leave it up to the customer to decide if they want to stick with their current hosting or allow me to organize all of the hosting details. For the most part I've found the customer will pay the extra for the hosting cost unless they have some current obligations to their current hosting service.

Sean
A: 

Sean, In your discussions with the client, how do you detail the benefits of having you organize the hosting details? How do you explain why they shouldn't just go with the cheapest host they can find on they're own?

illdecide
A: 

I put hosting as part as my needed materials for the construction, later I will show them a receipt of the acquired hosting.

also, if the required hosting is not that big, i will just give them away for "free" and use a shared server, and add the value in the whole price

GerManson
A: 

I charge them for hosting and just do it all. My viewpoint is that you are providing a service, you might as well provide the whole service.

Allyn